#84: Easy Rider (1969)

It's fitting that watching this film coincided with the recent death of Dennis Hopper, the producer, director and star of Easy Rider. It was known as one of his best works, and deservingly so. Easy Rider is easily the most experimental film to appear on this list so far, which is an understatement for a film that is laced with drug use. It's not often that you can feel the filmmakers’ presence behind the cameras when watching a film. It's not distracting though because you feel their own intentions, as well as the story's. Their approach happened to not just change the way films were made, but effected a whole generation.

Set alongside the southern roads of America, Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Hopper), hop on their motorcycles to head toward New Orleans after scoring some major cash after a cocaine deal. Invoking a Western-styled journey (influenced heavily by hippie ideals) Wyatt and Billy encounter both friends and foes as they embrace their ultimate destination of, well… life… man… Total freedom is the ultimate goal for these two nomads, but they learn that even their peace-loving ideals don't often bring the truest form of serenity.

This was actually the second time for me to see this film, and honestly, I wasn't as impacted this time around. Strangely enough, I almost feel like this film is best viewed just once. I love the editing (especially the transitional cuts) and the cinematography, but it's so easy to disregard the magic of what's happening on screen. It's widely known that most of the crew was just as strung out as the characters on screen, which in a way discounts the "genius" of this film. I just imagine that when this film was met with such critical praise, Hopper and Fonda had to feel like little boys who got away with stealing candy from the general store.

Nonetheless, you can't discount the impact this film made. Although at moments you may think to yourself, "What's the point?" you can't help but see what a new style of filmmaking this was. This film help usher in a whole new wave of counterculture filmmaking that made Scorsese, Coppola and Spielberg household names. It probably could be credited as one of the first, truly independent films that made the 70's, in my opinion, the best decade for both films and music.

This film is rated a little bit higher in my books more so for the impact then for the actual entertainment value, but to me it's a must see and highly deserves to be on this list. If anything, to feel the impact of the last shot.

I give Easy Rider 4 out of 5 Steppenwolfs. Read below my quick thoughts on the film from the first time I saw it in February of 2005.


I was a little hesitant on how I would view this movie. I knew not to expect too much (two hippies on motorcycles), so would this bore me? On the other hand, it is on numerous great movies lists. How can a buddy-road movie pull this off? While watching it, I enjoyed myself. It was entertaining, but I really didn't see the big deal about it. But, then the ending happened, and it all came together. As stated in the movie Adaptation, "Get them at the end. It doesn't matter what happens the rest of the movie, but if you got a great ending, then you have yourself a great movie." Once the credits rolled with the great theme-titled song, I actually felt what that time might have felt to a lot of hippies. Or maybe it was that joint I had been smoking the whole time.

Pro: The soundtrack! Oh yeah, and a great performance by Jack Nicholson.

Con: If you didn't live during the 60s/70s and have never done drugs (which I account for on both counts) the whole meaning of the movie might loose you.

#92: GoodFellas (1990)

Oscar Winner: Best Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci)

When I think of the best directors in movie history, Martin Scorsese is always at the top of that list. He’s had some so-so films here and there, but it’s not from a lack of talent. As an avid film lover and historian, you know his heart is poured out into every film, so you always forgive his missteps and wait for his new one to release. He always seems to be at his best when it comes to gangster films and GoodFellas is no exception. It acts as the pinnacle of Scorsese’s style, preciseness and vision.

GoodFellas is the classic rise-and-fall story of the real-life gangster, Henry Hill, played by Ray Liotta. The movie follows him and his two pals, Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro) and Tommy De Vito (Joe Pesci) as they climb the ranks of the New York mafia ladder in the 60’s and 70’s. As their fame and prestige grow, so do the murders, as they continue to adapt to the ever-changing climate of their trade.

Like other gangster films before it, GoodFellas gives you an in-depth look at how the mob operates. What makes it different is that its fast pace perfectly reflects the graphic violence and whirlwind nature of the lifestyle. Every scene and moment moves with a quick pulse, yet each one is truly memorable and builds upon the next. Having the knowledge that everything is based on a true story (Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi) adds to the shock of it all, but like no other film, you feel like you are getting an insiders peak that not even a documentary film could cover. Scorsese is the master of being innovative with his camera movement, use of soundtrack, and editing technique. With every swoop and cut, more and more depth is added to the characters.

Along with being a perfect movie technically, the acting is super. Joe Pesci has always been great at playing characters with a ferocious short-man syndrome, but here he plays a character so out of control that you get nervous anytime he appears in a scene. Robert De Niro’s character isn’t as up front as you would expect, but his acting chops shine through in his subtle nature of knowing that he’s not the main character in the film. Also, I think it’s a shame that Ray Liotta doesn’t get more credit for his role here. He’s likable and charming, yet provides the dangerous qualities that is needed for his tragic nature. In particular, I marveled at how well he did the voice-over narration, which is wound throughout the film so much, that with one bad inflection, it could’ve derailed the film.

I could go on and on about how well made the film is, but at the heart of it all is that it’s just flat out entertaining. It’s funny, suspenseful, dramatic… all the elements that make up a great movie. It’s crazy that at the time, Scorsese didn’t win the Oscar for directing or for best picture. Dances With Wolves pretty much stole everything that year, but Scorsese was finally awarded the statues for The Departed, which is great as well, but not nearly as good as this film. Perhaps the Academy was making up for past mistakes.

GoodFellas has always been a favorite of mine that I can watch over and over and not get tired of it. In short, it’s a perfect film. I give it 5 out of 5 pistol whips.