"Easy Rider," 1969, directed by Dennis Hopper. Starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper (both writers, the first also producer), as well as Jack Nicholson, who received his first Oscar nomination and fame for the role of Hanson. A film about a turning point in recent U.S. history - the Vietnam War, the assassination of Kennedy and M. L. King. The theme of the film was the words of the hero of the Captain America Foundation: “It’s one thing to talk about freedom, it’s another to be free.” A beautiful video sequence and soundtrack, for the selection of compositions, a separate thank you to Dennis Hopper, God bless his sinful soul. "Ballad of Easy Rider" was performed by Roger McGuinn (according to legend - Bob Dylan sketched only one verse, and Roger brought the song to mind). . .
Strange, of course, freedom in understanding the new generation of Americans, if you do not take into account its leitmotif and general message. It was the 1960s, in the courtyard ' Summer of Love', hippies in dozens of US cities gather to create a spiritual phenomenon and eternal celebration. The neighborhoods smelled of marijuana, from dozens of dilapidated and cramped Volkswagens, decorated ' in flower', there is a musical mess from Janice Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and solo parts of Jerry Garcia. Young people are fascinated, drug frenzy is not able to stop any cop nearby; everything is allowed - another motto of the era along with the hardened ' Make Love, Not War' and 'Give Peace A Chance'. Here's the story in 'Easy Rider' not far behind the ideals of rebellious days. After earning a few profits from the sale of cocaine, two bikers Wyatt & #39; Captain America' and Billy warm up their long-nosed ' Harley' and go in search of true free existence. They rush to the rolls of rock music, which, by the way, although not for the first time sounded in the cinema (suffice it to recall ' Graduate' with Dustin Hoffman), it was from this moment that it firmly entered the everyday life of cinema. But even among the authentic wilderness, those born to be savages cannot fully enjoy the freedom that has suddenly fallen from the sky.
Hippie culture has previously touched the cinema, including the authors of this film have had a hand in this, so the new journey is not the first. But it is ' Easy rider' was lucky to become the anthem of the counterculture - this tape is all permeated with nonconformism in relation to the traditional life of the country, starting with the filming pavilions, where chaos, lack of plan and permissiveness reigned. Why do America’s new children want such a murky and downright dirty reality? Dennis Hopper partnered with Peter Fonda to plunge into the thick of acid society to try to answer this question. Wearing a cowboy hat and leather jacket, they head into the heart of the upcoming religious festival and explore the catchy phenomenon along the way. They look at the road that is spread out among the giant wastelands and try to find the truth in it. And the road first throws them a hitchhiker, who brings friends to the commune with other hippies, and spiritualized nymphs, living in a barn among goats, teach guests free love. Rejected savages have no choice but to let them into motels. Later, a lawyer who met in prison, played by a young Jack Nicholson, will explain: ' People are afraid of what you bring' - having, apparently, such a welcome freedom. It's never happened. It was as if the lawyer had become the Messiah for the travelers, the Jesus of today, and he paid for it, justifying Luis Buñuel’s judgment from Nazarin 39 that men would destroy God again. But his wisdom passed into other minds. And the question of why be likened to insignificant fellow citizens from civilized villages fell away on their own. The answer is obvious.
Yes, old and stuck in the past rednecks do not need change. George Hanson, this philosophizing lawyer, was right - encouraged by bland patriotism and traditional norms of life, they see informals as a threat and, apparently, really fear. If even John Fogerty and Robert Altman don’t convince them of the horror of war, no one will listen to the rotten bikers. If we have not learned how to manage fate frivolously, we will not let the rest of us – long live fair democracy! They can’t see falsehood in speeches about national dignity and pride, or understand that a friendly subculture has come to save their families. It is much easier to sit in cafeterias and insult the latter for their appearance (there are no other reasons they can not notice, although they are enough), and then sneak up and kill them, ' the infidels' thus proving their own freedom. They won't answer them - it's not honorable for a young man in the 1960s to take up arms. Perhaps that’s why 'Captain America' at some point gets tired of fighting and despairing. His last race to meet fate could not interrupt the future he saw in the psychedelic trip, as Dennis Hopper depicted him in a torn style. He, a careless rider, does not abandon the precepts of Gandhi - he continues precisely the peaceful struggle and drives a motorcycle along the road with the same stoic expression. Wyatt knew in advance that his phenomenon would not break dead morals. However, the biker deliberately rushed first into a drug bacchanalia in the old cemetery, and then into the stream of preconceived consciousness along with the dude Billy. He probably had no choice but to move on. This is the will of the new generation brought up by Kerouac, and it is not accepted. The harmless existence of overgrown young people, like wild and noble animals, is unnecessary. That's what Hopper says, that's his verdict and conviction that laid the foundations of New Hollywood. And they still found a response, because after the stunning success of #39; Easy Rider' it became fashionable among the people to say sarcastically: ' Let America, hanging in a nuclear loop, continue to wait for financial collapses, racial inequality. And its population, pleased with the victories in Vietnam, let them continue to fear change.39 And in the country through art began to change.
7 out of 10
Two biker friends, Whitet and Billy, having pulled off a good drug deal in Mexico, went on their fancy motorcycles from California to Florida. Whitet's gas tank has a lot of dollar money, gorgeous views on the sides of flat roads, cheerful fellow travelers and nice girls periodically meet, and in general, life is good. But there's always some fucking catch. And one of them is people of archaic-spooky thinking, who, you know, do not perceive stray drug addicts and are ready to kick them off with an oak, and in especially uncontrolled gusts and just shoot them from a shotgun.
