Jan Hockey, Jean Caffeine, John Slater

Twenty-four hours with an assortment of slackers (i.e. neo-beatnik, anarchists, crazies and lazies) as they wander around the university district of Austin, Texas.

Flixster Users

79% liked it

7,021 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

29 critics

R, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Richard Linklater

Release Date: July 5, 1991

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DVD Release Date: September 14, 2004

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Stats: 640 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (640)


  • September 2, 2008
    Working on Same Painting: Sorry, I'm late.
    Having a Breakthrough Day: That's okay, time doesn't exist.

    The first film written and directed by Richard Linklater, this is a uniquely-structured and plotless film, following a single day in the life of an ensemble of mostly twenty-s...( read more)omethings in Austin. The film follows various characters and scenes, never staying with one character or conversation for more than a few minutes before picking up someone else in the scene and following them.

    Old Anarchist: And remember: the passion for destruction is also a creative passion.

    The movie is literally about nothing. We meet a whole assortment of characters, never see them again after their scenes consisting of either banter or dialog, and the movie eventually ends without having any standard structure. This is the kind of things some cult films are made of.

    Disgruntled Grad Student: Every action is a positive action, even if it has a negative result.

    Obviously done very cheaply and with no professional actors, the movie still manages to work due to the fact that the dialog is interesting, sometimes funny, but consistently approached in some sort of surrealist manner.

    Hitchhiker: Every single commodity you produce is a piece of your own death!

    This was one of the several films in the 90s that brought in the wave of independent films to wider audiences. It is also the film that inspired Kevin Smith to become a filmmaker. These points do not necessarily mean anything, but in terms of relating it somehow to someone, this is the kind of movie it is.

    Nothing happens, but it is filled with conversations that are interesting and intriguing. Yep, that is what will pass as a recommendation.

    Has Conquered Fear of Rejection: Do you have a car?
    S-T-E-V-E with a Van: Do you have a car, I have *a van*, lets go!
  • March 3, 2008
    I get the historical importance of this film in the 90's indie movement...but the film itself? Painful!
  • March 1, 2008
    The movie is pointless.
  • February 11, 2008
    An early sample of the kind of dialogue-drive films Linklater would eventually become a master at.
  • November 26, 2007
    The greatest movie about people doing nothing you'll ever see.
  • September 21, 2009
    Interesting. Not a lot happens and there's no real plot to talk of, but it does have some appeal. What that is, I couldn't quite say.
  • September 17, 2009
    It was so good, It amaze me how they could made such piece like this. So damn great!!How could they wrote such stuff..!!Am just amazed.Really I must Agree, IT is filmmakers must see.
  • September 12, 2009
    Early 90's indie film that reflects an ironic, bore, and disillusioned youth from Texas , and the beginning of the end of hipsters.
  • September 12, 2009
    An interesting dialogue-driven piece, with general anarchic overtones. Very thought provoking, depending on how you choose to view it. I think this film might disappoint without the right frame of mind.

    There was a lot of contrast between all types of different people around th...( read more)e Austin area. I am partial to the setting, since I have aspirations of attending school in Austin. So in this aspect, it was very cool for me to get a tour of the city in the early 90s, and to travel around through different aspects of people's lives. The fashions, very cool to remember what was considered "hip" in those days. Ha!

    The anarchism aspect I thought was interesting... this depicts a common theme amongst angsty youth, in a very rebellious time in America. For debate, I would like to bring up the fact that this is not by any means a form of true anarchism, and from what I know of Noam Chomsky's theory of "Pure Anarchism". There is no apparent oppressor. Of course, you could say that the government is the obvious influence, this is mostly portrayed through the act of thoughtless theft. In this aspect, I remember contributing to anarchism myself, in the form of petty theft, during the early 90s, although, it didn't achieve much ultimately. The same would apply to this film I would say, in a true anarchist viewpoint, it fails.

    The dialogue, is something to really admire. It is not always the most intriguing.. and a little mundane or obvious at times, but everyday dialogue between non-actors is usually this way. This provides a more realistic atmosphere, something that is easier to relate to. One might automatically make correlations to movies such as "Waking Life", or maybe even something like "I Heart Huckabees"... which are both very surface-level films, in regards to existence, and dreams, and general outlook on life. Depending on what you are looking for, you could potentially get a lot out of this film. But chances are, it will merely bead up on the surface, and roll right off.

    I found this to be a very interesting piece, which is the main reason I am rating so highly. I relate personally, and felt myself feeling similar in terms of thought process. Possibly due to the current stage i am in.. academically.

    I will just say this, to wrap it up. If you thought that you enjoyed "Waking Life" at all, or found it intriguing, then it is highly recommended you check this one out, for perspective. You will see a lot of obvious influence.
  • September 5, 2009
    Eventually enjoyable. Bad acting intentionally, but some gems. Austin has got to be the craziest damn town in America.

Critic Reviews


May 4, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

An exercise in meandering self-importance. full review

May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

What Linklater has captured is a generation of bristling minds unable to turn their thoughts into action. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A movie with an appeal almost impossible to describe. full review

View more Slacker reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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