Review of Five Easy Pieces (1970) by Rick R — 03 Jan 2014

Five Easy Pieces (1970).

Robert Dupea (Jack Nicholson) is an empty, conflicted, wondering soul. He just doesn't seem to fit in anywhere. He left his family of classic musicians in the Puget Sound of Washington and has been doing odd jobs in southern California including working on an oil rig. Bobby isn't sure where he's going, but if you tell him what you think he should be doing, he explodes with indignation.

His living in two different worlds is further illustrated by the Tammy Wynette and classical music soundtrack. He meets up with his Sister, Tita (Lois Smith) in an L.A. recording studio and finds that his Dad has suffered a couple of strokes and he should really go up and see him before he dies.

It's been ages since I saw this movie, and I recently watched it again, thinking that I would get more insights into Bobby's psyche. That scene where he talks with his stroked-out Dad might be the great illumination. No. He said he felt guilty for leaving, but he just didn't want to be a musician and felt it better to leave and seek out his own life.

I know that it's supposed to be a classic existential 70's new wave movie, but I felt it was a bit over-rated myself. Maybe it was claiming the obvious; that we just need to seek out our own needs first, where maybe a few years earlier, our lives were more effected and directed by the desires of others (family, relationships, etc.).