Easy Rider
Directed by Dennis Hopper
Written by Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, and Terry Southern
1969/US
IMDb page
First viewing/Amazon Instant
One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
Billy: That’s what it’s all about, man, I mean, like, you know. You go for the big money, man, and you’re free! You dig?
Captain America: We blew it. Good night, man.
Somehow I waited this long to see this film. It did not disappoint my expectations.
Wyatt – AKA Captain America (Peter Fonda) = and Billy are best buds and spend much of their time smoking buds as well. They sell cocaine to Mexicans at a handsome profit. Their next goal is to reach New Orleans in time for the start of Mardi Gras the following week. In a haze of good vibes and drugs, they drive though the beautiful Southwest.
Their fortunes turn sour when they reach the American South. Red-necks have no love for drugged-out hippie long hairs. Wyatt and Billy are forced to spend a night in jail. There they meet George Hansen (Jack Nicholson) who is drying out from his latest drunk. George, a lawyer, evidently comes from money and is treated with deference. Nonetheless, George is game for whatever is thrown at him and experiences a new world as the journey continues.
I have been following Jack Nicholson’s career since his appearance in The Cry Baby Killer (1958). The intervening years saw him act in many B genre pictures, lots of them produced and/or directed by Roger Corman. He was a pleasant juvenile. He is in this picture for seventeen minutes – during these he demonstrates an astonishing depth and star quality that are miles ahead of his previous work. One of the great breakout performances.
Other positives are Lazlo Kovac’s gorgeous cinematography of desert vistas and the awesome soundtrack featuring the druggie hits of the era. I’m not as enamored of the script. Nonetheless, this was a seminal film of the era and earns its must-see status.
Easy Rider was nominated by the Academy for Best Supporting Actor (Nicholson) and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Material Not Previously Published or Produced.
“Born to be Wild” begins at approx 1:25
