Film: Five Easy Pieces
Director: Bob Rafelson
Country: USA
Released: September 1970
Runtime: 98 minutes
Genre: Indie Film
Studio: BBS Productions
Influenced: Terrence Malick, Michael Cimino, Hal Ashby, Wes Anderson, Sofia Coppola
Five Easy Pieces emerged from the creative partnership between Bob Rafelson and Jack Nicholson, who had previously worked together on Head (1968), the cult psychedelic film that made The Monkees famous. A key figure in the emerging generation of New Hollywood directors, Rafelson had a vision of a more realistic, character-driven kind of cinema for Five Easy Pieces, distinct from the big-budget studio productions of the time. Inspired by the changing cultural and political climate of the late 60s, Rafelson and Nicholson conceived a story that sought to reflect the growing disillusionment and existential angst felt by many Americans. Also, the scriptwriting role of Carole Eastman (credited as Adrien Joyce) cannot be overstated, giving the film's dialogue its sense of spark and vitality.
Nicholson's character, Robert "Bobby" Eroica Dupea, was designed as an antihero, a talented but troubled man who rejects his privileged background to lead a nomadic blue-collar existence. The film's title refers to a type of beginner's piano exercise, which has five separate sections or "pieces". This is significant, as the main character Bobby was a former classical piano prodigy, but "five easy pieces" also carries symbolic weight in the context of the film. These five "pieces" could be interpreted as referring to the different aspects of Bobby's life, each representing a different stage in his journey. These include his privileged upbringing, his current blue-collar existence, his relationship with his girlfriend Rayette, his return to his family home and his ultimate decision to abandon everything and head for Alaska.
Bobby lives a mundane, working-class life with his simple-minded girlfriend, Rayette, portrayed with aplomb by Karen Black. When he learns that his estranged father is seriously ill, Bobby embarks on a journey back to his upper-class family home in Washington State, bringing Rayette along with him. This trip confronts Bobby with his past and the music career he had abandoned, leading to a clash of cultures and expectations. Ultimately, unable to reconcile his past with his present, Bobby abandons Rayette and his family, hitching a ride to Alaska, a symbol of his perpetual desire for escape.
Rafelson's film doesn't follow a traditional three-act structure, but instead reflects the inner turmoil and aimlessness of its protagonist. The film is less about a chronological sequence of events and more about character study, exploring themes of alienation, disenchantment and the inability to communicate effectively. One of the most celebrated scenes from the film, the diner scene, is an emblem of Nicholson's character's contempt for societal norms and his struggle with authority.
Five Easy Pieces was the film that launched Nicholson into stardom. Nicholson's portrayal of Bobby, a complex and contradictory character, has become one of his most memorable roles – the sort of manic, unhinged, charming and wild type of character that he has now become best known for. The film received four Oscar nominations – including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor (for Nicholson) and Best Supporting Actress (for Black) – but its greatest legacy was its groundbreaking exploration of class, rebellion and personal dissatisfaction, ensuring the film resonated with young Americans and making it a touchstone of the New Hollywood era.
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