Review of Easy Rider (1969) by Umang S — 24 Jun 2010

Easy Rider is a 1969 road movie, a buddy movie, a movie which celebrates the counter-culture of 60s. The picture did what Kerouac's "On the Road" did, it sent a whole generation on the road. The visually rich frames of the movie are accompanied with some beautiful rocknroll numbers.

The movie starts with Dennis Hooper("Billy") and Peter Fonda("Captain America") smuggling cocaine from Mexico to Los Angeles. After hiding the money from the smuggle in the tank of Fonda's bike, they start their journey to New Orleans where they plan to reach in time for Mardi Gras. The scene where Fonda throws his wrist-watch pretty much symbolizes that their journey for freedom. During the journey they have lunch with a rancher and they then pick up a hippie hitch-hiker who takes them to his commune where they spend a day. Although the whole hippie commune sequence looks very artificial, nonetheless it does add to the plot of the movie.

After this they land in a jail for "parading without permit" in a small town, this is when an alcoholic lawyer who goes by the name George Hanson(played by Jack Nicholson) makes a hungover and yawny entry to the movie, which takes the movie to a whole new level altogether!! Arguably, the primary reason why this movie is today considered a cult classic is because of the awe-inspiring performance of Nicholson.

Hanson joins them in their journey. The movie then takes an unexpected turn after their visit to a rural cafe on the way.

Few scenes like the bad LSD trip scene are totally not needed.

The movie got an award at the Cannes and Jack Nicholson was deservingly nominated for an Academy.

Overall, this movie is a must watch!