1969 (1988)

Summary

Nostalgia trip about two small town hippies who are affected by the Vietnam War.

Director

Ernest Thompson

Downey Factor

Medium. Keifer Sutherland plays the central character, and the camera mostly follows him when Downey's character is elsewhere.

Character

Ralph, a hippie who's in college to avoid getting drafted to serve in Vietnam.

Looks

Similar to his other movies from the same time, with a hippie wardrobe.

Performance

Decent. He plays his part about as well as the script would allow.

Love & Sex

Only talked-about.

Dies, Gay or Villain

No. No. No.

Cast

Kiefer Sutherland, Bruce Dern, Winona Ryder

Connection

Winona Ryder in A Scanner Darkly.

RDJ Says

For 1969, I examined the social climate of the time by reacting and talking to my dad. No matter how much you research a period piece, you're going to have to make up your own fucking mind about it. Everyone's experience is so varied, yet valid; you're always playing different aspects of yourself anyway. Even if it takes place over ten years, it's two fucking hours—no one can express more than a portion of themselves in a film anyway, and by themselves, I mean selves, plural.

Time & Place

Suburban Maryland in 1969.

Gossip

Earlier in the '80s when Kiefer Sutherland and Robert Downey Jr were starting out in Hollywood, they were housemates (along with Sarah Jessica Parker).

Availability

Released in theaters 18 November 1988. Available on DVD in Regions 1, 2, and 4.

Foreign Titles

Brazil: 1969, O Ano que Mudou Nossas Vidas (The Year Which Changed Our Lives)
Germany: Die Generation von '69 (The Generation of '69)
Germany: Aufrecht Gegen den Strom (Against the Tide)
Israel: 1969 Boys (English translation)
Italy: Giorni Di Rabbia (Days of Anger)

Rotten Tomatoes

55% Fresh | 11 Reviews

Critical View

Rita Kempley, Washington Post: As the draft-dodging, drug-abusing Ralph, Downey is less hippie than psychedelic yuppie.

Does It Hold Up

When this movie was new, it was a cheeseball take on an intense period of American history. It has not become less cheesy with time.

2 Reasons to See It

1. His acid trip is downright comical.
2. And he strips down to his underwear for the above-mentioned acid trip.

Overall

Cheesy in a self-serious, dramatic way (not in an amusing campy way).

If You Liked It

You might also like A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006), Air America (1990)

Photos

Video