easy rider

Billy: What the hell is wrong with freedom? That's what it's all about.

George Hanson: They'll talk to ya and talk to ya and talk to ya about individual freedom. But they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em.

I was so exited to watch easy rider after the emphasis put on it in the documentary , "a decade under the influence" it seemed to encapsulate what this new wave of film was trying to say , they wanted freedom , and were always looking forward, out of the old ways and into this new society which was sexually and spiritually liberated and full of new experiences waiting for everybody. This was a time for the young to take charge as the old hollywood was dying out. ( quite literally ) known widely as a landmark in film history this is a great example of what and how film making became in the 70. ( even though this was a sneaky 60's film) As Andy commented this film hasn't aged as well as the others. I found this to be true there were parts that didn't sit right for my movie watching eyes, it was very stylised and the edit was interesting but ultimately a little bit irritating as it jumped back and forth back and forth, something which it was praised for at the time. The road movie style was very beautifully captured however and the wide sweeping shots really carried the film along like a beautiful music video, everyone knowing 'born to be wild' as the first instrumental beat raised up.

The film was brave in many ways and i can imagine how it must have been refreshing and shocking at the time for me the thing that stays refreshing in the film is the little diamond lines of dialog which sum up the whole feeling at the time and also the bravery of keeping it so simple, driven by its beautiful cinematography and ideas rather than action.

"An indie film that became the spokesperson for a decade when Hollywood was preoccupied

with other concerns"

The public embraced this film, they liked it because it was something real. People wanted something they recognised, they wanted something that was apart of them .

Overall i think that this film is a grower and has power in its social context at the time, for me now its just a cool road movie but for many it was a beacon that there was change coming. Watching it with those eyes makes it pretty special .

xx peace. xx