In the history of American cinema, this work of a drug addict, an alcoholic, an average actor and just a good man Dennis Hopper is considered a milestone, a turning point and, sorry for pathos, revolutionary. The face, so to speak, of New Hollywood. Film critics here saw a lot of things “high and deep”, but the real thing that the movie really amazes is the box office. Hopper and his friends-drinkers put road Movie for twenty ($360,000), and as a result in the world box office fought off a fantastic 41 million. This, rather than the theme of the film, largely predetermined the decline of the studio system in Hollywood. On the proscenium began to climb bold and arrogant with their author's crafts, and most of the new director's names were much more talented than Dennis Hopper.
And as for the value guidelines of the “Easy Rider”, here, first of all, there is the spirit of the new time – the smell of freedom as a protest against the traditionally imposed by the state and society skewed obligations. Yes – drugs, alcohol, promiscuous sex, informal clothing and endless travel. No – rules, customs, violence against the person and long anchorages. But here is the form with which Hopper came to the viewer, as well as the plot canvas – all this is very ugly here. Road Movie turns into a goalless trip for some dream there, while the heroes leave the state (California) where the fashion for such informals is the norm, and they rod into the states of the traditionalist patriarchal foundation, wondering afterwards why they are always being fucked. Finally, the very denouement of the film - hypertrophied tragic - reeks of schematic boyhood.
Yes, Hopper guessed with the public request, but to put a really aesthetically cool picture was not in his power.
But thanks to this production in Hollywood finally after a long stagnation rose star Jack Nicholson. 32-year-old actor all 60-ies beat his head on the ice in the cinema, participating in various garbage productions of Roger Corman and by the end of the decade slid to writing the same garbage scripts, because work on his acting profile was not.
In fact, “Easy Rider” was planned for the same garbage project category “B” – Nicholson, along with Hopper and Fonda, traveled around the States, smoked pot, invented dialogues on the go. But all of a sudden it all got into trend and the film academy noticed the production and notable play of Nicholson, who played a small role of an alcoholic lawyer. I’m not sure if that was the role that deserved the Oscar nomination, but if it weren’t, who knows what Jack’s fate would have been. He probably would have given up on that fucking movie. But then he was given a chance and continued to get stuck. Since the early 70s, Nicholson will climb to the top of the top stars of Hollywood and will stay on it for the next four decades.
I liked in this film and the representative of the star dynasty of the Fund – fashionable handsome Peter. The actor created an interesting character – peaceful, conflict-free, philosophical – in general, a glossy image of a drug addict-rocker. Let’s add stylish orange glasses, leather jacket with the US flag and crazy bike “Captain America”, which has become an icon and a coveted dream of “motak lovers”. Against his background, the hero of Dennis Hopper - a mustachioed and grounded Billy in a cowboy hat - looked simple and even surprising, how in this bullish locals of the south did not recognize their redneck.
Definitely overestimated in cultural significance, the wacky work of Dennis Hopper, who was lucky with time and trend (this is a kind of Blair Witch, which hit the box office). As for me, the main merit of this picture is the discovery for world cinema of the stunning Jack Nicholson, who in “Easy Rider” was still not amazing.
6.5 out of 10
“Easy rider” for me is a dull and meaningless movie.
When I saw the scores and a lot of positive reviews on the Kinopoisk, I expected to see something like Christopher Nolon's Remember or Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, but I saw something ridiculous.
“Smooth Rider” tells the story of two bikers who are free from all social prejudice, they do not care about public opinion, they can do whatever they want. The main theme of this film is freedom. The whole story revolves around her. But when you watch this film, it seems that the real freedom for the authors is the opportunity to go to tartaras and smoke a pair of joints before going to bed. Is that real freedom? – No, dudes, it’s a meaningless burning of life.
In 90 minutes, "Easy Rider" didn't convey any clever thoughts to me. During this time you will see beautiful landscapes of America, two stoned bikers and the same stoned hippies and plenty of dialogue about imaginary freedom and dope.
It’s hard to say anything about acting, because I’ve been watching two stone faces of the two main characters throughout the film. Of all the cast can be distinguished only Jack Nicholsan, who played well. Otherwise, the characters look soulless and it is not worth talking about any sympathy. I didn’t care if they got to a festival or not.
Operating work is bold, unusual, interesting. But I did not understand at all why these epileptic transitions and close-ups were needed. How do they help to better convey the main idea? In the same "1917" Sam Mendes uses a long frame to better convey the sense of time. The viewer seems to experience every minute of the action with the heroes. But in "Easy Rider" all these effects are useless.
Music is a little green island in this movie. Great 60s rock songs. It is thanks to them that the “Sleepless Rider” for me did not sink to the bottom.
Maybe I just didn’t understand this film, maybe it conveys some clever thoughts to the viewer, but “Heavenly Rider” did not convey anything to me. After watching, he left only disappointment.
P.S. It would be interesting to know the opinion of the person who liked this film.
2 out of 10
If you're lucky enough to talk to today's seventy-year-olds who have kept their minds clear, this film will have a different opinion. The fact is that even differences in the structures of society and all sorts of political things did not make us and Americans so different half a century ago that we could not understand each other.
You don’t understand so much that you want to fight to the death. If you want to understand what happened to them and to us, why it was easy for our grandfathers to fight against a common enemy, and today everything is not so, then among other materials for study this film will help.
At first glance, it is about how two friends resold drugs and made money for a carefree life: bought bikes and went to the carnival (Mardi Gras). On the way, they learned the faces of the homeland: some accepted them, others brought to acid hallucinations, others killed.
In a literal sense, the film is about a generation of individualistic idiots who imagined themselves as the masters of life, but in fact became victims.
