When did Matthew McConaughey get good?

Honestly, Dazed and Confused was sort of a fluke. He hadn't really acted professionally, but he was in great hands with a great director and script. His character was small and stylized. Great performance, but not really indicative of what he would do for the next 15 years. He kind of seems super out of his depth in A Time to Kill.

I think I realized he was great when I watched Mud. I then subsequently saw Lincoln Lawyer, Killer Joe, and Bernie. They all confirmed that he had arrived in a major way. True Detective sealed the deal. It's really interesting to watch his career progression.