Glory Daze

Plot synopsis:
22 year-old Jack Freeman is graduating from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in art, and is hurting from a recent breakup with his ex-girlfriend Dina. He shares a house called "El Rancho" with four friends: Rob is also graduating, and preparing to move to Los Angeles with his girlfriend Joanie, though he is worried about settling down and living so close to Joani's mother. Dennis is a perpetual student with three degrees who, after six years at UCSC, is moving on to an MBA program in Michigan. Mickey is a cartoonist with a year of college still to go, and has feelings for their friend Chelsea but is too shy to reciprocate her affections. Josh, aka "Slosh", had a promising academic future but failed out of college in favor of a life of drinking and working a series of menial jobs.
Art professor Luther criticizes Jack's final sculpture project for expressing an uninteresting, suburban, middle-class worldview, but praises Dennis' thesis—a photo-essay of Slosh getting drunk and working at dead-end jobs—and offers him an apprenticeship; Jack suggests that this is only because Luther has a homosexual attraction toward Dennis, a notion Dennis dismisses. Not wanting their college days to end, Jack convinces his friends to postpone their respective plans and stay at El Rancho for another year. They celebrate the decision by throwing a party, at which Chelsea, tired of her feelings for Mickey going unrequited, makes sexual advances toward Jack. He turns her down, and she leaves the party embarrassed. Rob gets into an argument with Joanie, causing her to leave angrily.
After the commencement ceremony the next day, Rob reconciles with Joanie and meets her mother, and they end up getting along. Jack argues with his parents over his future, and they leave abruptly. Jack encourages Mickey to pursue a relationship with Chelsea. Luther makes a pass at Dennis during a faculty luncheon, confirming Jack's suspicion about his ulterior motives. Dennis and Jack vent their frustrations with Luther by cutting down a totem pole that his sculpture students spent two semesters creating.
At a beach bonfire that night, Slosh tells Jack that it was Jack's carefree attitude that inspired him to give up on college, and that he does not regret his decision because he no longer fears what the future may hold. At Slosh's encouragement, Jack attempts to win back Dina, but she rebuffs him. Back at El Rancho, Mickey admits his feelings to Chelsea, and the two share a kiss. Jack and the others realize that they should not really stay another year, that it is time to move on with their adult lives. To preserve their memories of the house and prevent any future residents from despoiling it, they proceed to smash their furniture and belongings, culminating in the destruction of the bar counter that they had built together.
The next day, the five friends go their separate ways: Rob leaves for Los Angeles with Joanie, Dennis heads off to school in Michigan, and Mickey and Chelsea begin dating. Slosh moves in with a group of new students he has befriended, and hangs the El Rancho sign on their house. As Jack leaves town, he stops at a restaurant where Dina is eating with her new boyfriend, and writes "angst for the memories" on the window as a farewell message to her.

Tags: romantic

Review:
Like many people have said before, if you've ever been in a similar situation, this film will resonate deeply!
Obviously that makes just as much sense as people who loved it, not everyone can relate to the story or understand the journey, but i wouldn't want people to be put off from seeing it purely on the strength of the negative reviews.
Great performances from the whole cast, perfectly balanced with a brilliant punk soundtrack.
I'm a big fan of the examination of teens and young adults (being a teenager myself) and Glory Daze is a great story of a group of best friends on the eve of adulthood and how basically all of them are terrified of moving on from college and into the real world.During the movie we discover the various characteristics, interests, styles, dreams and aspirations of the various leading characters.
All of the plots involved in Glory Daze are simple, but flow smoothly and steadily in the backdrop of campus parties and bonfires.
The acting is superb and the cast is simply perfect(of course it's better to watch the movie now when most of the actors (Ben Affleck, Sam Rockwell, and French Stewart) all become more well known names.
I love the end of the movie (but I won't spoil anything).
I recommend this movie to anyone, especially teenagers, who just want to watch a movie about the fun and anxiety of the last days of real youth.
I also recommend Dazed And Confused, a great teen movie..
But, as a fan of this film, I've grown to see it for what it most likely was intended to be...a pleasant, relatable buddy flick whose characters could have only been based almost entirely on personal relationships.
