Review of Five Easy Pieces (1970) by Justin R — 09 Aug 2010

Shows that the A American movies traditionally had down as for Adventure could also stand for Anomie; that the downside of living in a country where you're repeatedly told you can be anyone is that no-one tells you there's a strong likelihood you may end up being no-one, playing ping-pong in parking lots.

Even by the high standards of Nicholson's 70s output, Bobby Dupea sits among the actor's most rigorous performances, the wildness of the crazy Jack first showcased in "Easy Rider" undercut by flickers of self-disgust and well-bred gentility, an understanding of the Robert Dupea who could have been, by the one who took a different road, and knows his own failings in doing so.

Well ahead of the curve of those landmark 70s features reassessing the American dream in naturalistic fashion - and sporting a gallery of indelibly unconventional actresses with which Rafelson holds off any notion of special pleading on his hero's behalf - this continues to have the look of a founding countercultural myth.