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October 12, 2004 9:57 AM   Subscribe

Dazed and Sued. Three Huntsville residents who say they went to high school with Austin film director Richard Linklater accused him of using them as the basis for the girl-chasing, drug-taking characters in his film "Dazed and Confused" in a lawsuit filed last week, 11 years after the movie was released
(Universal Studios, also included in the suit, is scheduled to release a special edition DVD of the movie Nov. 2.) More inside.
posted by matteo (61 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
from the main link:

According to their civil complaint, the men claim the movie subjected them to "relentless harassment, embarrassment and ridicule."

Linklater, who wrote and directed the film, used modified versions of the three plaintiffs' names in the movie.

Bobby Wooderson, Andy Slater and Richard "Pink" Floyd are portrayed in the movie as David Wooderson, Ron Slater and Randall "Pink" Floyd, respectively.

posted by matteo at 10:00 AM on October 12, 2004


Given the similarity in names, it was pretty foolish to not get a release from these 3 before releasing the film. Of course, the real question is what took them so long to sue, were they stoned?
posted by Outlawyr at 10:12 AM on October 12, 2004


Did they just now notice?
posted by chicobangs at 10:12 AM on October 12, 2004


It took them over a decade to file suit because they were like totally baked, dude.

Please, do not soil the name of the greatest teen movie of all time with this bullshit lawsuit.
posted by jonmc at 10:15 AM on October 12, 2004


dammit.
posted by jonmc at 10:15 AM on October 12, 2004


Ha, I was meaning to post this. Matteo, do you live in Austin?
posted by Peter H at 10:16 AM on October 12, 2004


The greatest teen movie is Fast Times, jonmc.
posted by Peter H at 10:19 AM on October 12, 2004


Blasphemer.

D&C is far more realistic (and trust me, not all that much changed about teen life in the 80's except for a few surface details, change flower print shirts for bland concert t's and Zep for Metallica and '76 could be '86, my sophomore year), it has a better sound track, and I'd take Marissa Ribisi over Phoebe Cates any day of the week.

By the way, you ever notice there's some spooky shit on a dollar bill? And it's green....
posted by jonmc at 10:26 AM on October 12, 2004


black concert t's dammit
posted by jonmc at 10:29 AM on October 12, 2004


The greatest teen movie is Rock 'n ' Roll High School, Peter H.
posted by red cell at 10:30 AM on October 12, 2004


best teen movie ever?
Louis Malle kicks Linklater's Texan ass every day of the week: whether with Souffle Au Coeur or Lacombe, Lucien. I really like Linklater, but still, you just don't fuck with LM


Peter H, nope, I really meant to visit last summer, when I went traveled to Texas, but didn't have enough time. I'm definitely going to visit sometime, tho, inshallah: the LBJ library, by itself, seems to be worth a visit.


oh, yeah, for the record: googling "Dazed and Sued" as of now gives 0 results. we'll see...

posted by matteo at 10:35 AM on October 12, 2004


I don't know about the greatest teen movie but the best teen scene in a movie has got to be from "Super Troopers" when the three stoner kids get pulled over and the cops just start messing with them.
posted by fenriq at 10:36 AM on October 12, 2004


(From a lawsuit thread to "greatest teen movie" in three messages flat. Is this a record for time-to-derail? <g>)

Maybe it's because I don't know Huntsville, but from this distance I just don't find the allegations that it's had a big impact on their lives to be at all credible.
posted by lodurr at 10:38 AM on October 12, 2004


"Fast Times" is depressing, outside of the Sean Penn character (and his interaction with Ray Walston) and a few scenes with Judge Reinhold.
posted by raysmj at 10:39 AM on October 12, 2004


The greatest Rock n Roll teen movie is Mod Fuck Explosion, red cell.

(I'm joking, just to keep the rivalry of best of's in the cue, though)

matteo - the LBJ library museum tour is truly wonderfully sad and unique. You shoulda seen it when the touring "WHITE HOUSE IN MINIATURE" scale model was there. The crowds are great, and there's an animatronic LBJ that attempts to recreate LBJs wit and humor, we here dub it the LBJ robot. It's horrifying!

Others joke that the LBJ library is "the JFK Assasination Monument" Either way, it has a pool outside, and some very nice steps.

Pardon all the derailing.
posted by Peter H at 10:44 AM on October 12, 2004


The LBJ Robot by Mack White.
posted by Peter H at 10:46 AM on October 12, 2004


and a few scenes with Judge Reinhold.

