Wyatt and Billy smuggle cocaine from Mexico to Los Angeles on their motorcycles. After getting paid, they set out on a cross-country ride to make it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Along the way, they encounter people from many walks of life. They meet a homesteading farmer, a hippie hitch-hiker (and visit his commune), ACLU lawyer George Hanson, a cruel, intolerant southern sheriff and gang, and a pair of Louisiana prostitutes. With their prostitute pals, they take LSD and have an absolutely mind-bending, miserable night. The story ends with an unfortunate run-in with some rednecks and a shotgun.
I wrote that recap, but it’s kind of a silly endeavor. It’s like writing a recap of the scenes on Big Thunder Mountain—yeah, I could describe what I saw, but there isn’t much of a plot.
I get what they’re doing with this flick. Modern western. Bikes are like horses of old and Wyatt and Billy (names on point) are their riders. I don’t dismiss this film. It played with a lot of interesting ideas. I really like its examination of freedom and its restraints, be it through contract (a job), the land, in parading, or simply not fitting in. The film has a kick-ass rock soundtrack and, with its many long montages, almost plays like a collection of music videos.
But ultimately, the film fell outside of my preferences. It is more mood and style than it is story. I struggled with the meandering pace of the film and aimless attitude of our bikers. I’ve never found drug sequences to be all that fascinating. And while the editing was really interesting, and made some cool choices, the film is just too long for what it gives you. Apparently it was cut from 4 hours to 2; I think you could get in and out of this story in 30 minutes. Lol.