esrosedotblog

ACID TRIP

Today's Best NY Times Film was Easy Rider (1969).

Western, buddy movie, road flick, biker film, us vs. them victim trip, hippy manifesto, and, of course, an acid trip all rolled into one.

There is no plot but there is one. be sure to read the Ebert 'story' of the film.

"We blew it, Billy".

The world turns upside down. Out is in. Them are us.

And the ending is the same as it has been since 1969.

It is amazing to see the early Jack Nicholson and now I know why I liked him so much and am so sad about the changes.

Hopper did not invent the 'nut case' persona in this picture but it endures. And the young Peter Fonda never looked so dewy and innocent. And a rebel. Not really.

When it came out, it was contemporary and now it is historical. But the theme is timeless.

You can run but you cannot hide from the world and its responsibilities.

A 5 out of Netflix5.

In 1969, I had just had my first marijuana. I had a job in Harvard Square in an 'alternative' company doing management training on the wild side for corporate America. I wore the attire of one who had at least glanced off the alternative culture. We had joss sticks and were beginning to think in terms of strobish lighting.

In awhile and for awhile we would have an extended family.

I was thinking about being queer again, only now it was gay and somehow OK.

This film came around just at the moment of my departure from the main stream. It was a good cautionary tale. I took the caution and sailed through it with a lot of help. The film is a benchmark for me.