Review of Easy Rider (1969) by Jez M — 03 May 2012
Dennis Hopper writes, directs and co-stars with Peter Fonda in this groundbreaking 1969 masterpiece about Wyatt (Fonda) and Billy (Hopper), two young men who, after scoring a large sum of money by smuggling drugs into the country and selling them to a Connection, throw away their wristwatches and ride off on their motorcycles.
They pick up various hitchhikers and companions along the way, including a nameless man (Luke Askew) who out of disgust for the city he is from, leads a Hippie commune in the middle of nowhere, and George (Jack Nicholson), a drunken lawyer who excitedly admires Wyatt and Billy's lifestyle and rides along with them for a while, talking about UFOs, the fear of freedom and talking to bullfrogs.
Before this film, the style of shooting and editing was essentially unheard of. It marks the birth of that style present in so many later American films of the 70s. There's something Godard-ian about what Hopper did to US cinema with this classic.
One of my all-time favourite films, and anyone who dislikes it simply doesn't understand.
This review of Easy Rider (1969) was written by Jez M on 03 May 2012.
Easy Rider has generally received very positive reviews.
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