Easy Rider

Easy Rider was, pardon my language, a complete hell for me. And even though road movies are not taboo for me at all, in this case, I had a hard time trying not to stop watching before the end. It's not just that the story is almost nonexistent, which can usually be expected in road movies, but when you also add in the soulless characters with whom you have no chance of empathizing just because of their stone faces and absolutely uninteresting character traits, it becomes really difficult to watch. Denis Hopper probably had a desire to probe into the lives of free-spirited hippies who are not bothered by anything and whose journey is essentially their goal when they feel the wind in their hair, but he forgot to give the characters some soul and sympathy in the script that the audience could relate to. Even the psychedelic scene in the cemetery annoyed me, which did not fit at all with the chosen style, and the film started to irritate me even more because of it. This time, I wasn't even a fan of the chosen background music, and the only thing I can honestly praise is Jack Nicholson's performance, who probably doesn't even have a chance to ruin anything with his talent. (20/12/2018)

From what I gather, I can imagine what the hippie era and everything around it was like. I'm sure that when this movie came out, it was definitely a blast. But the years go by, and over those 40 years, the movie has lost almost all of its appeal. It's a complete bore that not even a good score can save. Fonda and Nicholson give good performances, but Hopper is as bad an actor as a director, and perhaps ruined a good screenplay by his directing. Finally, don’t tell me this is a cult movie. A cult movie is just as fantastic at the time of its creation as it is 30 years later. This just didn’t withstand the test of time and has no chance of appealing to younger generations. (26/06/2013)

A quirky psychedelic cult film that may well capture the atmosphere of its time, but for me it's absolutely outdated. I don't think ninety minutes have ever felt so long, even waiting at the dentist. I appreciate the great music, the awesome Nicholson, and the challenging interpretive nature, but you can really tell at times that the entire crew was smoking like Petty and Selma throughout. Not for me. (02/08/2018)

One of those films you hear about for a long time but don't truly understand until you see it. Well, I've seen it and I understand now. It's an excellent film, both in terms of acting and production. The storyline is very simple, but the presentation truly stands out and gives the entire film something extra that pulls you into the era and helps you understand the characters. (07/07/2015)

Easy Rider is usually considered the cornerstone of the road movie genre and the beginning of the 60s trend, when Hollywood began to turn away from making films for the settled bourgeois, from whom the comfort of the television screens took them away from the movie theaters, to the young generation that looked at the world around them differently and above all behaved differently. Sex, drugs, long hair, and a dream of unlimited freedom are typical attributes of the hippie generation. The feeling of unrestraint is evoked by Dennis Hopper's long panoramic shots of the endless American heartland, which are alternated with shots of his heroes and their powerful motorcycles. It is noticeable that the film did not have a solid script and Hopper obviously improvised at some points, but thanks to the presence of the central trio of actors, I lean toward giving it 4 stars. The film's nonconformity also plays a significant role in my assessment - I seriously do not like those southern hillbillies, militaristic members of the militia, and conservative small-town folks that the director confronts with his characters. I appreciate the authenticity of Easy Rider because the film evokes the feelings of the '60s generation like very few others. Overall impression: 75%. (17/03/2015)