Growing up, and out of your comfort zone is all too common of a post adolescent's defining hour and that is exactly what this movie explores.The music and sense of humor in Glory Daze are proof of a personal reliance towards the materiel and not just some A-hole producer/director trying to cash in on the maturing sentiment.
I'm gonna end with Kevin Smith on this one, I like Affleck, cause he's just a good dude, and so it seems are the rest of the cast and those involved in the creation of Glory Daze.
Good dudes, who think, what more could you honestly ask from this movie?.
A better college movie than "Animal House".
Ah, what a wonderful little gem "Glory Daze" is.
Everyone extols the virtues of "Animal House," calling it the greatest college comedy ever, but for my generation of college students, I bet "Glory Daze" would be seen as a far better film (if only people would SEE it).Ben Affleck is great in his portrayal of Jack, the ultimate purveyor of suburban angst.
He gives a most memorable performance.The best thing about "Glory Daze" is its honesty; even the tough, angry Jack breaks down when it comes to love.
Give this one a chance; any college student should relate (especially those male ones who are free of the fraternity lifestyle)..
Any one who a had a social life as a student at U.C. Santa Cruz, will love this movie.
It has just really helped me (nearly 10 years later) to find a bit of closure with what the heck happened back then during the greatest time of my life!
I love the scenes of Santa Cruz and especially liked the bus scene between Ben Affleck, Lhea Remini, and Brendan Frasier.
There is a strong moral in the movie, it's hard to find but it can be gleaned from any college graduate.
As for any banana slugs out there, save this movie when your thirty and you'll completely realize why you did what you did, and how Santa Cruz will always be on your mind.
That's a good thing I believe, because we lived in a very special place that seems to create amazingly talented and successful people.
Watch this movie with an open mind.
Its so cool, funny and intelligent and I love Ben Affleck in this.
Not to give anything away, watch it if you like to think about your past and reflect on all the good/bad times.
Before you get excited about a cast that includes the likes of Brendan Fraser, Matthew McConaughey, Matt Damon and Leah Remini, ("The King of Queens"), let it be stated for the record that the sum total of screen time for these four players is something in the region of three minutes.
At the time they were marked as new talent to be watched; before they became stars.College comedies tend to be crude and downright stupid.
While "Glory Daze" does have it's moments of such things it is redeemed by some good ensemble playing.
Being the story of a bunch of guys renting a house it's crucial that the bond between the characters of this disparate group be palpable.
While dealing with the serious issue of making decisions which will affect the rest of one's life, "Glory Daze" remains light, never losing sight of what it set out to be; a fun movie.
Ben Affleck is surprisingly good in this early role, but that in itself is a back handed compliment, since it also indicates how little he's developed with his elevation to big star status.
French Stewart is less irritating that one may expect as too is Alyssa Milano.Interesting mainly for the cast, "Glory Daze' has a nice feel to it, but not one to seek out..
Great Movie but watch it only once.
Ben is superb in this angst-ridden comedy about the end of senior year in college at a west coast university.
Ben is ONLY SUPERB when there are over 4 other cast members with a lot of speaking parts.Affleck is like The Eagles.
I don't have to list his flops."Glory Daze" is pretty much a guy flick.
I enjoyed the destruction of the frat house, the woven scenarios of the other cast members and the fact the writer/or director finally had an Asian actor in a role that had lines.Afflect re-visits his "Chasing Amy" depression and whining that was tolerable, but we've been there before.
However for Ben fans who haven't seen "Chasing" its a whimpering treat.In summary, rent or just buy the DVD for the funny French Stewart lines, the destruction of the frat house, the Asian guy who actually has lines, that Milano chick, the music and the fact that there is no happy ending.
PCU and Animal house are very slapstick and obvious, while Glory Daze is more lifelike.
Excellent casting...excellent setting...hilarious characters...great lines !.
God, on the outside, "Glory Daze" is a crude, depressing movie.
It is what most movie makers dream of making: something entertaining, yet so substantial that you can't help but say "whoa" as the impact of what happens hits you.
"Life is ever-changing," it says to you, "and we all try to stop it from changing at some point, but then we realize that we can't and find it better just to move on and continue to live.".
It's two days before Jack Freeman (Ben Affleck) graduates with a liberal arts degree from University of California.
