Review of Five Easy Pieces (1970) by Steven1981 — 20 Mar 2020

Five Easy Pieces is NOT the best movie ever made and probably has it's flaws and weaknesses like most movies but if it had any I wasn't aware or unconscious or in a state of comatosis during the time of being reduced to a spectator glaring at the box.

Five Easy Pieces is a 1970 drama and stars a young Jack Nicholson who did this many years before even working on Stanley Kubrick's project, The Shining. Jack Nicholson plays an oil rig worker named Bobby and him and his wife, Rayette played by the stubborn and unlikeable at times Karen Black have a nice life but not without problems.

Their relationship is a bit odd with the odd argument and crap going on and misunderstanding and then Rayette (Black) acts like an idiot and throws a tantrum. However Bobby's dad is sick so he travels to spend a few days with him and Rayette turns up shortly after.

It's hard to describe this film as the story is so sophisticated and complex it's hard to nail the point on the story but excellent performances except from the annoying Karen Black. The ending makes this film special but with no explanation making the viewer confused and to create their own theory on why Jack Nicholson leaves his wife stranded at a gas station and hitches a ride back the other way by a lorry driver.

Then lies to the lorry driver about his jacket or an item of clothing which is bizarre to say the least. The ending leaves questions unanswered and is the weak point of the movie which should have been explained more.

My theory is that Jack Nicholson just wanted to get away from his annoying wife Rayette (Black) because she's stupid and too much stress. I don't blame him because Karen Black is annoying, however Five Easy Pieces has many good scenes including at least two fight scenes, one on the oil rig and great acting.

It's not the best film but a great well made story even if much of it makes no sense if very little. What saves it is the cast put effort and soul into making it and director Bob Rafelson put effort into making it too.

It's a film that stands out from any other movie ever made because it leaves unanswered questions and the ending was one big question in itself. Still a great film.