HTF BLU-RAY REVIEW: Easy Rider

Easy Rider

Studio: Sony/Columbia

Year: 1969

Rated: R

Program Length: 95 minutes

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 1080p

Languages: English, French, Portuguese Dolby TrueHD 5.1; Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish

The Program

We have to stop making movies about motorcycles, sex, and drugs and start making more movies like Doctor Doolittle. – Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, circa 1968

To hear Peter Fonda tell it, Jack Valenti’s admonition was all the inspiration he needed to come up with the idea for Easy Rider, which is perhaps the quintessential anti-establishment film of the Sixties. It has been said that Henry Fonda came out of a showing of Easy Rider totally perplexed, utterly unable to comprehend what his son's film was about. His confusion was, of course, partially a generational thing, but it also was understandable because Easy Rider does not have a conventional narrative. We meet Wyatt – a.k.a. “Captain America” (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper, who also directed) as they are concluding a drug deal in Mexico. Shortly thereafter they are selling the stash of cocaine to a wealthy Hollywood type (Phil Spector!) in a Rolls-Royce parked at one end of an active runway at Los Angeles International Airport. Now flush with cash, the two friends head out on their motorcycles to attend Mardis Gras in New Orleans.

At the end of what a viewer would most likely regard as the film’s first act, we know practically nothing about the protagonists. Who are they? Where are they from? What do they plan to do with their money? On those points, there is no exposition whatsoever. The two men set out east on their bikes, sticking to two-lane highways, sleeping under the stars. When Wyatt gets a flat tire, a farmer lets them use his barn and invites them to stay for a meal. It is here that we see that Wyatt is laid back, introspective and appreciative of the kindness of others, while Billy is full of nervous energy and anxious to get to New Orleans. Back on the road, they stop and pick up an enigmatic hitch-hiker (Luke Askew) who is looking for a ride to the commune where he lives. When they arrive at the commune, Wyatt is intrigued by what he sees – young people who have turned their backs on city life, trying to live off of the land, and some obvious overtones of free love. Billy, however, is less than enthralled. He would like to make it with some of the women, but he scoffs at the idea that the hippies will ever be able to grow anything in the dusty, arid climate.

After what seems to be an extended stay at the commune, the bikers resume their trip to New Orleans. While passing through a small town in New Mexico (or is it supposed to be Texas?) they come upon a parade and decide to join in with their motorcycles. The local police are not amused and throw Wyatt and Billy into jail for parading without a permit. While behind bars they befriend George Hanson (Jack Nicholson), a local attorney who has a habit of drinking too much and then sleeping it off under the watchful eyes of the town’s deputies. George is unhappy with his rather dull life, and he is intrigued by the two bikers who are not tied down by any family or work obligations. George goes home to grab his old football helmet, hops on the back of Wyatt’s bike and off they go.

It is here, and largely because of Nicholson’s exceptional screen presence, that Easy Rider really takes off. The excursion into Louisiana is far from uneventful, but to say more would be to reveal too much of the story for those who are unfamiliar with the film. Suffice it say that there is some extreme violence, some original and unusual hallucinatory scenes in New Orleans and a sudden, shattering climax.

Easy Rider is an iconic film, but is it really a great film? Seeing it again for the first time in many years, I was impressed by the wonderful soundtrack (with music by Steppenwolf, The Byrds, The Band, Jimi Hendrix and others) and the terrific camerawork by the great cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs. However, the scenes in the commune, which undoubtedly shocked people in 1969, seem tame by today's standards and unnecessarily drawn out. Peter Fonda has never been particularly charismatic and Dennis Hopper’s Billy is pretty much a one-note job of acting. On the other hand, Nicholson’s breakthrough performance is something to relish and it is easy to see why he was on his way to superstardom.

The Video

The 1080p Blu-ray widescreen transfer is spectacular. Let me sum it up by quoting our resident expert, Robert Harris:

”Easy Rider is generally a very sharp, highly resolved film for the era, with spot-on color and densities and proper grain structures. I use the word generally because some of the film, which will be obvious, was shot in 16mm. Two entire reels have also been gone for decades, and have been replaced anew by scanning the separation masters at 4k. The difference between the overall look, textures and feel of this new Blu-ray when compared to the now ten year old standard definition version is nothing short of breathtaking…I must once again make note of the fact that this is (based upon the extant film elements) yet another letter perfect transfer from Columbia/Sony, which continues as the only studio with this kind of track record for Blu-ray.”

Take it from Mr. Harris; this Blu-ray release is absolutely wonderful.

The Audio

The Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1 audio is excellent, particularly when it comes to reproducing the classic rock musical soundtrack. Some of the iconic songs, such as “Born to Be Wild” and “The Weight” (to name just two) have never sounded better. The dialogue is clear and understandable throughout. The movie was originally recorded in stereo. Some of the ambient sounds have been channeled to the surround channels, but for the most part the sound remains up front.

The Supplements

The extras are rather limited, with just a commentary track by Dennis Hopper and a standard-definition “making of” featurette called “Shaking the Cage” which appeared on an earlier DVD release of the film. One amusing anecdote is about how the studio was uncomfortable with the idea of the protagonists being dealers in hard drugs. The original screenplay called for them to be selling heroin, but the studio asked Fonda and Hopper to change it to marijuana. After it was pointed out that they would need to sell a truckload of marijuana to make a financial killing, they compromised with cocaine, which did not have the same degree of negative connotations as heroin. It is also interesting to hear how Hopper was something of a control freak, and he had a major falling out with Fonda during the filming.

The Blu-ray edition also includes Sony’s Movie IQ feature, which can pop up cast and crew information and trivia while the film is playing. I am not a fan of such features.

The Packaging

The single disc comes in a Sony “Blu-ray” book. The book contains many color photos, bios of Fonda, Hopper, Nicholson and co-screenwriter Terry Southern, a discussion of the songs used on the soundtrack, and an essay about the “New Hollywood” school of filmmaking.

The Final Analysis

However you may feel about how well Easy Rider holds up today, it is an important film which does capture the sense of alienation which pervaded many of America’s youth during the late sixties. My bottom line is that Easy Rider is not quite as good as its reputation, but it is still well worth seeing – and you will never have a better time seeing it than with this fine Blu-ray presentation.

Equipment used for this review:

Panasonic DMP-BD50 Blu-ray player DVD Player

Panasonic Viera TC-P46G15 Plasma display, calibrated to THX specifications by Gregg Loewen

Yamaha HTR-5890 THX Surround Receiver

BIC Acoustech speakers

Interconnects: Monster Cable

Release Date: Available Now (Released October 20, 2009)