He lives with his friends cartoonist Mickey, long-time student Dennis (French Stewart), Slosh who keeps quitting his jobs, and Rob (Sam Rockwell).
He wonders if he could extend his glory daze.There is an aimlessness to the movie much like Jack.
Matt Damon makes a cameo like Ben's lap dog which is fun.
Two days before graduation, Jack (Ben Affleck) is having serious doubts about the future.
The old gang is breaking up; Rob is moving to LA with his girlfriend; Dennis (French Stewart) is finishing his third degree and going to grad school in Michigan; Slosh has dropped out of school and stays drunk all the time; and Mickey (Vinnie DeRamus) seems tired of the scene and wishes he had the guts to tell his friend Chelsea (Alyssa Milano) how he feels about her.
You have to love this incredible cast (including some who went on to much bigger and better things), with some nice cameos from Matt Damon as a hated ex-roommate and Matthew McConaughey as an alcoholic rental truck representative.This is one of the many mid-90s slacker films, alongside "Stoned Age", "Suburbia" and others.
The film has some laughs (French Stewart is great), but there's nothing here to make me care about the characters.
I felt like I was watching cardboard cutouts skate boarding, drinking, sculpting, partying, and trying to get laid, all covered with a thin veneer of angst.
If you pounded beers in college than you'll relate to this film.
Smart writing, and great performances make this flick above the usual beer blast caught on film.
Don't be fooled by the new cheesy cover art with Affleck and Milano on it, this film is raw and a good time.
There is a shot or two depicting a clock in this film that totally make the movie for me.
Being a male in his early twenties I love this film.
I saw this movie a few years ago.
I remember watching it twice, back to back cause I liked it so much.
I just remembered French Stewart, Ben Affleck and Brendan Frasier were in it.
I came to this site to find out what the name of the movie is and was appalled to find negative comments about "Glory Daze".
Were those of you who didn't enjoy this movie actually watching it?
I explain why Glory Daze (Last Contact)is a great movie.
Hello, i just want to comment the admiration i feel for Glory Daze.
This is a very good film.
If you see it once, you are loosing many things, and you could think "what a simply movie, or just kids destroying a house".
I think it represents many people, and i felt identified with it a lot.
Its a film based on some intelligent and very good people punk-rock guys.
Least I can say, this is a great movie.
Least I can say, this is a great movie.
Extremely funny and moving, as well as a great punk reference movie.
This is simply a great movie.
This is simply a great movie.
If you're a fan of Kevin Smith, if you like "Good Will Hunting" then this movie is bound to be in your top ten list.
If you're new to low-budget films, "Glory Daze" is excellent proof that good films don't require loads of money and dazzling special effects.The actors are top notch!
Rich Wilkes did a great job of including different aspects of the social circle while avoiding the stereotype syndrome.
Didn't feel like I was on the outside looking in at all!The bus scene is a riot!
Not that this is the only funny scene, you'll be laughing throughout the entire movie.
http://us.imdb.com/Quotes?Glory+Daze+(1996)
Any teenager, especially any teenager who understands the references to Camus, should love this movie.
Ben Affleck turns in a wonderful performance, as per usual.
If you happen to listen to punk music, well then, you should adore this movie's soundtrack as well.
It is so fitting to every scene (with the exception of the live band.) The movie is worth watching for the cameos alone: Matthew McConaughey, Brendan Fraser, Janeane Garofalo, Matt Damon; all wonderful, but tiny, parts.
This is certainly one of the best movies I've seen in a long time.
Any one who liked Dazed and Confused, to Empire Records, to (aiming a bit higher here,) The Breakfast Club, should love this movie.
Slick like a MTV video, rap pulsating in the background, punky post-grunge set and clothing, Glory Daze amuses, but it's shallow, clichéd amusement.
The senior year at college winds down and all the stereo-types jam a run down student's house.
Bad movie with some great scenes and rockin tunes.
OK, "Animal House" it's not, but the film did have it's highlights.
