Easy Rider (1969)

By Jason Haskins

Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper star as two biker friends travelling cross-country to experience all that America has to offer, be that drugs, the counter-culture, or women as the wind flies through their hair. They encounter some strange people along the way and befriend another travelling man (Jack Nicholson) who they introduce marijuana to for some good times on their way from Los Angeles to New Orleans. In the heat of the sixties, their kind aren’t welcome in the South and while they open their minds to drugs, the outsiders are finding it hard to open their minds to them.

This is a road-trip movie, but more than that it was a defining motion picture in the counter-culture movement when it was released in 1969. While it did garner some attention particularly on the art-house scene, it was very famous for its depictions of the tensions in the time period between the working class and the hippie movement as well as the graphic use of marijuana and nomad lifestyle, which hadn't really been seen in such a new way to this point in cinema. Today, it's still considered a staple of American cinema and one of the most important films of the sixties because of its counterculture properties.

Directed by Dennis Hopper (his first film behind the camera), it was loosely shot without a necessarily finished script and suffered some setbacks because of all the drinking and drug use that was happening around the set. That makes the movie a little weird to watch as you see Peter Fonda occasionally stumbling around and obviously stoned as well as how meandering the plot becomes at some points, which hints at Hopper's tainted sort of psychosis. However, the film holds up extremely well as it chronicles the journey two men take in the outdoors and the results are incredibly satisfying.

All of the performances are extremely well done, which I guess is a no-brainer since they were on drugs most of the time like their characters were supposed to be, but they did it with such finesse. Peter Fonda is remarkably attractive and the more down-to-earth of the two whereas Hopper plays more of a wild card. About halfway through the movie you are introduced to Nicholson's character who steals the whole movie. This was before he was huge star and this was the film that put him on the map (step aside Little House of Horrors). The film itself is worth a watch just for the marijuana sequence where the three men chat around a campfire about UFOs. Nicholson definitely serves as a bit of comic relief, that's for sure (him and his golden football helmet).

Everything is generally really well done. I was blown away by the cinematography for one. Some parts of the movie were shot with a 16mm camera (which includes the great Mardi Gras sequence at the end), but a majority of the film is shot in 35mm--capturing the beautiful landscapes of all our great country has to offer as the boys ride their choppers through.

The editing style is very intrusive as it calls attention to the jarring effect of itself throughout most of the film, and I actually found it quite mesmerizing since it gives you a feeling, almost, of being on drugs yourself. You could say the same thing about the infamous LSD sequence near the end, which takes place in a graveyard (easily one of my favorite moments in the entire film). Hopper definitely shows his directing chops here, which, sadly, I don't think he was able to accomplish with as much attitude and finesse again in the span of his career.

And you can't forget the soundtrack! You'll be listening to Jimi Hendrix, Steppenwolf, and The Band amongst a few other artists, which make the flick even more fun to watch as they ride their bikes from experience to experience. Aside from the visually oriented good stuff, you have some awesome ear candy to chew on. Overall, this film holds up extremely well as it gives you an authentic look into the counterculture movement.

I dug it immensely and the themes that are conjured. While a few things are pushed down your throat (especially the finale), the entire movie gives you a great slice of life and a diabolically fun little journey to take with these two characters. It's not necessarily the most exciting movie of all time and the drug usage may take a few people out of the movie--that's to be expected. However, it's really worth it to see because of the cinematic historical value and because of how much of a fun watch it is.

5 out of 5 Stars

© Jason Haskins, 2011