In the figurative: the need to know oneself and one’s people became acute, the desire to do something to grow up was strong, but no one understood what to do. And a generation is lost. This Lost Generation was lost, entangled in post-war well-being, overtaking in lostness the first Génération perdue that arose between the wars (World War I and World War II).
The film recorded the fact, and the spectator had to guess how it happened. And he still seems to be guessing.
There’s a bit of action in this film: the characters are driving, talking during the stop and ' having fun' towards the end, but watching it is not at all boring. Why?
It is incredibly beautiful. Each scene—the desert, the mountains, the plateau, the roadside store, or all of it—brings a huge amount of aesthetic pleasure. Heroes just drive along the road and you like to watch them travel.
It's full of great music. When The Pusher plays, you want to shake your head to the sound of a muffled string, when The Weight plays, the light motif sings itself, and you can talk about it for a long time. I’ll just say that every song has its place here, and if you like 60s music, you should definitely watch this movie.
The feeling of freedom. The characters of the film can go wherever they want: the whole country is open to them and this indescribable sense of freedom is emphasized by the landscapes mentioned above - the breadth of space around the characters gives the impression that the whole world lies before them. And in front of the audience.
The issue of freedom ... The film shows people living on the outskirts, regardless of the urban environment. They smoke, drink, perform in their theater. But are those who are confined to their camp so free? These Robinsons, 39, are forced to ask the wanderers for help and sow seeds on the sandy soil in the hope that something will grow. Is it possible to call free the guests of the cafe, making angry comments about travelers? The dialogue between the main characters draws a line on this issue, but what about them? The film gives food for thought, and, most likely, after watching you will be able to give your answer to each question.
This film turned out to be so pleasant and easy that I do not want to criticize it.
10 out of 10
I would especially recommend it to 60s culture lovers.
I bought high marks, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson and the story of free bikers. After watching more than half of the film for about an hour, I thought where the action is, where the plot, where the motivator to watch the film to the end and curiosity what will happen next, but unfortunately was lowered from the sky under the ground. I haven’t seen any of the above, and this is a movie about bikers, about freedom, where you expect adventure, chases, fights and so on, but in fact you see the usual rides of two friends, absolutely nothing extraordinary. Literally in each episode you expect now there will be something interesting, some kind of bundle, but really nothing happens, the usual ' household' that is, scratching your tongue about life. The end is not clear at all, after watching the film, I immediately flashed the famous phrase of John Malkovich - ' What a f*ck is it?'
Honestly, with my hand on my heart, I do not understand why such assessments, the film is bored, not interesting, no action, no tie-up, plus there are incomprehensible moments with drug addiction, where there is an editing of a stoned person, it is not clear for what purpose. Someone can say, like, a smart movie, not for everyone, probably it is. Although I’ve watched a lot of smart movies ' not for everyone' and in many ways I agree with the basic assessments, but here’s not. The spirit of freedom, the spirit of America, and interest and spirit more YouTubers who travel by car around the country, there is at least some interesting and empathy for them, because there all people are real, and in this film fictional who are much duller than real.
In general, cinema is far, far from everyone. There are no claims to the actors, they played perfectly, the script and editing are not clear, especially the script, for what and what the creators wanted to tell or show with this film is not clear. Although to my surprise, we have higher ratings than on the Western website, given that the film is about America, and it is included in the National Film Foundation. I don't know. I don't recommend it.
Road Movie, which boasts different adventures, locations and characters. Sometimes, this is so lacking among the many blockbusters and action. But this picture, although it blows freedom, has a bit of monotony in combination with rapid installation gluing, as it is not paradoxical. Just one day you catch yourself thinking: “When are they going anywhere?”
Before us are two free, independent bikers who not only tasted a better life, but follow it fully. Drugs, money, tanks full of fuel – rush for adventure. Such a separation from society, in which the action of the characters demonstrates their attitude to the social regime, order, way of thinking. Citizens do not have freedom, the alleged awareness of independence is constrained by some moral principles, etiquette, behavior. People who have always lived within certain limits, even in imaginary ones, will not be able to understand independent individuals, exposing them to display and laugh as outlandish exhibits.
Absurd shot: laying a plastic pipe with grandmother in a gas tank, in my opinion, is not the best idea. But it's safer to be safe. Rapid frame changes cause discomfort and misinformation. Director and performer of one of the main roles Dennis Hopper completely decided to break away from civilization and start all motorcycles. This is the beauty of the picture, we are first met by a gas station, where curious glances are cast at drivers.
Simple conversations, finding friends, a temporary trip together with new passengers. It would be nice to increase the number with each new stop, but this does not make sense, since there will always be two main riders, and personality variables influence and share stories. Each new territory reveals something secretive, interesting for the viewer, but also makes it clear that free people do not need this country. The third, more permanent traveler of the duo is Jack Nicholson. The young one's still here. An example of a citizen from a decent society who is fed up with such a banal and standard life. And here's the spirit of adventure and the brave guys. Why not?
Fun changes locations, travelers share stories, try something new for themselves. It's a narrative you get, it's interesting, because you can't predict the end of the movie. The hippie community, which found echoes in Tarantino’s new project, attracted with its advantages, but also repulsed with the peculiarities of life. The dramatic episode, which came out stupid, but promoted the plot, allowed you to look at an unusual travel location, but which also corresponded to complete freedom.
The footage of drug hallucinations is disgusting. I've certainly seen a lot of camera moves in such a plot setting, but in "Easy Rider" they are erect. And Danny Boyle's "On the Needle" is normal. The film comes to the end that this film needs. After all, despite the disadvantages that I noted for myself, the message of the picture is emotional. One cannot be free and independent in a society bound by chains and morals. There are rules and prohibitions everywhere, but there is no way to untie your hands. Perhaps such a regulated regime is not necessary for heroes, but there are also madmen who can do a lot of bad things, for them this legal system was developed. Cinema is in motion for spiritual upliftment.