Scrap most of the movie and FF to the bus scene for a hilarious one-on-one between Ben Affleck and Jay Lacopo.
youth, life and the future (+great music!).
glory daze would definitely be on my top 10 movie list.
jack, the central character, is still infatuated with his ex-girlfriend as well as facing the disappointment of his parents for getting a degree in art.
these three are joined by "slosh" a college dropout and mickey, a cartooninst who just can't seem to tell his love interest, played my alissa milano, how he feels.
glory daze could have been a typical "party and have sex at college" film, but it surpasses mediocracy and delves into great character development and hilarious dialouge.
glory daze explores these emotions, not from an adults perspective, but from the point of view of young adults about to face to world.
add to this a great soundtrack with music by the vandals, NOFX, bad religion, the mr t.
This movie was well informed as far as the music references go...
"SPALDING GREY is the most exciting character in the movie."  -wow.
Surprised anyone could rate this movie 8/10 or higher.
I wish I would of came on here to see some of the ratings off this movie before actually watching it.
Some people actually liked it which I am surprised but I guess everyone has their own opinions.
I think this movie is very poor and do not recommend it to anyone.
This movie I thought would be about teen life and the steps taken when you face the real world but all I saw was confusing story lines that went nowhere.
This movie is not funny or entertaining at all.
If you wish to see a movie about stupid teens watch Dazed and Confused.
Dazed and confused is a much better movie and I recommend to see that and never to see this.
This movie is my youth which makes it close to my heart.
Most people that watch it will think that it might be worthy of "B" movie status.
I totally understand but as a young punk in the 90's this movie is amazing.
It does a great job of capturing the angst of the "affluent white male" which as our good friend Luther let's us know in the film no one gives a damn about.
When I want to smile and reminisce about the good old says I put this film on(until recently on VHS!) and it makes me remember great times at Florida State.
I rented Glory Daze at a little film place in West Davis, CA.
I left Davis, CA and started a new career, only to come back here for her...the wrong reason, but my life is better just the same.
I'm here, and I loved this movie, especially after I got to know Santa Cruz a little bit.
It's a very local NorCal flick mixed in with some good faces, I loved it, and it really does speak to the graduating, broken hearted NorCal crew.
I didn't have very high expectations for this movie and when I saw Mr. Affleck and his haircut, I was thinking to myself (or maybe I even said it out loud), oh no here we go again, another Gen-X "look at us" type flick.
Glory Daze deals with a lot of issues near and dear to our hearts (us in the 18-23 age range) and even gave me some hope.
Be a deadbeat for a while and get your career started whenever you feel like it, yeah!
French Stewart, yes, Ben Affleck, yes, Spalding Gray, yes...
Glory Daze, what a movie.
Not only is the acting superb (it's because of Ben Affleck's brilliant performance), the whole atmosphere of the movie is true to today's world.
Represented by modern issues, this movie allows room for thought and justification towards what the characters are really feeling.
Days before graduation college students have doubts about moving on to the next step in life, well, in-between beers they have doubts..
What do Ben Affleck and Sam Rockwell, have in common?
They are both now famous, respected actors, and movies like 'Glory Daze' helped shape their careers.
The movie, set in the 90′s, follows a group of college students that just might not be ready to let go of the party life.
Ben Affleck conveys the perfect combination of anger and uncertainty in life, and when you throw in relationship issues he becomes a pretty evolved character.
Rockwell, the one with the girlfriend in the movie, faces an issue of every graduating guy in his position, "do I stick with her and get serious, or do I go get some strange?" His struggle is uncomfortable to watch, in a good way, especially when Matthew McConaughey makes a cameo showing him what his life could be if it goes terribly wrong.
To avoid forming a list here I will just say the others also did a great job playing their parts, especially Slosh (Vien Hong), the former computer geek, current party animal.Unlike some college movies that play off of pretty much every college stereotype, 'Glory Daze' seems more realistic and genuine.
I actually found myself believing that these actors could be college students.
They looked a bit old, but it was a far cry from the thirty year olds playing high schoolers on 90210.Writer Director Rich Wilkes (Airheads) does an admirable creating believable characters, but does have some trouble with the flow of the story.
A movie like this should be almost like the perfect mix tape, you start of strong, drop it down a notch, then right back up.
Instead we start of with "Thunderstruck" and get twenty minutes of Coldplay, and no one wants that Speaking of mix tapes, 'Glory Daze' has a soundtrack that is filled with that 90′s music that is sure to ignite that nostalgic feeling of "oh yeah, I remember that " so sit back, enjoy the ride, and remember how much better things were the 90′s.