Five Easy Pieces

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065724/

This movie is on Sunday night at 11:00 PM on cable, right after Lord of the Rings🙄

I’m honestly surprised an American network is even airing this forgotten classic. I guess it's one of the better films from the 70s, so I'll probably give it another watch. What do you guys think about it?

Defining New Hollywood.

Someone recently asked for recommendations regarding what’s actually worth watching from the New Hollywood era. While you could certainly dive into the works of Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, or Peter Bogdanovich, if you want to see the thematic depth, stylistic flair, and the very worldview of 1970s American cinema distilled into a single experience, you really can't go wrong with Rafelson's masterpiece.

I'm with you on that. The ending always felt a little different to me, I guess. 🙂

Indeed, as the poster so aptly implies—it’s a journey toward absolutely nothing.

It’s wild to me how the director turned Nicholson's character into this big rebel, yet he's just completely powerless in that blue-collar wasteland 🙏 feels pretty biographical to me, I guess

Just to recap for those who aren't following—which is probably most of you. Most people will likely be watching Lord of the Rings starting at 8:00 PM, followed by Five Easy Pieces at 11:00 PM. So, after the LOTR marathon, after 🤦

I still don't really get why people here schedule things this way. Instead of putting this movie on at 8:00 PM and then running LOTR afterward, they do the exact opposite. But I guess that's just how it goes with LOTR☕

Anyway, if you haven't seen it, give it a shot. Not much else to say. If anyone actually sits through a movie this bad, I guess they aren't exactly looking for big blockbusters🙂

One of the greatest films ever made. It’s easily in my personal top 10. I first saw it back in the 70s and was blown away—unlike that crowd claiming it was just some mindless Saturday night flick. This was the first time I saw a brilliant, young Jack Nicholson, still sporting a full head of hair.

I’ll definitely be watching it again. I want to see how it holds up against the test of time. Every time I revisit it, I walk away with a different perspective. One thing is certain: Nicholson's performance is timeless, and there are plenty of other pure, untouchable elements in this movie.

So, is Nicholson actually going to shut this annoying little pest up by the end of the movie?

Jamie Davis9 said:And is Nicholson going to just shut this annoying pest up by the end of the movie?

He won't, though he’ll probably just walk away coolly because he’s frankly had enough of it all. 🙏

I didn't really intend to watch this since I have an early shift tomorrow and I'm still wide awake. 😳

I was actually planning on watching The Masters, but since this one started so late, I drifted off 🤣 and woke up around 10:30 PM, feeling completely wired 🤷 so I figured I might as well dive into Five Easy Pieces instead.

Honestly, the film is a freaking masterpiece. 🙏 It captures that sense of helplessness—that sudden burst of freedom—so incredibly well. The lead actress is genuinely irritating, but if you ask me, that's actually a strength of the film. Everything starts out looking so "normal" through Bobby's eyes before that sudden, sharp pivot. It feels like nothing is happening at first, but as we get closer to the end, Bobby's life just spirals toward 👎 and the way they crafted that descent is just pure cinematic bliss.

As for Nicholson, the man has the effortless cool of Steve McQueen, that rebellious streak you see in James Dean, and a level of raw talent we haven't seen since Bogart. 🙏

It's funny when you realize how much people try to pit Pacina against Denir based solely on their mob roles, especially since kids today seem obsessed with acting like Tony Montana and the rest of that crew. Seriously, there will always be that debate over who's better between those two, and that's usually what the younger generation uses as their benchmark. They are great actors, obviously, but this absolute powerhouse Nicholson totally overshadows them. 🙏

So, I ended up watching it even though I hadn't planned to. Thank God I did, because it is a freaking masterpiece by a freaking incredible Nicholson. I'm heading to bed now; I've got an early start.☕

EDIT: Can someone please explain the reasoning behind the title being Five Easy Pieces?

Gary Vaughn57 said:Can someone please walk me through why on earth they titled this movie Five Easy Pieces?