I first saw this picture of Dennis Hopper 5 years ago, only to get acquainted with the filmography of Jack Nicholson. Since then, I have reviewed it many times. I don’t think it’s worth retelling the plot of the film for the 100th time and writing something like: ' this film is about freedom' – which in truth, some reviewers have already managed to do '. I think it’s a little different here.
What's the movie about? It seems to me that what is shown here is not ' the triumph of freedom', but rather its demise. At the time when the U.S. unleashed the war in Vietnam, society was divided into a counterculture 'Hipi' which initially began as a protest of Puritan morality and conservatives who denounced the movement. ' Children of flowers ' dreamed of making the world ' free ' to rid it of war and immerse everyone in a spiritual community. But as the war ended, so did the protest community. The film is about the end of freedom that never began.
To demonstrate this, we will analyze the key points of the film:
1) At the very beginning, after a successful deal, Captain America and Billy fly along the roads thinking that everything for a free life is ready, left to it & #39; get there'.
2) They meet camp ' Hipi' where we are shown a scene with dialogue, in which simple language they talk about the end of the movement ' Children of flowers':
': You know, these people came here too late. It was late to plant, sow, but the weather was wonderful, it was good here. Then came winter. There were 40-50 people in one room, there was nothing to eat, starving to death. Dead horses lay by the road. Now they have a man left 18.'
(3) Arrest for ' participation in the parade without permission', which gives the main characters the idea that you can not even move freely through the streets and everything needs permission from above.
4) A fireside conversation with Jack Nicholson's character about ' Aliens', where people are shocked by freedom and not ready for it:
Billy: If they're so smart, why don't they seem so smart?
George: If they showed up, it would cause a general panic. We still have leaders and we rely on them to publish information. And these leaders decided to press this information, because of the shock that it would cause.
Aliens are associated with freedom.
(5) A scene in a cafe where the characters are already perceived as criminals that the local police want to jail: 'Look at this woman with long hair. I think it would be nice to put him in a cage. ' What else may seem interesting in this scene: only 'young faces' look at the main characters not as criminals. Only young people are interested in this kind of life. The policemen win and the heroes have to leave.
(6) A scene where George talks about lost time and the threat people see in the main characters. What can be interpreted as: ' People fear freedom, they see it as a threat' Well, the subsequent symbolic scene that occurred at night, talking, as it seems to me, about ' the end of freedom of speech' - unfortunately, I can not make out at this point, because the restriction ' DO NOT SPOIL!' This forbids me.
7) Finally, Captain America talks about their loss. With the last scene that shows it visually.
The film is wonderful, I review it once a year.
8 out of 10
I may have fallen behind, but it wasn’t until the 50th anniversary of the film’s release that I was finally able to watch it. No, of course, I've probably seen individual scenes or episodes, on TV, before, but to watch from beginning to end ... decided only now. And if not for the high marks, I would hardly have paid attention to him.
Unfortunately, after watching it, I came to one conclusion - it's good that I haven't seen it before. The film seemed to me not only overrated, but simply boring and not interesting. Or maybe it's just not for me.
The story is very simple and clear... After pushing drugs, two hippie drug addicts decide to drive around the US states. And the farther they go, the less friendly the inhabitants meet them. These residents do not like those who are not like them, representatives of various subcultures - hippies, bikers. And they do not like so much that they can not only insult verbally, give in the face but also ... kill ... We often see complete lawlessness and impunity in a free, democratic country. It could have been a good movie... But -- it turned out what it did.
Perhaps this film captures the essence of 60s America... with its subcultures. With its beauties: mountains, rivers, plains, canyons... But all these undoubtedly beautiful places, shown somehow glimpses ... and absolutely not catchy. Well, a lot of boring conversations about nothing - do not add bonuses to this film.
I wouldn’t be surprised if I get stones, you don’t understand... this film is about freedom, inner and outer. You get on your “iron horse” and rush wherever your eyes look... do what you want, dress as you want, stop wherever you want. And maybe those people will be right. I’m going to say, “This movie isn’t for everyone.” Yes, you can say that about any movie, but in this case the statement will be very useful.
This film is designed primarily for the Americans themselves, with their orders and laws. After all, they know better how they lived in the '60s - a turbulent time when they were in fashion: a revolt against conservative morality, fatherly values, the so-called normal way of life. It was in these years, in America, that these very subcultures (hippies, bikers) were born - propagating: freedom, idleness, motorcycle racing and smoking weed.
It is not for nothing that in 1998, the Library of Congress entered the film “Easy Rider” in the National Register of films of special cultural, historical or aesthetic significance.
And of course, the film will be interesting to representatives of those same subcultures.
Well, since I am a simple Russian, born in the USSR and not related to the subcultures ostentatious in the film, then apparently, this movie is not for me.
PS – I’m not saying that the film is bad, it has its advantages – good landscapes, a reflection of the very spirit of America of the 60s. I love movies about “riding and traveling” (Disappearing point, Two-lane highway), but in this case it was just not interesting and boring.
6 out of 10
The film that defined not only the 60s, but the entire history of people
Two bikers (Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper) sell drugs, put their money in the fuel tank of Captain America’s chopper and set out in search of freedom. We are informed in advance that money in the tank seems to fuel the American dream, and no hero like Captain America will save the country from envy, hypocrisy and cruelty. The harsh reality of rednecks or drugs kills such people.
