Easy Rider (1969)

Directed by: Dennis Hopper
Starring: Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson

Overall Rating: 78.2

"Easy Rider" takes the drug fueled anti-culture of the late 60's/early 70's and transcribes it into a visual road trip across the scenic countryside. With the reputation of a "drug movie", it's worth remembering that "Easy Rider" also stands up as a quality film, filled with great actors.

The film follows two men named Wyatt (Fonda) and Billy (Hopper) who sell a stash of drugs to travel from Los Angeles to New Orleans to go to Mardi Gras, experiencing America across the way.  During their travels, the two encounter a wide range of people looking to live their own lives.  There's the rancher struggling to grow crops to provide for his family, the outcast village of hippies looking to create their own community by living off the land, and plenty of bigoted rednecks un-accepting of the long-haired, free spirited duo.

The two men are played very differently by the two esteemed actors.  Fonda chooses to play Wyatt as the thoughtful, enlightened type, where as Hopper plays Billy as the hyper, wild-child hippie.  Each manages to have their own moments on screen.

The most recognized performance, however, comes from Jack Nicholson playing George, an alcoholic lawyer who decides to accompany Wyatt and Billy on their trip to Mardis Gras.  Nicholson earned his first Oscar nomination for his role, and it was well deserved.  As a seemingly well-off lawyer in a small town, George more than likely feels like he's a rebel with his alcoholism, until he runs into the main characters in jail.  Sensing a chance for freedom outside his small town, George tags along trying to get more experiences, but also provides context on life for Wyatt and friendship for Billy.

As so many art-house films of this era, "Easy Rider" focuses a lot on the audio and visual aspect of the film.  A large portion of the film is spent following the men on their motorcycles across the country, giving plenty of great scenic views.  As director, Hopper also manages to include plenty of classic songs to accompany the riding shots.

While it's definitely not a casual movie to turn on when you're looking for some excitement, the overall message and tones of "Easy Rider" should definitely be experienced at least once.  Even if you're against the hippie, counterculture lifestyle, there are still excellent images to be had and great performances to be watched.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 7
Dialogue: 8
Acting: 9
Direction: 7
Audio/Visual: 7

Batman (1989)

Directed by: Tim Burton
Starring: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger

Overall Rating: 98.1

There's a reason Tim Burton's "Batman" was the fastest grossing $100 million dollar movie ever when it debuted in 1989:  The grand set design, incredible marketing campaign, and the first true superhero movie since "Superman". 

"Batman" shows both the origins of Bruce Wayne (Keaton) and Jack Napier/The Joker (Nicholson), and follows the two as both try to hold their own power over Gotham City.  While Batman struggles to maintain order, The Joker is set on widespread panic by trying to kill/deform all the citizens.

Being only 5 when the film came out, I can still remember the mass-marketing campaign that went along with the film.  The big yellow buttons with the bat symbol emblazoned on them, the backpacks, the lunchboxes, the action figures, the video game tie-ins.  Warner Bros. went all out to make people know that this film was a spectacle, and the substance of the film did not disappoint.  For its time, "Batman" was the biggest thing on earth, and continued to carry it's weight as the premiere superhero movie until the 2002 when Sam Raimi came along with "Spider-Man".

Michael Keaton's take on the Dark Knight was legendary for its time.  Before Keaton, the association the general public had with Batman was "pow", "zing", and "whap" from the Adam West TV show.  Keaton brought the brooding, darkness that we've come to expect from an orphan of murdered parents turned vigilante.

 

Nicholson's performance as The Joker is timeless.  Many tried to compare his performance to Heath Ledger's in "The Dark Knight", but in my mind it's impossible to compare.  Nicholson brought a playful humor to his anarchistic antagonist.  Whether dancing around gleefully while destroying a museum or using gag props to eliminate his foes, Nicholson finds ways to make you fall in love with the Joker, despite his sadistic side.

Another genius marketing move by Warner Bros. was to have one of the biggest musical artists of the time in Prince create the soundtrack.  With his own original tracks meant to highlight the Joker, interwoven with Danny Elfman's amazing score, the soundtrack is incredibly memorable.

What Tim Burton did with this film was usher in a new era of superheroes and film in general.  Movies were no longer just movies, they were a part of culture.  Studios could now look at big-budget movies as a source of  incredible income, should they be properly marketed. 

Undoubtedly one of the most memorable movies of my childhood, "Batman" will always hold a special place in my heart.  Removing all sentimentality, it still holds up as an amazing film, let alone superhero film.  At any point, going back and spending time with the 1989 version of Bruce Wayne and the Joker feels like the first time.

Individual Ratings
Enjoyment Factor: 10
Dialogue:8
Acting: 8
Direction: 8
Audio/Visual: 10