When your very first film is Easy Rider, a film that defined the counterculture movement in the late 1960s and sparked the New Hollywood style of filmmaking, capturing the imagination of an entire generation in the process, you can pretty much just pack up and go home, because you're never going to be able to top it. Such is Dennis Hopper's story. Back in 1969, he made a movie about two bikers (himself and Peter Fonda) who went on a road trip through the American Southwest. Easy Rider depicted with frankness all the ins and outs of the hippie lifestyle, including actual drug use on camera, which was shocking for suburban audiences, who had likely never seen anything like it. The film shined a light on all of the societal issues that plagued the time period, and created a realistic portrayal of people who just wanted to get out and do things their own way. As an actor, Dennis Hopper had many other strong performances, but in terms of directing, he never topped the success or the significance of that first film, Easy Rider.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