A lawyer (Jack Nicholson's debut), representing a typical person who wants to gain freedom and get rid of the shackles of society, talks about aliens in the sky, as if humanity needs help from outside.
Help comes from nowhere, drugs and alcohol are just a surrogate of freedom. The American Dream is a surrogate of society.
Ideal is impossible.
The main characters are people abstracted from society, introverts, misanthropes, whose lives did not work out. They didn’t know how to make money or how to live. They were weak and lazy. So they pretended to be intellectuals, rejected society, and started smoking marijuana. However, they are not to blame for the fact that their parents raised them in this way and that they were affected by natural selection.
The war brought this crowd to public view, otherwise they would have gone underground. Hippies and their likenesses have always been, are and will be.
As long as life is based on the instinct of domination that we inherited from our ancestors, the apes, the world will not change. There will always be about 2% of the rich and the rest are poor.
Until technology eradicates our animal instincts—the desire for money and power over other people—society will continue to screw up from century to century.
- We screwed up.
I thought when we got a big jackpot, we'd be free.
- We screwed up.
The significance of this picture is difficult to overestimate, because it became the starting point of “New Hollywood”, a low-budget road movie about two friends who decided to make the way from Los Angeles to New Orleans had a commercial success and critics liked it, even if “The Hayes Code” did not give filmmakers a long time to express themselves on especially sensitive topics, and here please, in the time of multi-budget peplums, hardly anyone could imagine that such bold, absolutely author’s works will not just interest the public, but will change Hollywood’s subjective acid, but also the gift of the 4th century, if Jean-Laure’s filmmaker has a few similar views on the era, but it is a few years old, but it is a few years old, but the same to him, but he has a few years, “here in front of the filmmaker’s work, but he has a similar to the same era, but the same year”, but he has a few years, but he has a few years”. The dialogues in “The Rider” are mostly simple, most likely even improvisational, but they are not exactly bad, especially pleased with the monologues of the character whose brilliantly played Jack Nicholson, it is his reflections that can be said to be key. The soundtrack pleased, perfectly conveys the mood of the film, well, and excellent views of nature accompany this, and the unprecedented finale (which by the way gives all the same “Mad Piero”) puts a fat point, free people in America (and not only) and really do not need ...
The film tells the story of two young men, determined to make money, they smuggle a shipment of drugs, and then go on a journey on their iron horses. To great music, they rush forward through the southern states of America, imbued with a conservative spirit.
This movie is more than just an acid road. It represents the struggle of two generations, two cultures. The conservative older generation and the youth subculture, which is characterized by protest and innovation, come face to face in this film. And unfortunately, as usual, our heroes suffer defeats on all fronts. They sought freedom but did not find it. They lost.
The film accurately conveys the atmosphere of the cinema of the 60s, as well as the 60s themselves. Rock music, drugs, landscapes of America, the division of society against the background of new trends of culture, as well as the Vietnam War. The movie can be seen even by those who are far from the subject and genre. It is worth watching for immersion in the atmosphere of the time.
Two friends with the money from the sale of drugs buy themselves motorcycles and go on a journey through the vast expanses of America.
In short, this sentence describes the entire plot of the legendary tape Dennis Hopper. The characters of "The Rider" meet along the way workers, farmers, hippies, philosophizing lawyer (the first major role of Jack Nicholson), prostitutes. Their odyssey has neither definite goals nor definite meaning, it only moves in a chaotic order from one point to another, getting closer and closer to the tragic finale.
Freedom is what this film brings with it. This is its essence and its content. Freedom is everywhere, unprecedented, limitless, ranging from absolute pleasure to total destruction.
Freedom is a relative thing. Everyone sets their own boundaries. From this there are eternal problems and not alignment in views and opinions, simply put, the inability to understand another person. That is why the main characters are attacked in a provincial town by local residents. They don’t understand these long-haired young people who have no jobs and no plans for the future. This is where their response comes from: violence.
And how much has the “Easy Rider” given to future generations of filmmakers! There are not enough fingers on the hands or feet. It is difficult to overestimate the impact of this tape on the school of New Hollywood of the 70s. “Easy Rider” is one of the first independent films to achieve wild popularity at the box office. It includes typical examples of author’s cinema, and the genre of road-movie, which became incredibly popular later, and improvisational scenes in the style of the French “new wave”. The Rider did not have an exact script, a lot was invented on the go, and marijuana, which the main characters smoke in the frame, is real. In this picture, the flashforward technique was also used for the first time - flashing here and there shots that are ahead of the course of events and that are seen by Captain America as prophetic omens of the future. The film has perhaps the best scene in world cinema, showing hallucinations after taking acid. In addition, “Easy Rider” has one of the first soundtracks, composed not of original music written specifically for the film, but from a selection of popular hits of the time – mostly psychedelic rock and roll of the late 60s. These songs appear in the film unexpectedly, rudely, even vulgarly. However, the editing of the film is worthy of such epithets. But this is not a criticism, this is a compliment!
9.5 out of 10
Nothing in the world is better than wandering around the world with friends.
Motorcycle roar. Hair flowing in the wind. The rising dust of American roads. The air is literally saturated with rock and roll. Don't think about anything. Just hit the gas.
And overboard the sixties: cities, villages, some farmers, communes of hippies. The world is not very friendly: you just walked into a bar and a dozen angry eyes stared at you - people don't like people other than them, they don't like your long hair and the American flag on your friend's helmet.
You thundered into the police, but you don't care - the main thing is that the picture changes before your eyes, so that there is some kind of move. You will get out of here because your goal is carnival.
“People are afraid of you because you represent their freedom,” says a drunken lawyer they recently met and now a member of their company. Where freedom talks begin, there is no freedom. Freedom is like the air is transparent and intangible.