But what about the scene with....oh yeah, he was in that scene....doing the same thing I was doing at the time.
posted by m@ at 10:46 AM on October 12, 2004


I also have a theory that Wooderson grew up to become Bill Clinton....

and Rory Cochrane should get some kind of special Oscar for best movie stoner of all time, with Brad Pitt in True Romance a close second.
posted by jonmc at 10:47 AM on October 12, 2004


whoops wrong link .....wooderson.

and now the joke's ruined. Shit.
posted by jonmc at 10:49 AM on October 12, 2004


Peter H - The LBJ Robot link is excellent.

Picture this: You are seated next to the president at a state dinner, and before you have lifted your fork to taste a morsel, Johnson has already finished his plate, licked it clean, and is working on yours. He would actually do this--finish eating, then start eating off the plates of everyone within arm's reach. His arms were long, too, so many a person left the table still hungry.

Ha ha!
posted by the cuban at 11:03 AM on October 12, 2004


Umm, hello ?!?

Best teen movie ever is Pretty In Pink

Duh.
posted by Bonzai at 11:05 AM on October 12, 2004


best teen movie ever?

Teenagers from Outer Space. I mean, Pretty in Pink didn't even have one gargon, let alone a herd.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:28 AM on October 12, 2004


Dazed and Confused may not be the best teen movie of all time, but it is the most realistic as far as I'm concerned.

The female characters in that movie are the only representations on film of the roles I lived in at one point or another during my 70s/80s high-school career--I was the shy freshman girl who for some reason gets taken on as a protege by the cool senior girls, and I was the cool senior girl who hangs out at the bonfire drinking beer, thinking the guys she knows may be losers, but they're the only game in town.

Also, the gauze blouses and the "designer" jeans. I actually have a hard time watching the movie because it's like a mean old flashback. If you transposed the action to rural Massachusetts (not difficult, except that we had different accents and no football team), it would be like time-travel for me. And not in the good way.
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:29 AM on October 12, 2004


way to destroy the post
posted by Satapher at 11:45 AM on October 12, 2004


no mention of The Breakfast Club? (eek!)
posted by shoepal at 11:52 AM on October 12, 2004


Meatballs, hands down.

Anyway, I can't decide if these guys will have a tough or an easy case. The name similarity is pretty damning, but their 11-year wait to file doesn't do them any favors on the "pain and suffering" front. Seems like a waste of money, which could easily have been used for more pot and beer.
posted by me3dia at 12:04 PM on October 12, 2004


I really liked this movie when it came out. I saw it with a couple of friends and some six pack sneaked into the theatre. But watching it again recently it struck me as very dated. Lots of improvised moments fell flat. The relentless wide shots now seem like a product of Linklater's lack of directorial chops rather than a bold stylistic decision. The lack of narrative thrust, which I guess was the idea, to capture the rhythms of teen life, now just bogs down the movie down in the last 25 minutes. Hurry up and get to the point! And the point was? That the kid decided to quit the football team.

American Graffiti is better.
posted by dydecker at 12:05 PM on October 12, 2004


What a preposterous idea.

Not sure how they think they can survive summary judgment since the statute of limitations would have expired....
posted by Seth at 12:06 PM on October 12, 2004


best teen movie ever?

I'd have to go with Battle Royale.
posted by bobo123 at 12:15 PM on October 12, 2004


Seth, from the first link posted:
"The suit was filed in New Mexico because it has a longer statute of limitations than other states for claims of defamation and false light, Freeman said."
posted by Peter H at 12:15 PM on October 12, 2004


I also understand they moved it to New Mexico because of all that righteous New Mexico grass.
posted by Peter H at 12:17 PM on October 12, 2004


Well, then the summary judgment will be on the grounds of venue-shopping.

I have to say, though, that this makes Linklater look like an idiot of truly epic proportions. I mean, Geez, dude, you've got to change the names!
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:19 PM on October 12, 2004


best teen movie ever?

Teenagers from Outer Space.


Oh thanks. Now I'm gonna walk around for the rest of the day sentencing people to TORTURE.

posted by PinkStainlessTail at 12:19 PM on October 12, 2004


don't fuckin' condescend to me....fuckin' kill you...

- Brad Pitt's 'Floyd' in True Romance
posted by NationalKato at 12:21 PM on October 12, 2004


They're claiming harm because their son -- who was accepted to Harvard and whom they had enough resources to send there -- was asked for his autograph?

