Read Positive User Reviews for Easy Rider

7

ryancarroll88Aug 27, 2010

Just as the film explores what the limits of freedom are in an unjust and prejudiced world, the actual movie pushes the limits of the quality of a picture produced by two drugged-out stars on the road, defying the logic of big, Hollywood,Just as the film explores what the limits of freedom are in an unjust and prejudiced world, the actual movie pushes the limits of the quality of a picture produced by two drugged-out stars on the road, defying the logic of big, Hollywood, money-bloated moguls. But just as the taste of total freedom turns sour in the movie, the question of whether this movie should be considered a classic is a shaky "I don't know..."… Expand

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9

kyle20ellisMar 30, 2022

Easy Rider is not quite a classic, but what it is is a great movie. It does start off slowly, but when it picks up the film has very few problems if any. The production values are excellent, the soundtrack is inspired, the script is veryEasy Rider is not quite a classic, but what it is is a great movie. It does start off slowly, but when it picks up the film has very few problems if any. The production values are excellent, the soundtrack is inspired, the script is very effective and Dennis Hopper's direction shows perfectly that he was as good a director as he was an actor. The story is also very compelling with a purposefully depressing ending(certainly a refreshing change from the somewhat clichéd riding into the sunset ending) and although the start is slow the pace is solid on the whole. The acting is faultless, the three leads Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson are superb and work wonderfully together.

All in all, Easy Rider is a fine movie, while just missing out on masterpiece status. What's for sure though, it is one of the best road movies there is. 9/10 Bethany Cox… Expand

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10

BuzzC.May 6, 2008

Strange. But very cool!

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9

KyleJun 15, 2008

Most important film of the 60s.

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9

Nesbitt10May 25, 2013

"A man went looking for America, and couldn't find it anywhere..." With a blistering rock-and-roll soundtrack, a host of trippy cinematic techniques, and dialogue that represented a very unique period in American history ("They're not scared"A man went looking for America, and couldn't find it anywhere..." With a blistering rock-and-roll soundtrack, a host of trippy cinematic techniques, and dialogue that represented a very unique period in American history ("They're not scared of you. They're scared of what you represent to them.) "Easy Rider" from 1969 is a hallmark American film, and a great independent feature success.

The ultimate counter-culture classic, "Easy Rider" directed by first time director Dennis Hopper, jolted a Hollywood in transition when it became an unexpected hit in 1969, encapsulating the freewheeling spirit of the times, and the divide between the youth culture and the Establishment. This unconventional classic, which Time magazine hails as "one of the ten most important pictures of the decade," continues to strike a chord with audiences of all ages to this day.

After securing a major drug deal in Los Angeles, two free-spirited potheads Billy (Dennis Hopper) and Wyatt, a.k.a. Captain America (Peter Fonda), buy choppers and hit the road, traveling from Los Angeles to Mardi Gras in New Orleans to experience "the real America." Along the way, they encounter rednecks, experiment with LSD, visit a hippie commune, end up in jail, all in the name of living the American dream. While inevitably dated, it remains worthwhile, highlighted by Laszlo Kovacs photography, a great soundtrack, and Jack Nicholson star-making performance as a boozed up lawyer who tags along for the ride. Nicholson earned a Best Supporting Actor nod, while Hopper and Fonda continued to solidify their reputations.

"Easy Rider" was the official U.S. entry at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Film by a New Director prize (Hopper). Opened across the country in September 1969, it mesmerized critics with its perspective look at America. The film also received two Oscar nominations-Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (Nicholson). Highly influential in its camerawork, storyline, and 60's rock soundtrack--"Easy Rider" endures as the ultimate psychedelic road-trip.… Expand

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9

GrDorinSep 20, 2014

Great Movie , It's a say thing that people can see only drugs and motorcycles ... If you ever had your ass kicked because you have long hair ... that you will get this

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8

GregePorterAug 31, 2015

Bottom line: Easy Rider is a powerful movie that captures the American attitude and spirit in the late 1960's.

The premise of Easy Rider is rather quite basic; two friends, Wyatt (Fonda) and Billy (Hopper), ride their motorcycles from LABottom line: Easy Rider is a powerful movie that captures the American attitude and spirit in the late 1960's.

The premise of Easy Rider is rather quite basic; two friends, Wyatt (Fonda) and Billy (Hopper), ride their motorcycles from LA to Louisiana for Mardi Gras. Their drug fueled journey becomes a spiritual journey as the pair learns about themselves and America. The movie opens with the pair of guys parking cheap motorcycles outside a run down cantina. They are there to meet a cocaine dealer. The pair sample and approve of the powder. The camera cuts to the pair waiting near an airport runway. A Rolls-Royce rolls up and a well dressed man steps out. He, too, samples and approves of the powder before buying it for a large sum of money. The pair has made a fortune and plans to spend the money on a trip to Mardi Gras. They buy new motorcycles and set off into the desert roads.