And indeed, in the '60s, America -- with these words, the image of freedom must materialize. But where is she? You drove across the country, but you didn't find it. “It’s one thing to talk about freedom, it’s another thing to be free.”
Don't you want to be like everyone else? Then you lost.
An era was passing. The hippie communes have long been rotten from within, and the way of life of the flower children has remained nothing more than a declaration of an independent spirit. And the units of carefree riders remained scattered on the sidelines of life.
The plot of this film is simple: two friends - Billy and "Captain America" - with money from the sale of drugs get on motorcycles and leave the bustling Los Angeles towards the so-called freedom. Racing on deserted roads, meeting similar hippies, smoking weed and talking about life, the characters are more and more immersed in the abyss of chaos and misunderstanding on the part of those who consider themselves Americans.
The debut picture of Dennis Hopper is primarily remembered for the fact that it is not a famously twisted melodrama or a serious crime film. In fact, there is no clear genre for this film: there is a bit of crime, and a bit of comedy, and drama. This is no less a simple story about those who decided to step towards freedom.
There is no famously twisted plot and dynamic action scenes - the whole film the characters go on a deserted highway, and then by the will of fate turning to one side of the road. One turn - and the heroes meet a large family alienated from the bustle of the city; another turn - and a group of hippies meet the heroes, enjoying freedom and waiting for a big carnival in their opinion; another turn - and the heroes fall into the so-called ideal American town, but it looks perfect only at first glance. What is even more surprising is that these so-called twists are separate from the plot of the story, as if we are watching a collection of several mini-series.
No wonder I said that this film has a simple whole plot. The most important thing here is “stuffing”. This is not just a journey of heroes along the endless roads of America, it is a “path to freedom”, it is essentially freedom. The whole film is the embodiment of alienation from society. Smoking marijuana, the heroes became so disconnected from the world around them that they became enemies of those for whom freedom is only a word. They really enjoyed the world around them, which suddenly became “white crows”. Why is that? Because there is no freedom. The ending of this story is quite tragic, as if you just plunged headlong into your dream, and you are ruthlessly ripped out of there and returned to a cruel and joyless reality.
The duo of Fonda and Hopper came out truly memorable. Both heroes, both bikers, both personifications of a free man, and both victims of a cruel reality. They just wanted to live as they wanted, didn’t they?
The film is accompanied by quite entertaining country compositions, quite memorable scenes. Especially memorable is the episode when the heroes, once in the cemetery with prostitutes, use substances and “fly away”, and against the background of all this someone reads a psalm. An incredible scene, which is perceived difficult, and looks with a fading heart.
The story is tragic, as is the film itself. Already knowing what to do during the revision, sympathy for the characters will become even greater, because we understand them, understand their desire, and sympathize with what the reality of being has taken over. So they're the credits, and we're sitting there feeling devastated. Not every movie can make you feel that way. "Sleepless rider" made.
They wanted to travel, live, be free and avoid controversy with other people. Two friends were happy when they left Los Angeles. The travelers made new friends and hoped that everything would be fine, but the further they drove, the more they understood what misanthropic people had become. Friends are discriminated against by other residents. Watching the film, you begin to realize the indifference and selfishness of our society towards free people who, although they used drugs, did not touch anyone. The film flew unnoticed, like the main characters riding with a smile on the endless roads of America.
I will remember for a long time the happy faces of two bikers enjoying complete independence, racing to meet their fate. No wonder this film was chosen by many famous film critics.
Two pretended rockers – White, aka “Captain America”, and his mustachioed buddy Bill – buy two packets of white powder to immediately sell it to a certain nouveau riche. They hide the proceeds of the deal in the gas tank, throw away the wristwatch and then under the rock hits of the 1960s, an hour and a half of screen time to dissect the space of the southern states on their Harleys. They travel from Los Angeles to New Orleans, where the famous carnival begins a week later. But for both of them, the celebration of life has already begun - at the very moment when the clutch was released.
On the way, they smoke marijuana and talk nonsense at stops, get into a commune of hippies, where “children of flowers” literally try to become children, growing bread not from grains, but from shells. Then they are taken to the police, where the lawyer George Hanson falls asleep on bunks - a bulldy and babble, who eventually went with White and Bill to the city of eternal fun. Having experienced all the hatred of the Texan inhabitants, ready to lynch anyone who stands out from the general line and thereby questions the principle of their plant existence, they still, albeit with “great losses”, get to their destination.
Easy Rider was not usually classified as one of those masterpieces that unambiguously develop the language of cinema, but at one time this picture had a huge impact on the minds and moods of both those who make films and those who watch it. In fact, after the appearance of "BE" in everyday life, the concept of "cult cinema" was established - when success is not planned, but, nevertheless, it is obvious to me. Moreover, it is "... rider" can be considered the first film at that time of a new sub-genre - road-movie.
The “rigidity” of the script (simply put, we have a movie without a plot) and the lack of the usual development of characters (the main characters simply do not have biographies) were compensated both by cinematographic delights – then not yet approved shooting in the conjure (later quickly became a common place), and by unusual directorial techniques. For example, flashforverts" (which eventually did not take root in the movie), when the new episode is connected with the previous not one gluing, as usual, but several short interruptions of neighboring plans.
And it all began in the winter of 1968, when two actors, two Hollywood partygoers and old friends Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper borrowed “on occasion” from the elder Funda (“Henry’s dad”) 340 thousand dollars (in a year and a half these two will already be scratching their heads about how to honestly share 19 million net profits). Having written a script together, or rather a plan of exemplary actions, the guys fairly (just like the Coen brothers in the future) distributed responsibilities among themselves. 30-year-old Fonda became a producer, 33-year-old Hopper – Director. Although the strict delineation of privilege is hard to believe, just look into Dennis’s insane eyes. Not in favor of the latter is the fact that in subsequent directorial works Hopper could not do anything similar and close in spirit.
