Revisiting Classics- 10

 

Today we talk of the classic, Five Easy Pieces., the 1970 release This one is amongst the many that Jack Nicholson and director Bob Rafelson collaborated on. The 70's of Hollywood is considered the finest in terms of content even today, with some of the best work coming out from some of the best of the writers and directors. This was also the time when a lot of young directors like Spielberg, Lucas et al where gradually coming into the fold and exploring and experimenting. 

This was also the golden time of Hollywood when some of the greatest films emerged. America in the 70's was transforming. After the WW2 the generation that took over the reins worked very very hard and ensured that their off springs (the baby boomers) had a stable and prosperous life ahead. With the American boom, came the prosperity and gave birth to a generation which changed the landscape of the country. Yet, it also gave birth to a set of people who could not ride the wave and were questioning things. Some of them were forced into a war, they had no clue about and a part of them joined the proverbial Hippie revolution and remained permanently high. A generation of worker who belonged to the Blue Collar community were working hard and the disparity seemed verdant to most. And that resulted in the restlessness.  

In this, emerges the character of the young Bobby Dupea (Jack Nicholson) as a young restless American trying to find his feet. Five Easy Pieces is a film which best defines claustrophobia. Claustrophobia of coming from an illustrious family of musicians and how the character of Jack Nicholson (Bobby Dupea) is unable to find his space. He works in the mines as the classic American Blue Collar worker. He inhabits the dive bars and moves from women to women and has a steady girlfriend (a brilliant Karen Black) who fancies a career in country music. Bobby is frustrated, restless and is unable to ascertain what he wants from life. A girlfriend he does not identify, a fellow worker and his best buddy who is on a trajectory that Bobby is unable to fend off and a family he has lost connect with for reasons only known to Bobby.  

A lot of aficionado would probably relate to the work of Jack Nicholson of later years. Through films like One flew over the Cuckoo's nest. As good as it gets, and of course the much talked, A few good men. However, the era of 70's when Nicholson actively collaborated with Bob Rafelson gave us a different side of the actor. This perhaps helps to know the real talent of Nicholson. In Five Easy Pieces the claustrophobia of the character comes out in many moments of his; the time with stand-in girlfriend or the time when he spends time in the dive bars or in the swingers or his time with family. A disconnect with his family and his father. Perhaps, the best moment when his character enjoys is the time when stuck in a traffic jam on the interstate he hops on the truck (stuck in the jam) and starts playing the piano perched atop the truck. It is a beautiful time and perhaps the best part about the film. It is paced out and builds up gradually. Rafelson strikes it best here. 

The frustrations and the claustrophobia of Jack Nicholson is complemented by the brilliance of Karen Black. Karen has a complex role to play of a dumb and out of place character who fosters ambition to be a country singer. She is trying hard to fit into the cramped up space of Bobby Dupea but pity, Bobby himself is constrained for space. It is this jaunt that leaves the viewers frustrated and at times you feel for Karen's character and questions her reasons for hanging out with Bobby. At the end, when Bobby finds his serendipity, it is a painful moment for Rayette Dipesto (Karen Black). The shot where, Bobby hops onto to the truck heading north, and leaves Rayette at the coffee shop; it is a long shot and pans for a long long time and the monotony of it further creates a sense of void that always existed between Bobby and the rest of the world. 

Five Easy Pieces needs multiple viewing to understand the classic 70's era and the dark side of capitalism perhaps. The strains of being in relation and you start wondering what/why/how it all happened to the American Society which suddenly became so lonely and disjointed?

It streams on Mubi. Go watch!