Five Easy Pieces
1970, R, 98 min.
Directed by Bob Rafelson, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Billy Green Bush, Fannie Flagg, Susan Anspach, Sally Struthers, Ralph Waite, Lois Smith.

This is one of those “original slacker” stories about a gifted pianist from the privileged classes who chooses to work on the oil rigs and slum through life as an average joe. Five Easy Pieces is also the film that contains Nicholson’s oft-repeated chicken-salad speech in the diner.

This article appears in August 18 • 2000.

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Marjorie Baumgarten is a film critic and contributing writer at The Austin Chronicle, where she has worked in many capacities since the paper's founding in 1981. She served as the Chronicle's Film Reviews editor for 25 years.