I have a very high opinion of the works of Richard Linklater. I believe that the Before Trilogy are some of the greatest films made, and so far Everybody Wants Some! is one of the best films of 2016.

Which is why me not liking Dazed and Confused doesn’t make sense to me.

It’s got a great cast – it launched the career of McConaughy, and Ben Affleck is also in it. The people who have become less famous are great, but those two take away the film. Same with Parker Posey.

The story makes sense, the dialogue is good. “I’m just saying, if I ever say these are the best four years of my life, kill me” is a very applicable line to my high school years.

But I can’t relate as much to Dazed and Confused as I can to Everybody Wants Some!. The Before Trilogy will always be his best work to me.

I think there are very few misses in the Linklater catalogue. I believe this and Boyhood are the only two, which really means that Linklater, like most directors, got better as time wore on. Scorcese didn’t start out with Goodfellas or Wolf of Wall Street. I’d put Inglorious Basterds right there with Pulp Fiction.

I just think the film wasn’t as good as it could have been. It’s not as relatable as some of Linklater’s other films, and Linklater is a lot better director and writer than was showcased in this film.

That’s my honest first take on Dazed and Confused. Please, watch the Before Trilogy instead.