MovieChat Forums > Five Easy Pieces (1970) Discussion > Anyone can identify with Bobby

Anyone can identify with Bobby

posted 8 years ago by cmjaustin
2 replies | jump to latest

Nicholson's portrayal of Bobby left me in a very cold and detached mood after the credits started rolling at the end of the movie. This movie shouldn't be regarded solely as a snapshot of America in the late 60's and early 70's. In fact, one could say that Five Easy Pieces is even more relevant today.

Who doesn't question at least once a week what they do with their lives and why they do it? Who doesn't question whether or not they should abandon their current life out of fear of things, as Bobby says, going bad? Indeed, Bobby's approach to life in this film is borderline nihilistic. Even though he is a blue-collar worker, he understands he can be doing something more proprietary with his life in terms of employment. He rejects his musical talents seemingly out of self-doubt, and we are left wondering if he actually doubts his abilities, or if he is doing this to spite his family.

One of my favourite scenes is when he is present in the group of pseudo-intellectuals and vehemently defends Rayette and calls the curly haired woman out on her facade.

I think this movie is more relevant today than ever before.

[–] BobbyDupea 8 years ago

I agree, and the look of surprise on Rayette's face when Bobby defends her is priceless. Bobby doesn't commit to living in either of the two worlds he floats through in this movie like an irritable ghost. The anxiety he experienced early in his life about living up to the expectations of others has stayed with him like a straightjacket, and he continuously runs from any situation that demands a commitment. He is doomed by himself to be a man forever on the move and never satisfied with the mediocre people, mediocre jobs, and mediocre landscapes he finds himself in as he drifts through life.

My real name is Jeff

[–] chas437 8 years ago

He is doomed by himself to be a man forever on the move and never satisfied with the mediocre people, mediocre jobs, and mediocre landscapes he finds himself in as he drifts through life.

Good post, and I pretty much agree. But let me ask you this, does Bobby find Catherine Van Oost to be mundane or mediocre?

I thought he was quite captivated by her. Maybe she was someone he would have changed his ways for. Yet, she was beyond his grasp, a consequence of his leaving his family behind.

In the end, this only reinforces his alienation,