Shout by Tony Bates

Five Easy Pieces 1970

Wasn’t sure what to make of this one. Doesn’t hold up for me in the same way as some other New Hollywood pictures, but it did have some striking moments of poignancy (not least the terrific downbeat ending.) Nicholson’s iconoclast character felt very of a time, in a way that doesn’t compare favorably to Bonnie and Clyde’s duo or even The Graduate’s Benjamin. The movie overall struggles to find its way, shifting gears dramatically halfway through and ending up feeling like 2.5 very different movies. (The .5 is due to a strange road trip interlude connecting the two halves that never quite comes together, even despite the famous chicken salad scene.)

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