Easy Rider Review- By Michael Carlisle

 Title: Easy Rider
Year: 1969
Director: Dennis Hopper
Country: US
Language: English

By the year 1969 arrived, New Hollywood Cinema had paved its way into the mainstream and grabbed the hearts of America's youth. Suddenly the silver screen was wilder, more energetic, more controversial and more overtly sexual than ever before. Fresh and exciting themes leaped through the screen and characters had no boundaries or limitations. An example of a New American Wave film that seemingly had no limits was Easy Rider. 

Starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, the film involves two motorcycle riders/bikers named Wyatt and Billy who are on their way to Mardis Gras. They also wish to "find America". On their way they find hippies, hitchhikers, policemen and a whorehouse, 

Throughout Easy Rider a lot of marijuana is smoked by Hopper, Fonda and Nicholson. One would think that the smoke is fake, but actually they were really smoking marijuana on camera. For those who are anti-drug enthusiasts let me warn, this is definitely not the film for you. This picture is a 60's counter culture time capsule, it explores an explosive time where authority and youth were at great odds and "good vs evil" just didn't exist. 

Dennis Hopper's film describes the frictions between the living generations at the time and how the shattered idealism of a generalization created a great culture change. The "father knows best" era of the 50's was long gone, and the "sex, drugs, music and madness"  era was starting to reign. Throughout the film the characters search for America but can never find it, perhaps this is a great critique. The America that we are told about by our parents, politicians and teachers, is not the America we see.

In conclusion, Easy Rider is a sensational film that serves as a time machine into the 60's. Though the ending is sad, and may be far too abrupt, it is encouraging of rebellion and protest. Hopper insists that we should not let the ideals of the authority bring us down and force us into their reality. Praise it! 5/5