Most likely, the film was directed by a special state of mind that requires the release of both initiators of this almost adventurous project. The film was shot quickly - in two months of spring 1968. In the process of filming, another “nurturing” Roger Corman was added to these two, who had previously been unsuccessfully hanging on the doorsteps of the Dream Factory for several years. It was a little-known 32-year-old Jack Nicholson. He was given exactly a third of the script, but it was during these 25 minutes of screen action that Nicholson received an Oscar nomination, clearing his way to future acting triumphs.
Despite the inaccessibility of the film in the already politically frozen USSR, these guys became international symbols of independence. It was with the names of Petruha Fondorin, Denis Hoprov and Zhenka Nikolsky that ideas of freedom outside the system began to be associated after 1969, and not only among those who were lucky to see this movie, but also among those who could only read about it or hear about it from the corner of their ears. These were times when America was still interested not in supermen, but outsiders, when they were not afraid of rebellious moods and bad endings.
“Easy Rider”, which became not only overseas “the most iconic youth film of the decade”, relied on, but at the same time debunked the key myths of its time. The myth of the big road, and, as a derivative of it, the myth of freedom of movement, the myth of harmless drugs and the myth of individual protest, well, as usual, the myth of the American dream. He broke the Hollywood monopoly on the right to control the minds of the mass audience, affirming the ideas of the counterculture that were manifested here in a concentrated and intelligible form. Movement plus rock music (the soundtrack - from Bob Dylan to Jimi Hendrix - just pure gold) - these are the two main components from which the sacred image of the film that turned the idea of cinema arose.
Dennis Hopper’s painting “Easy Rider” became a watershed in the history of Hollywood. This is perhaps the first time that an almost independent and low-budget film became a sensation, had box office success, was awarded in Cannes and presented at the Oscars. Its appearance in 1969 became more relevant than ever. There was an era of rapid change in the courtyard. The new generation did not want to live by the old principles of greed and established morality. Children did not find a common language with their parents, rock music called for true freedom, hippies marched in protests against the Vietnam War, while experimenting with drugs.
By the end of the 60s, Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda could no longer classify themselves as young people. However, their views were in complete solidarity with the spirit of rebelliousness and nonconformism that prevailed then. Their idea to create a film that reflects the essence of the era was brilliantly realized. “Easy Rider” shows a vivid example that even with limited funds you can shoot not just a good or great film, but a real masterpiece that will be admired by connoisseurs many decades later. Modern filmmakers will find any reason to justify the failure of the picture, except for their own talentlessness.
The main characters of the film do not want to play by the rules of the majority. They do not like sedentary life and travel is one of the meanings of life. I believe that many modern inhabitants Billy and Whitet will cause rejection and rejection. Soviet film critics in reviews of foreign cinema often bypassed this film. The reason for this neglect is clear. On the one hand, the philosophy of bikers from the film does not fit in with the consumerism of the capitalist system, but these guys also do not respond to communist precepts, since in the USSR such citizens would be waiting for an article for parasitism and vagrancy. From this we can conclude that they are against any system, outside the framework of ideologies.
Of course, it is a pity that in the future Hopper did not manifest himself in directing as vividly as in “Easy Rider”. And for Peter Fonda, the role of Whitet, nicknamed Captain America, was perhaps the only star. Particular admiration is caused by the camera work of the native of Hungary Laszlo Kovac, who filigree filmed the movement of motorcycles on the highway to the charming melodies of rock bands of the late sixties. It was in the “Easy Rider” that the now legendary Jack Nicholson played his first prominent role and was first nominated for her for the “Oscar”. George Hanson, whom he plays, unlike the characters of Hopper and Fonda, still formally belongs to the “right” social stratum. However, his lifestyle associated with alcoholic libations does not correspond to it. Therefore, fellow bikers immediately found a common language with him. An illustrative scene in a roadside cafe, where other visitors unflatteringly whispered about the trinity of travelers who entered. And only naive provincial girls were interested in them, and even then with the banal purpose only to ride a motorcycle.
Definitely, the picture should be seen by anyone who is fond of cinema, classical rock music, motorcycles and that glorious period.
Pros. The film is very musical, and quite colorful for its time (1969).
Despite the seemingly meaningless nature of everything that is happening, the ending of the film wisely emphasizes that the vegetation shown in the film is really meaningless, and therefore has no right to exist; life itself cut off dead branches.
There is a kind of philosophy in the film. At the end, one character says to the other, "It takes a lot of money, and then you'll be free," to which the other responds, "No, we lost anyway." It is difficult to disagree with both statements, depending on how you look at them.
Nicholson's character, oddly enough, utters a sensible thought about marijuana: "You start with this and then you get hooked, you get serious."
The hippie settlement is well represented: a group of infantile idiots, almost incapable of anything in life, but, nevertheless, somehow manage to exist in their “herd”, and from somewhere to get scant food.
An excellent scene of the almost ritual act of cleansing the burghers of their society from infection: they commit violence than drive the dirty degenerates from their land.
Cons. The behavior of the main characters emphasizes the idea of the filmmakers about freedom in their understanding - they do not owe anything to anyone, they do only what they want. Most of the characters are surprised by their attitude to life, they live one day, the thought came to mind – immediately realized. Only one episodic role - the farmer - is respected in this sense, his life is stable, he has a wife and children, he works and feeds from the ground; even the main character praises him for this. All the others are molecules in a glass of dirty water, moving pointlessly back and forth, being useless and creating nothing by their existence.
