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Five Easy Pieces (1970)
Director: Bob Rafelson
Writer: Carole Eastman (screenplay)
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Billy Green Bush
Genre: Drama
At the 43rd Academy Awards in 1971 the youth orientated film, Five Easy Pieces, caused a bit of a stir when it was nominated for four Oscars:
Best Picture, Best Lead Actor Jack Nicholson, Best Lead Actress Karen Black and Best Screenplay...it won none of them.
Was it ripped off? Is this baby boomer cult classic really as good as some claim? Let's find out.
At the heart of the story is Bobby Dupea (Jack Nicholson)who's a young wreck loose, adrift and trying to find meaning to his life, as he refuses to follow in the footsteps of his wealthy family. This theme of disillusioned youth struck a cord with the then young baby boomer generation, who like Bobby Dupea was looking for more meaning to life than just the 9-5 grind. Such films were popular at the time, the most well known is Easy Rider.
Here Jack Nicholson plays a more mainstream character, but true to his acting persona is still a free spirit. And that spirited rebellious streak is what struck a note with the baby boomers who longed to chart their own course in life, disregarding conventions of the past.
So it's no surprise that one of the most celebrated parts of the film is the restaurant scene where an older waitress, who represents the older generation refuses to take Bobby's special order and staunchly says no special orders, just what's on the menu. She's adamant and inflexible. Bobby smarts off to the waitress...and when he has had enough, in an act of rage over the inflexibility of the older waitress he swipes the table with his arm knocking dishes and glasses onto the ground.
Some would call him a hero for taking a stand and that's why this film has resonated with a generation. I can't deny Jack Nicholson is a colorful character so he fits this movie like a glove. I personally didn't find much depth to his performance as he seems so flippant in many of his movies that it's hard to take him seriously. Still his scenes with his father who just had a stroke, were very powerful.
For me what makes this film is Karen Black's performance as Rayette Jack Nicholson's waitress girl friend and mental punching bag. And verbally abuse her he does. I'd just seen Karen Black in Hitchcock's film Family Plot and there she was no more interesting than the background furniture, but here she really gets to act, and act she does.
Rayette is simple but loyal, she allows Nicholson's character to show what a lout he really is, by her being such an enabler. I couldn't help caring about her plight and yet with her pouting ways and strange make up that could scare a cat on Halloween...I ultimately believe she belonged with Bobby Dupea. They're a forlorn couple, with no future, who live for the day and hope for a better tomorrow, without ever trying to make their lives any better.
Five Easy Pieces (1970)
Writer: Carole Eastman (screenplay)
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Billy Green Bush
Genre: Drama
At the 43rd Academy Awards in 1971 the youth orientated film, Five Easy Pieces, caused a bit of a stir when it was nominated for four Oscars:
Best Picture, Best Lead Actor Jack Nicholson, Best Lead Actress Karen Black and Best Screenplay...it won none of them.
Was it ripped off? Is this baby boomer cult classic really as good as some claim? Let's find out.
At the heart of the story is Bobby Dupea (Jack Nicholson)who's a young wreck loose, adrift and trying to find meaning to his life, as he refuses to follow in the footsteps of his wealthy family. This theme of disillusioned youth struck a cord with the then young baby boomer generation, who like Bobby Dupea was looking for more meaning to life than just the 9-5 grind. Such films were popular at the time, the most well known is Easy Rider.
Here Jack Nicholson plays a more mainstream character, but true to his acting persona is still a free spirit. And that spirited rebellious streak is what struck a note with the baby boomers who longed to chart their own course in life, disregarding conventions of the past.
So it's no surprise that one of the most celebrated parts of the film is the restaurant scene where an older waitress, who represents the older generation refuses to take Bobby's special order and staunchly says no special orders, just what's on the menu. She's adamant and inflexible. Bobby smarts off to the waitress...and when he has had enough, in an act of rage over the inflexibility of the older waitress he swipes the table with his arm knocking dishes and glasses onto the ground.
Some would call him a hero for taking a stand and that's why this film has resonated with a generation. I can't deny Jack Nicholson is a colorful character so he fits this movie like a glove. I personally didn't find much depth to his performance as he seems so flippant in many of his movies that it's hard to take him seriously. Still his scenes with his father who just had a stroke, were very powerful.
For me what makes this film is Karen Black's performance as Rayette Jack Nicholson's waitress girl friend and mental punching bag. And verbally abuse her he does. I'd just seen Karen Black in Hitchcock's film Family Plot and there she was no more interesting than the background furniture, but here she really gets to act, and act she does.
Rayette is simple but loyal, she allows Nicholson's character to show what a lout he really is, by her being such an enabler. I couldn't help caring about her plight and yet with her pouting ways and strange make up that could scare a cat on Halloween...I ultimately believe she belonged with Bobby Dupea. They're a forlorn couple, with no future, who live for the day and hope for a better tomorrow, without ever trying to make their lives any better.