I must be missing something.
posted by occhiblu at 12:22 PM on October 12, 2004


bobo123, I'm partial to Sasayaki.
posted by shoepal at 12:23 PM on October 12, 2004


Best teen movie? Anything by Tarantino. (Yeah, I know they're not supposed to be teen movies, but, sheesh.)

Let's see... How to bring an old film back into the spotlight? Suing 11 years later? Dude! Sounds like good publicity to me.
posted by taz at 1:24 PM on October 12, 2004


What are the time limitations on such lawsuits? I certainly adore Linklater's filmage, especially his film Waking Life. One has to wonder how much a name has to be skewered before it can pass the litigation test. In any case, my best wishes go to Mr Linklater who inspired me through my college years with his film Slacker and one of my favorite lines "I may not live well, but at least I don't have to work hard to do it."
posted by jackspace at 1:30 PM on October 12, 2004


Oh thanks. Now I'm gonna walk around for the rest of the day sentencing people to TORTURE

Heh. Glad to be appreciated, or schadenfreudended, or whatever you call that.

The best teen movie is actually, of course, Akira.

the best pre-teen movie is Santa Claus Conquers the Martians... hooray for Santy Claws!
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:48 PM on October 12, 2004


One has to wonder how much a name has to be skewered before it can pass the litigation test.

Changing Richard "Pink" Floyd to Randall "Pink" Floyd isn't even fucking trying, though.

This is why I choose all of my character names by a version of the sortes Virgilianae--I pick a last name at random out of a phone book, and a first name at random out of a phone book. I then make a note of the year/locality/edition of the phone book, and the pages from which the names were chosen.
posted by Sidhedevil at 1:51 PM on October 12, 2004


Desperate Teennage Love Dolls.

Changing Richard "Pink" Floyd to Randall "Pink" Floyd isn't even fucking trying, though.

Yeah, almost as though Linklater was slacking!
posted by mwhybark at 2:13 PM on October 12, 2004


I will spellcheck before posting. I will spellcheck before posting. I will spellcheck before posting. I will spellcheck before posting. I will spellcheck before posting. I will spellcheck...
posted by mwhybark at 2:15 PM on October 12, 2004


The Stoned Age was a good movie that came out about the same time. There will always be good teen movies as long as you understand the age being shown in the movie.
When I saw the camel toes in Dazed & Confused I knew the genre of the movie. Sixteen Candles was a good teen flic from my generation.
posted by thomcatspike at 2:27 PM on October 12, 2004


There have been so many of these "Dude, You Stole My Life" lawsuits (See also: the real Rocky vs. Sly Stallone) that I have to wonder where the line is? It used to be you just had to put in a legal disclaimer that the story and characters were fiction and any similarities were just co-incidental, but that doesn't seem to work anymore. What happened to the author "writing what s/he knows"?

Oh, I have to vote? Ummm Fast Times is the closest to my actual school experience, but I have to go with Valley Girl because I was always dating guys outside my comfort sphere.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 2:49 PM on October 12, 2004


You're all wrong.

Quadrophenia is the best teen movie.
posted by the cuban at 3:10 PM on October 12, 2004




I actually went to Huntsville High School with these guys, but I swear that I don't remember them. Maybe I'm repressing my memories of growing up in a small Texas town, or maybe I was too baked.
posted by wKen at 4:16 PM on October 12, 2004


Quadrophenia was my mythology.
Dazed and Confused was my reality.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:44 PM on October 12, 2004


I went to high school with people just like the characters in D&C right down to the wardrobe. Sadly I was in high school in the mid 80s.
posted by birdherder at 4:49 PM on October 12, 2004


While granted, I lived the D&C experience, I still have to throw in a contention for Heathers as best teen movie. That movie has some of the greatest lines of teen cinema history.

Ooooh, and Pump up the Volume...and the grandfather of them all...Breakfast Club. Man, now I have to go dig through my old tapes and see if I can find all of these movies, pawn the boy and the husband off on some friends, call over some girl friends, sit in a circle, then watch some angsty humor.

As to this lawsuit, I hope it gets thrown out of court with the derision it deserves. Good lord, what an inane waste of court time.
posted by dejah420 at 4:53 PM on October 12, 2004


Dazed and Confused was my reality.

Exactly what makes it great. That's why River's Edge is a great teen flick, too. And why Clerks is a better twentysomething film than Singles or Reality Bites or anyother fantasy crap.

I'd watch D&C now, but I don't have any weed.

I went to high school with people just like the characters in D&C right down to the wardrobe. Sadly I was in high school in the mid 80s.