The main characters are dressed and really look like degenerates, which is why they cause persistent hostility among normal provincial burghers who have not yet lost the concepts of neatness and morality. But then the characters talk about freedom, and I think that's the central point of the whole film: to define what the filmmakers think about freedom as they imagine it. Freedom in their understanding is typical for the modern layman, it consists in “freedom from” – freedom from any obligations, freedom from the burden of moral foundations, as well as in “freedom for” – freedom to do whatever you want. This film is a software installation for “free people” looking for only pleasure in life. And so-called freedom comes from drug resale.
Carnival "Mardegra", which all the time was so eager to get the main characters, is represented by the creators of the picture by an extremely dreary spectacle.
The scene with “persistent drug addicts” is simply insane, it is impossible to watch. At the same time, against the background of the ongoing delirium, the “killed” whore shouts something incoherent for a long time, and for some reason mixed with the words of prayer.
The scene of visiting the “best brothel” is made in an emphasised cynical vein: under the singing in Greek “Lord, have mercy”, a brothel is shown, decorated from the inside under church painting mixed with images of whores.
Conclusion. I wanted to see this movie for a long time, so I finally got there.
In short, the film is empty, almost nothing: two fools went somewhere on motorcycles for a long time, along the way used drugs and communicated with other fools - everything! But the final for me was the best, really life-affirming, for the sake of this finale it was worth making this film, worth it and watching... . Unfortunately, as I understand from the reviews, it is not really understood, for the audience it is a film about freedom – alas!
PS
Has anyone noticed the young mustachioed Hopper (who you wouldn’t recognize!) that he has an eight on the front wheel?
I thought for a long time what to write about this film. On the one hand, I didn't like him at all. On the other hand, the idea of the film cannot leave indifferent.
So, plot. Two guys, having earned a lot of money from smuggling cocaine from Mexico, go on bikes on a trip across America. The kaleidoscope of casual encounters with bad and good people, stunning views of the vast American expanses and rock of the 60s, is pretty flavored with biker romance, hipp freedom, marijuana and LSD.
But out of all this frivolous, drug-addicted ugliness, the idea gradually emerges. That’s why the film was actually made. Most people do not like people who are different from the norm. Outcasts. Others. Even if they differ only in their long hair, the music they love, and even more so in their views on life. And such dissenters must be exterminated. They're a threat! Threat to normal. Gray mass threat. It does not matter that this very norm allows senseless unjustified violence, lawlessness and cruelty. This is the norm of the majority.
Summary.
Pros. Well-exposed idea. The piercing end. As always, a chic Nicholson, pretty revived a dull couple. Again, music. I don't like old rock, but it's very well under the video.
Cons. Slurred, sluggish story. Dialogues about nothing, invented, apparently, on the move. Hippy commune for a third of the film. The worst drug at the end.
Watch the movie because you need to know the classics. But whether he likes it, I can't guarantee.
The theme of this film is freedom. It is impossible to achieve absolute freedom in our world. When you get rid of one, you pass into the power of another. In this film, the main characters try to escape from the terrible reality in the world of adventure and get complete freedom. This causes hatred and misunderstanding among people who only talk about freedom, but do not dare to take a step towards independence.
The situation described by Dennis Hopper is relevant now and in the past. Such people were, are and will be. But I think in the end, they don't change much. They can only get the maximum freedom themselves. The world will continue to be ruled by the majority.
I loved the road romance of the 60s. Although I was rather bored at the beginning, by the end of the film I was lying down and enjoying the picture and acting. But the ending was unexpected for me. Although everything throughout the picture and went to this. But I think the writer ended the story too straightforwardly. It's an interesting idea, but I love movies that keep them on edge.
I recommend this film to hippie fans or just those who are tired of everyday life and want to travel and freedom. The rest of the picture will seem boring and monotonous, as it seemed to me. Although I saw an interesting idea, I didn’t learn anything new.
This film was created entirely by Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda. They also played the leading roles. The script was written together. Fonda became a producer and Hopper became a director.
“Easy Rider” is a film about love, road, peace and rock and roll.
The music corresponds to the presented genre in the slogan. There are so many songs that have changed the world. Special screen time is allocated, in which you simply enjoy picturesque views and compositions.
The road along which the heroes travel is really beautiful. All the beauty of the nature of America is presented on the screen.
In addition to mountains and trees, travelers meet many people. It's usually for road movies. Someone helps, someone doesn’t.
The main actors played well. Mustache and calling everyone “dude” Dennis Hopper and skinny and wearing patriotic symbols Peter Fonda. Also worth mentioning is Jack Nicholson. When he put on his helmet, his serious immediacy he very much reminded Robert Downey Jr.
The love in the film is represented by the hippie community. The heroes gave one of them a ride. And then we got the water of love.
There's no need to talk about the road. Already said. The whole movie is a long, endless road. The end is for those who ride on it.
Peace. Not in the sense of the globe, but in the sense of "Peace, dude." And two fingers up. This is the main contradiction of the whole film. Friendly and overgrown bikers not everyone likes and is happy to see in their city. Most often, these are rural residents. Rednecks are hard to communicate with. They do it first and then don’t even think about it.
In front of the audience is another detail of that time. Drug delusions after the substances taken are shown colorfully. One of the heroes for a moment acquires the gift of clairvoyance.
Operator work has interesting features. Before the next scene, a kaleidoscope of frames occurs, and then further action begins abruptly.
The end struck me. You watch the movie, the heroes go forward. And then the end.
Anyone considering becoming a careless rider should be prepared for a discouraging end. I’m not just talking about the movie.