The acting in Easy Rider is solid. Dennis Hopper’s performance as Billy is great. Initially, I labeled his character as “hippy”: he has long hair and a bushy mustache and uses “man” as punctuation. At one point the two pick up a hitchhiker who is traveling back to a commune in the middle of the desert. The hitchhiker made me realize that there is a complexity to the characters that I missed. Billy is a hippy-like character in appearance but his temper and focus on worldly pleasures differentiate him from the others. Wyatt is a “cool” or relaxed type of guy and is the one that really grows through the journey. Unlike Billy or George or the hitchhiker, Wyatt is not a representative of a 1960’s demographic. As George (Nicholson) explains, “You are change and people don’t like change.”

As Easy Rider is something of a road trip movie, a common artifact is the super long, scenery shots. Denisoff and Romanowski note, the music played during these riding montages, forms a sort of “musical commentary”. The soundtrack, beginning with “The Pusher” by Steppenwolf, continues with the iconic “Born to be Wild” also by Steppenwolf. You can see the progression of the story and tone throughout the rest of the soundtrack. Easy Rider is a perfect example of how music can be utilized to complement the images on the screen. Sure, we might have a great orchestration that provides emotional support but, here, the music provides a political (as well as emotional) support.

Have you ever watched a movie where a particular scene is burned into your memory? Maybe it strikes a chord with you but as you see the shot you know that it is going to stick with you. I'd bet that it usually happens with scary movies. Easy Rider had one of those moments for me. Wyatt rolls the money they earned by selling cocaine into a rubber tube. He hides that rubber tube in his motorcycle's American flag painted, teardrop gas tank. It is a beautifully succinct yet complex statement about the US. One of the best parts is that the movie lets the image speak for itself.

The cutting used at times in the movie is jarring. Instead of a Star Wars-like swipe cut or a fade to black transition, the movie alternates between the two scenes. It is the type of cutting you might expect in an action movie. A character has a gun and points it at his or her target. The camera focuses on the gun, then the target, then the gun, 'bang,' then on the target. This rapid cutting is exciting so we are used to seeing it in an action but in Easy Rider the transitions between scenes aren't exciting. One jump, for example, takes us from the pair sitting around a campfire to Wyatt walking through a dilapidated Church. It felt jarring and don't quite know how to feel about it. I like the idea of using film techniques in unconventional ways but it feels awkward. Yeah, I can dig it. The idea that it is disruptive fits in with the rest of the movie which is socially disruptive.

My only major qualm about the movie is that sometimes it moves away from visual messages to just sitting around a campfire telling us something. Consider the image of the gas tank and money. I know you can show some good stuff, movie, keep going; don’t just regress into telling me something. This isn’t a deal breaker by any means but it is noteworthy.

If, for no other reason, to function as a time capsule, I recommend you see Easy Rider. It is clear depiction of a definitive time in American history. It also illustrates how film can resonate socially and politically. I think for a discussion post I will think about the responsibility of art, if there is such a thing. On a superficial level, or if you saw Easy Rider without actually watching it, it might appear like this film is glorifying a wayward and drug filled lifestyle. From what I hear, that's the message a majority of the original audience left with. In reality, Easy Rider is criticizing this lifestyle. If people misinterpreted its meaning, should it have been more overt?… Expand

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10

alejandro970Jun 3, 2018

An essential of late 60s that established a new mode of stories: the road movie. Outstanding and young Fonda, Hooper and Nicholson as the outcasts, half-heroes in a road to nowhere. Somewise is a reflexion of the prejudice and intoleranceAn essential of late 60s that established a new mode of stories: the road movie. Outstanding and young Fonda, Hooper and Nicholson as the outcasts, half-heroes in a road to nowhere. Somewise is a reflexion of the prejudice and intolerance that prevails at South of USA. Ride your Harley Davidson and enjoy.… Expand

