SLACKER
US, 1991, 97 minutes, Colour.
Richard Linklater, Jean Caffeine, Rudy Bazquez, Jan Hockey, Stephen Hockey.
Directed by Richard Linklater.
Slacker is an eccentric comedy, small-budget, written and directed by Richard Linklater - who appears in the first episode as the taxi passenger. The film was shot in Austin, Texas, Linklater a college dropout making films by interviewing eccentric characters in the city. He uses the Robert Altman style of film-making and tracking (also used by John Sales in City of Hope): focusing on one story, people passing by who then become the focus of the next story, and a succession of episodes accordingly. As the day passes, one gets an impression of a range of people in Austin, Texas. However, Linklater focuses on younger people, many dropouts similar to himself (all with their Bill and Ted, Wayne's World kind of language and perspective).
Some of the episodes are particularly funny, ironic on American style - interpretation of dreams, murders, race relationships, youth ambitions, conspiracy theories...
1. Entertaining small-budget feature? Its fluid style? The episodes and the range of conversations? The passing of a day in Austin, Texas?
2. The Texas locations, the range of city locations? The impact of Austin?
3. The fluid style, tracking and changing focus of characters? Long tracking shots throughout the streets - by foot, in vehicles? The interview style? Musical score?
4. The title and the focus on the serious and the ironic? The slacker generation (dropouts and those disillusioned with the '80s)? Language, attitudes, work, study, hanging out? The science fiction, conspiracy, MTV generation?
5. The opening mood, the bus arrival, the passenger in the taxi - and recounting his dreams to the uncomprehending Hispanic taxi driver? The accident and hit-run - leading to the arrest?
6. The characters and their talk, age, men rather than women, the eccentrics, conspiracy theories, relationships and activities?
7. The overall impact - entertaining? Insights? American style?
