Review of Easy Rider (1969) by Johnny T — 24 Oct 2012

Falling under the label of "Hollywood's most notorious drug addict", it's quite obvious why Dennis Hopper has previously been considered the "outcast" of Tinsel Town; a man who simply didn't follow the social norm. Likewise, and while he wasn't dubbed with such atrocious connotations, Peter Fonda more or less shared similar ideals, another man who didn't want to be chained as a sheep to the norm. Stemming from these ideals, came the birth of 'Easy Rider,' a film often categorized within the sub-genre of 'Bikey films', but more essentially a film that represents and works as a catalyst for the adolescence counter-culture and their needs for liberation and autonomy, with Hopper and Fonda on their motorbikes representing the essence of freedom. From it's brilliance in conveying a sense of freedom against the hypocrisy; 'Easy Rider' will not be only remembered as a film, but rather an embedded symbol that will forever contain resonance within culture.

We are introduced to the riders, Wyatt (Fonda) and Billy (Hopper) through 'Hippies' main stereotype: Drugs. Quite ironically too, for a movie that revolves around freedom, the Riders are introduced with a job prospect, it may be a drug deal, but nevertheless is considered a form of work. Through this opening sequence the characters actions consist of minimal dialogue, the drug deal unfolds visually rather than verbally. The use of visual storytelling beautifully reflects the films narrative, as Hopper isn't concerned with his plot devices to revolve verbal communication, but simply let's the film unfold without a sense of direction and sense of freedom. This concept is further enhanced through the action of Fonda throwing away his watch, and act that displays that his characters has no concern for the concepts of time, as time is the essence to structure, which is the very thing that 'hippies' neglect.

As stated, the film unfolds like it's endless roads (With beautiful cinematography and soundtrack), the riders simple drive and see new locations and meet many bizarre characters. Their first stop is a farm, where a rancher offers them a bite to eat. Wyatt seems envious of the rancher's traditional and free lifestyle, because like the rancher, Wyatt is a man who shares a simple taste. After departing the ranch, the riders agree to pick up a hitchhiker and take him to his commune, a civilization that lives outside of societies perimeters. The area is filled with people willing "to make a stand" against the commodities of living within a city. They are people who appreciate, very much like Wyatt, the simple and natural aspects of 'mother nature'. They plant "simple food, for our simple taste".

As they live in this 'Hippie Utopia', they begin to develop (well Wyatt anyway) a relationship with some of the locals. What follows is a beautiful sequence of swimming in a water-hole that very much displays the sensual experience that many humans seem to neglect. Furthermore, through these sequences and the previous ones, 'Easy Rider' contains some brilliant editing of it's scene transitions. Hopper displays two images overlapping each other that ultimately disrupts the generic norm of storytelling. Once again, Hopper is using this editing style to debunk the essence of time and structure, as the overlapping images portray the characters switching location with not necessarily knowing how they got there. Eventually, they leave and the hitchhiker provides Wyatt with LSD (Acid) and tells him to "Have it with the right people".

They are arrive in a new town, and due to their 'reckless' behavior they are jailed. Upon this point, while their actual life has been filled with energy, Wyatt's and Billy's characters have seemed dull. However, that all changes with the introduction of George (Nicholson). Nicholson brings such hilarious energy to the film, and thankfully joins Wyatt and Billy on their journey. Eventually a day of traveling they decide to camp within the bush, and George is introduced to his first marijuana experience, to which George enjoys. He begins a brilliant conversation with Billy about the possibilities of UFO's, and whether the sequence is a commentary on societies aristocracy, it still works beautifully as a hilarious conversation.

Their journey continues to a town where they suffer extreme prejudice from the local 'rednecks'. Due to this hostility, they leave town, however the 'rednecks' are not done with them yet. The trio once again takes camp in the bush. During the night they are physical bashed with baseball bats by the 'rednecks', eventuating in George being killed. While this scene is poignant, it's purpose is to display the destined fate for being different. Despite this misfortune, Wyatt and Billy continue their journey to a Brothel. They occupy two women and Wyatt sees an image of a burning body. The image of the body works on two levels: On one side the body may be the burning of George, which means that Wyatt is questioning his own morality. Secondly, the body may be his own, maybe Wyatt is envisioning his own death? His ultimate fate? As the previous 'rednecks' displayed, no matter what road you take for the freedom of being different, you will suffer the inevitable faith brought on by the majority. During this questioning, rather than having sex, Wyatt asks Billy and the prostitutes to come outside to the parade. After the parade Wyatt, Billy and the prostitutes take the LSD.

What follows is quite possibly one of the most beautiful/disturbing editing sequences to grace celluloid. Hopper or Fonda must of experienced such a drug, as they display a 'bad trip' with such raw intensity that the scene has been obviously developed from a subjective viewpoint. After leaving the brothel, the two riders contemplate about the 'dream'. Billy bloats that they succeeded with their dream, they have the money and they can retire and live in peace. However, Wyatt simple reply's " We blew it". This final conversation hits with deadly irony. The riders whole journey has been about a sense of freedom with spiritual existence and the rejection of the working class values. However, Wyatt's comments reveal that their whole journey has been motivated by the same values; namely money. In the end, their trip succeeded financially, but on a spiritual side, they have failed, and upon this failure, they suffer their inevitable fate.

'Easy Rider' will be forever encapsulated because it's a film that captures a moment of time that will forever represent the adolescence culture. The film will continue to find new fans because teenagers are still craving the needs for liberation and freedom. Furthermore, on a philosophical level, 'Easy Rider' questions the meaning of human existence. Within life there are two roads that you can take, but which do you choose? You can be motivated by your personal ideals and make money because society wants you to, or you can get on your bike and not give a damn about what people think and simple live the life you want. It's a question faced by all humans, because in the end, we are not here that long.