Hopper: A Journey into the American Dream
In an interview with Charlie Rose on 60 Minutes, actor Dennis Hopper claimed that his career was a failure. Was he serious, or was he taking on the role of Hollywood’s biggest disappointment? He had not become the matinee idol to which he aspired as a boy while watching Gene Autry westerns, nor had he become a successful director. His most ambitious film, The Last Movie, was still unreleased, and he had lost several years in his prime to drug addiction. Still, his portfolio was full of memorable performances in blockbuster films, such as Rebel without a Cause, Giant, Easy Rider, and Apocalypse Now, and he had rarely been without a role in television or the movies for 30 years. Through 50 short, episodic chapters in loosely chronological order, documentary producer Folsom recounts the life and career of a self-proclaimed genius who alienated directors, producers, and five wives, but until death kept moviegoers entertained. --Rick Roche