America, 1976. The last day of school. Bongs blaze, bell-bottoms ring, and rock and roll rocks. Among the best teen films ever made, Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused intertwines the narratives of a number of characters — including a freshman ballplayer, a likable jock contemplating just how much he wants to toe the line, a trio of “brains” trying to hang with the cool kids, and many others — that all intersect at a climactic keg party in a moonlit field. Featuring a staggering number of future stars in minor roles — including Milla Jovovich, Parker Posey, Renée Zellweger, Ben Affleck, and, of course, Matthew McConaughey, as laid-back, smooth-talking horndog Dave Wooderson —Linklater’s first studio effort also features endlessly quotable dialogue and a blasting, stadium-ready soundtrack. Sidestepping nostalgia, Dazed and Confused is less about “the best years of our lives” than the boredom, angst, and excitement of teenagers waiting . . . for something to happen.
Explore current exhibitions and permanent collection galleries, featuring works that span from delicate glass pieces to expressive portraiture.