The five classical piano pieces played in the film and referenced in the title are:

* Frédéric Chopin: Fantasy in f Minor op. 49 , played by Bobby on The Back of a moving truck.
* Johann Sebastian Bach: Chromatic fantasia and Fugue, played by Bobby's Sister, partita, in a recording studio.
* Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: piano Concerto no. 9 in E-flat major, K. 271, played by Carl and Catherine upon Bobby's arrival AT The house.
* Chopin: Prelude Opus 28, No. 4, in E minor, played by Bobby for Catherine.
* Mozart: Fantasy in d Minor, K. 397

Missed the movie because I was busy knocking back beers at Budweiser—I’ll punish myself by clipping my nails way too short, which is going to make my fingertips sting like hell
😢

vividmason5 said:The five classical piano pieces played in the film and referenced in The Titl ara :

* Frédéric Chopin : Fantasy in f Minor op. 49 , played by Bobby on The Back of a moving truck
* Johann Sebastian Bach: Chromatic fantasia and Fugue, played by Bobby's Sister, partita, in a recording studio.
* Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: piano Concerto no. 9 in E-flat major, K. 271, played by Carl and Catherine upon Bobby's arrival AT The house.
* Chopin: Prelude Opus 28, No. 4, in E minor, played by Bobby for Catherine.
* Mozart : Fantasy in d Minor

Thanks, this information makes the movie feel even more valuable to me. 🙏

Now that I think I have finally uncovered everything I was curious about, I suppose I will head to bed. 🙂

vividmason5 said:The five classical piano pieces played in the film and referenced in the title are:

* Frédéric Chopin: Fantasy in f Minor op. 49 , played by Bobby on The Back of a moving truck.
* Johann Sebastian Bach: Chromatic fantasia and Fugue, played by Bobby's Sister, partita, in a recording studio.
* Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: piano Concerto no. 9 in E-flat major, K. 271, played by Bobby's brother, Carl, and Catherine upon Bobby's arrival AT The house.
* Chopin: Prelude Opus 28, No. 4, in E minor, played by Bobby for Catherine.
* Mozart: Fantasy in d Minor, K. 397

a dolly parton: d-i-v-o-r-c-e, and all her other hits? nothing, right? 🙂

Jamie Davis9 said:So, what about Dolly Parton—you know, "I Will Always Love You" and all those other massive hits? They don't really count toward his legacy, right? 🙂

Look, Dolly Parton just isn't part of Robert's musical DNA. 🙂

vividmason5 said:Dolly Parton isn't part of Robert's musical integrity. 🙂

..it's more of a mental thing. 😁

Jamie Davis9 said:...more like mental. 😁

🙂 Alright, yeah—in a way, it really does tie back to his psychological makeup. You see, Dolly Parton just happens to be part of the sonic landscape of his life. It’s actually quite subtle how the movie weaves those musical themes together with the protagonist's internal state. Take Rayette, for instance—she’s constantly spinning Dolly Parton records and humming along to the tunes; she’s caught in this sort of "theoretical" fatalism, totally obsessed and even threatening self-harm because of it. Meanwhile, you’ve got Robert, this academic pianist who couldn't care less about her or her musical taste, even though he's the one carrying this much more "concrete" sense of doom within him.

Gary Vaughn57 said:That movie is a damn masterpiece 🙏

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR3D-H42Rpw 😁

It definitely is 🙂

What stuck with me during my first watch was the ending, and honestly, watching it again, that ending still hits hard. And then there’s that famous diner scene 🙏

"Okay, I'll make it as easy for you as I can. I'd like an omelet, plain, and a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast, no mayonnaise, no butter, no lettuce . . . now all you have to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, give me a check for the chicken salad sandwich, and you haven't broken any rules."

"You want me to hold the chicken?,"

"I want you to hold it between your knees." 🤣

I noticed yesterday that Jack has these incredibly sharp, perfect features. Probably just back when he was younger, I guess 😳


It's a shame he eventually moved into commercial work, even if he was still doing good movies and playing great characters back then

Such a cool movie. Jack absolutely crushes it. 🙏 That scene where he mimics Carl’s walk is pure gold, and the ending? Just incredible. I also loved those two women chatting about Alaska. And of course, you can't forget that diner scene. To be honest, I think individual segments of the film actually hit harder than the movie as a whole, but that’s totally fine with me—there are plenty of films like this that I still hold incredibly dear.

Absolutely stunning film. I’m really glad this thread was started because the movie is a straight-up masterpiece. As for Nicholson, I honestly think the only one who outshines him is Brando.

And honestly, restlessranger30, I have to admit I got a good laugh out of your assumption that "most people won't watch it just because it isn't a massive blockbuster." You’re saying this on a film forum where we spend our days dissecting obscure indie gems that your average casual moviegoer couldn't tell you if their life depended on it 🙂. Besides, let's be real: for a huge chunk of the audience, seeing Jack Nicholson's name on the poster is more than enough reason to buy a ticket. That definitely includes those folks who sit through, goodness gracious, Lord of the Rings.