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9

Steven1981Mar 24, 2020

I've read many poor reviews about this film and it being unwatchable and boring and glorifying hippes and other stuff... Here's my review on EASY RIDER and some bad things and good things about the film... Easy Rider was made 1969 and is aI've read many poor reviews about this film and it being unwatchable and boring and glorifying hippes and other stuff... Here's my review on EASY RIDER and some bad things and good things about the film... Easy Rider was made 1969 and is a drama, adventure and I think it's a road movie but could be wrong!!!! Anyway it's directed by Dennis Hopper and it even stars Dennis Hopper alongside Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson and Karen Black and was made in 1969 and the oldness shows like a sore thumb in this movie because it looks outdated. I thought this movie was about some American dream or something but I could be wrong and if there is any story to Easy Rider it sure is a good movie of making it feel like there is no story whatsoever so this film is very strange. The acting is actually very good and especially from Jack Nicholson who plays George Hanson and also Peter Fonda... This film has scenes of Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda riding their big motorcycles or motorbikes on the road and giving people lifts and smoking marijuana and numerous other scenes including Jack Nicholson's character being battered to death while sleeping one night in a sleeping bag which was possibly done with baseball bats or some other weapons. Easy Rider doesn't really have any weakness as far as I'm concerned besides the story and some parts raise questions but besides that the acting is great, the characters are okay and it's never really boring if you've intelligence to follow the movie because it's not overly long so people who say it's boring obviously have a boring life. It's one of the greatest films of it's time and is still watchable in the year 2000 because I still watch it and anybody saying it's unwatchable obviously isn't patient enough to view the full film but it's certainly watchable at and a very good film. The ending of Easy Rider is sad with one bike or motorcycle blown up in flames and both bikers (Hopper and Fonda) shot apparently by a passing vehicle and one of it's passengers. Even though a sad ending it's a great scene and a great movie with great acting and that's my review.... Easy Rider contains nudity or sex scenes, some violence and drug use.… Expand

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10

OriginalDangerSep 12, 2020

Easy Rider I guess is a thinking man's film. Some don't understand it and I don't fully understand it because whether it's about freedom, accomplishing some goal, the American dream or something else it's rather confusing but it's beautifullyEasy Rider I guess is a thinking man's film. Some don't understand it and I don't fully understand it because whether it's about freedom, accomplishing some goal, the American dream or something else it's rather confusing but it's beautifully acted, entertaining and well made and directed. There's some scenes of drugs, violence, possibly sex and nudity and some bizarre moments but that doesn't ruin the film. Easy Rider is a 1969 classic of a movie with excellent performances by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson and the motorbikes are cool too. Great film and anybody who hates on it obviously doesn't appreciate a great film and Easy Rider has everything a film has to offer such as good characters, good acting, some violence, some sad parts, nice pace and beautiful music among other things and the motorbikes on the road being ridden with the landscape showing and the music is really refreshing and beautiful and that's what makes Easy Rider a winner of a film plus the excellent acting. If you don't appreciate Easy Rider which is one of the greatest films of it's era then go watch some blood and guts brainless horror movie.… Expand

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10

MAMUSMay 25, 2022

Easy Rider is a classic of the world cinema of the late 60's, with only 340 thousand dollars, the film has grossed over 400 million dollars. It is a pioneer of the Road-Movie and Acid-Western genre. It was directed by Dennis Hopper, who wasEasy Rider is a classic of the world cinema of the late 60's, with only 340 thousand dollars, the film has grossed over 400 million dollars. It is a pioneer of the Road-Movie and Acid-Western genre. It was directed by Dennis Hopper, who was young at the time, and also invited such actors as: Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Tony Basil, Luke Askew, Phil Spector. The very concept of a plot is not present here. 2 hippie guys Wyatt (nicknamed Mr. America) and Billy trade a shipment of drugs for 2 choppers and head from Mexico first to Los Angeles and then to New Orleans for the Mardi Gras Festival, in search of "Real America" under "real" is suspected government abandonment with the war in Vietnam, with free love, acid trip, etc. The whole film is saturated with issues and tensions about the youth of the '60s, such as the heyday of the hippie movement, the communal way of life. One of the strongest pluses of this picture is the soundtrack. It's got all the gold in folk-rock and psychedelic music from the '60s. From the Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Byrds to Steppenwolf and Bob Dylan. Also on the plus side is the acting (front and background), what is only Hopper or The Advocate. The movie really wasn't made to order, which is nice. However, I want to note that not everyone will understand this film, because, as I have already said, there is no plot, but at the same time, this picture has a lot of meanings, thoughts. And one of the thoughts for me: "To be a hippie means to be a free man, to escape from the democratic ideas of the capitalist world. To reconnect with nature, to become nature, as Jim Morrison sang in one of the songs. I definitely recommend the film.… Expand

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9

Pan_KrytykMar 15, 2022

klasyka amerykańskiej kinematografii... film bez jakiejś skomplikowanej fabuły... zarazem bardzo dobry... na pewno oglądnę jeszcze raz :)

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