Quote:
Originally Posted by myk
Now that you mention it, I'm suprised that Easy Rider hasn't been included on any of the top movies lists that I've read, critics or consensus. Not only did it start a new wave of far-out filmmaking, but it solidified Dennis Hopper's place in the big leagues, and was Jack Nicholson's breakout role.
And did I mention the soundtrack?  |
Certainly Easy Rider is a great movie and a great soundtrack and it really put its thumb on defining what was going on in American modern youth culture at the time.
I think part of the problem with Easy Rider is that it is a successful movie, despite itself. Some scenes are just too drug-fueled (like the Mardi Gras parade), but in some ways it just got lucky.
The other problem is that it is a bit like Alice in Wonderland, in that Jack Nicholson's character is like Alice entering the alternative world of the American youth. This is the opposite of The Graduate, which also came out about the same time, and was the breakout role for Dustin Hoffman. The Graduate is a much more structured movie, but it asks similar questions. I think it is sometimes higher regarded as instead of everyman entering the world of the rebel, the rebel is in the world of the everyman.
Both are iconic, important, and entertaining movies, but I would choose The Graduate over Easy Rider as the better film.