Review of Easy Rider (1969) by Josh M — 08 Jun 2009
I'm pondering writing up a much longer piece on Easy Rider, given how affected I was by it, but the short version is that I was blown away by this. I expected something lighter, more easygoing. Instead of a celebration of the sixties, though, I got a eulogy for it.
Instead of two heroic men traveling across the country, sticking it to the Establishment, I got two men trying to revel but failing, trying to capture the American Dream all while missing it entirely.
Populated by interesting characters and fascinating scenes, Easy Rider recalled for me Hunter S. Thompson's brilliant piece in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas where he talked about looking back and seeing the high-water mark of the sixties.
Easy Rider was a big inspiration for HST, and it shows in that piece; both admired so much of what the sixties tried to accomplish, yet bravely faced up to the reality of the dying of a dream.
This review of Easy Rider (1969) was written by Josh M on 08 Jun 2009.
Easy Rider has generally received very positive reviews.
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