Dana and Tom with guest Jesse Sertle (fellow group member of CineMadison, previously on Rounders, @jsertle on IG) discuss the dawn of New Hollywood with Easy Rider (1969): written and directed by Dennis Hopper with Peter Fonda and Terry Southern, starring Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, and Jack Nicholson.
Plot Summary: In the open road odyssey "Easy Rider," director Dennis Hopper and co-star Peter Fonda embody the restless spirit of the 1960s counterculture. The film, a rambling narrative of freedom and disillusionment, follows two bikers, Wyatt (Fonda) and Billy (Hopper), as they traverse the American Southwest in search of authenticity and liberation. The duo's journey, funded by a drug deal, becomes a kaleidoscopic exploration of the American landscape, both physical and cultural.
The film captures a nation in transition with its stunning cinematography showcasing the vastness of America while contrasting it with the intimacy of its small towns and eccentric characters. Along the way, they encounter an assortment of characters, from an idealistic lawyer (Jack Nicholson) to a communal farm, representing the era’s ideological clashes.
"Easy Rider" is a raw, poignant, and at times, tragic reflection on the price of freedom and the inevitable collision between personal liberty and societal norms. The film’s haunting ending, set against the backdrop of a sun setting over the American landscape, leaves viewers with a sense of loss and contemplation. Hopper’s direction, combined with Fonda’s cool demeanor and Nicholson’s electrifying performance, creates a cinematic experience that is as timeless as it is of its time.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
01:59 Cast and Recognition
04:12 Relationship(s) to Easy Rider
07:54 What is Easy Rider About?
10:47 The Impact of Easy Rider on the Film Industry
15:50 The Relevance of Easy Rider Today
17:40 Plot Summary for Easy Rider
19:22 Did You Know?
21:09 First Break
23:20 Ask Dana Anything...
25:16 Best Performance(s)
34:08 Best/Favorite/Indelible Scene(s)
42:05 Second Break
43:01 In Memoriam
43:36 Best/Funniest Lines
44:54 The Stanley Rubric - Legacy
50:28 The Stanley Rubric - Impact/Significance
55:44 The Stanley Rubric - Novelty
57:49 The Stanley Rubric - Classicness
01:03:51 The Stanley Rubric - Rewatchability
01:06:29 The Stanley Rubric - Audience Score and Final Total
01:07:55 Remaining Questions
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For the video version of this episode, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKeAEQ4qkUQ
For more on the episode, go to: https://www.ronnyduncanstudios.com/post/easy-rider-1969-ft-jesse-sertle
For the entire rankings list so far, go to:Full Graded List - Greatest Movies of All-Time
Keywords:
Easy Rider, counterculture, new Hollywood, independent film, freedom, disillusionment, disconnect, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson, Easy Rider, film industry, independent projects, studio system, 1970s culture, family, backgrounds, death row, Wisconsin prisons, novelty, classicness, rewatchability, ending, outfits, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
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