Same here. And that's kind of proof that the 70's were a far cooler decade than the 80's. For further proof compare and contrast these two box sets. I lived through the decade of Reagan, synthpop, and bad hair. How anyone can feel nostalgic for it is beyond me.
posted by jonmc at 5:06 PM on October 12, 2004


best teen movie ever?

Not one offer of Ferris Bueller's Day Off? You lot suck! :p

On a side note, this is a defamation suit, no? Slightly confused as they have a very short limitation period in the UK - thought it would be similar in the US.
posted by dmt at 5:42 PM on October 12, 2004


I'm with dydecker, AG is the best movie about being a teenager at some specific point in time. Though this is another of those angels on a pinhead question, all the cited films are great. And why would anyone put down Phoebe Cates after seeing her coming out of the pool in Reinhold's fantasy sequence? Not to mention the Rat/Damone subplot, which very closely resembled my high school days except no girls as hot as JJL.
posted by billsaysthis at 6:24 PM on October 12, 2004


thank billsaysthis

My court evidence continues, as follows:

For some reason this got me started thinking about the ephemeral nature of the medium. Phoebe Cates' breasts are almost like Tibetan sand art in a way. I felt sad that every time you enjoy a movie, you destroy it just a little bit. — Jason Shiga

(there is no equal united-moment-of-fascination in D&C)

Memorable and fondest moment of Fast Times: The date scene at the german restaraunt with the oversized chairs, and the rules about playing Zeppelin 4 side one whenever you make out, with him coming out of the restaraunt with his radio stolen, after spending hours ordering cokes and sausages waiting on his wallet. I still think that entire scene is perfect..

And of course, Phoebe finding Reinhold in the bathroom.
DOESNT ANYONE KNOCK AROUND HERE?

I will say D&C is a great movie about pot and cruising, and about Austin (if you've never visited here just rent the movie), and I like jonmc's quotes. I love the soap opera of Fast Times, though. It covers more bases of insecurity; the shitty jobs, sex, more hanging out, etc.
posted by Peter H at 7:03 PM on October 12, 2004


Am I the only one seeing the letters "D&C" bandied about so much in this thread finding that abortions come to mind?

Ridgemont gets mad props from me for actually covering that particular issue, but I have to say Breakfast Club wins out in my heart. Ever notice how the pot smoking scenes are scrubbed whenever it's shown on tv? Alas.
posted by beth at 7:24 PM on October 12, 2004


there's a directors cut of dazed and confused floating around. it explains the statues painted like KISS. in the first scene a couple of the kids steal the statues from the front of the school. the theft becomes part of a narrative thread throughout the movie - which obviously they decided to cut out. but that explains their presence in case any fans were wondering.

p.s being for texas i have to say that movie rules over that john hughes boo-hoo-i'm-so-rich-sad-and-white crap!!!
posted by alfredogarcia at 9:29 PM on October 12, 2004


Weren't the characters of Seinfeld based off of relative losers in Jerry Seinfeld's own decade long run of his own confession of having a life full of idiosyncratic characters?

Isn't there the legal stipulation that all events and persons are merely coincidence when a movie goes public? What good then, do privacy laws do when media attention is given to something so patently ludicrous and fully addressed in legalese beforehand? And what writer writes within a vacuum? All prose comes via experience.

Yeah, I'm not convinced. I'm with taz, this shit's contrived.

If it's not and these complaints win. . .

Well then, adios novels, screenplays, poems, paintings, drawings and spoken word. Adios freedom of speech. Something will always resemble something else. That's human. We resemble each other and our art resembles us.
posted by crasspastor at 11:20 PM on October 12, 2004


I was in high school when D&C came out and it made me and my friends wish we were in school in the 70s. Is anybody a fan of the college comedy PCU? Not quite in the same echelon but still a good laugh...

crasspastor, George Costanza is said to have been primarily modelled on Larry David, who created Seinfeld with Jerry, but there was a failed lawsuit that claimed Jerry based the character on a guy he went to school with. The guy even wrote a book about it called The Real Constanza.
posted by Onanist at 3:36 AM on October 13, 2004


The best teen movie ever made is Say Anything...

I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.
posted by signal at 6:41 AM on October 13, 2004


I'll second Rock & Roll High School as the best teen movie ever.

John Hughes can kiss my purple butt, and John Cusack, much as I want to like him more than I do, is overrated.
posted by chicobangs at 7:24 AM on October 13, 2004


I don't know whether it's the best teen movie ever, but I thought Last American Virgin was completely freaking bizarre.
posted by subgenius at 3:13 PM on October 14, 2004


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