Five Easy Pieces

Selected by the Writers Branch. Introduction by author Matthew Specktor and Vice President of the Academy and Governor of the Writers Branch Larry Karaszewski.

Selected by the Writers Branch. 

Carole Eastman (using her pseudonym Adrien Joyce) wrote this searing character study about a dissatisfied young man who finds peace neither in the working-class world nor with his affluent family. Eastman had worked with Jack Nicholson on the 1966 Western The Shooting and tailored the role of Bobby Dupea for him, earning Nicholson his first Best Actor nomination. The film also earned nominations for Best Picture, Story and Screenplay (for Eastman and director Bob Rafelson), and Karen Black’s vivid performance as Bobby’s waitress girlfriend. 

DIRECTED BY: Bob Rafelson. WRITTEN BY: Adrien Joyce. STORY BY: Bob Rafelson, Adrien Joyce. WITH: Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Lois Smith, Susan Anspach. 1970. 96 min. USA. Color. English. Rated R. DCP.
Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation. 
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