Along for the Ride (2016) User Reviews

A paean to an important Hollywood figure

[Mr_Gitts · 6/10 · 30 May 2021]

Not so much a "Hopper documentary" as documentation of his relationships with a passel of Hollywood figures, most importantly his factotum Satya De La Manitou. Offers much fascinating footage and some incisive observations, but morphs into a hagiography, larded with laughably florid panegyrics and pretentious passages that echo the more dire scenes in Hopper's wildly overpraised "The Last Movie". Offers next to nothing on his early years and career and precious little on "Easy Rider", which is an observation, not a criticism. Largely accomplishes what it sets out to do.

A Long Overdue Documentary on Dennis Hopper's Life and Art

[Binkconn · 8/10 · 21 January 2018]

The prime of Hollywood icon and iconoclast Dennis Hopper finally gets the examination it deserves with this documentary, narrated by Hopper's longtime friend Satya De La Manitou. I had the honor of seeing the film at a screening at the Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe with Mr. Manitou and Dennis' brother in attendance. Focusing primarily on the period of his post-Easy Rider success as he attempted to direct his avant-garde film The Last Movie in Peru, the doc. offers wonderful circa-1970 footage of Peru and its people as well as of Taos, New Mexico, where Hopper lived and edited the footage. The film also explores his post-drug burnout/Hollywood exile and resurgence years with interesting, often hilarious tales from shoots in Australia, on Apocalypse Now and Wim Wender's The American Friend. While the film sometimes gets a little overdone in the self-congratulatory reminisces of Hollywood bigwigs and the footage of Satya himself gets over-elevated to mythic proportions, the footage of Hopper himself as a man and actor, combating his demons while trying to make authentic art , is what makes this film fascinate and well worth seeing.

Poetic, touching and moving.

[awakeinreality · 7/10 · 26 March 2018]

There are a few Dennis Hopper documentaries, I have seen some great ones. This one is ultimately different though as it's about Hopper by way of his PA, friend and confidant, Satya de la Manitou. Manitou speaks candidly but always with love and respect of some of what he experienced in the rise, "sleeping" and rise again of Hopper's life and career from Easy Rider and his black balling from Hollywood in making "The Last Movie" to his last days and utimely death. Just like in "The Last Movie", Hopper's career refused to die.

This documentary explores some of his private life, haunts, fellow actors and friends that shared experiences with Dennis. Manitou has a very deep love for Hopper which is beautifully apparent, but never shys away from telling it how it was. Some of Hopper's most influential films as a director and actor are looked at uniquely and cements his impact on American counterculture, the movie world and in history.

Beautifully shot, scored and edited this film is worthy of anyone being a fan of Hopper,film or sociology for that matter.

Rebel, Icon and outlaw, Hopper may be never intended to be any of those, but he definitely was.

Not What I Expected

[hamlakeloche · 7/10 · 18 July 2018]

I don't watch a lot of documentaries, but that might change after seeing this one. I knew going in that it was about Dennis Hopper, and didn't know anything other than that. I thought that was all I needed to know. But it's not a typical interview documentary where they talk to some people, have some narration, then repeat it all over again. This is engaging and entertaining. It tells a story and uses techniques that I have not previously seen in documentaries, but which seem obvious in retrospect. I appreciated what I saw, and I recommend this film to anyone who even has a mild interest in Dennis Hopper, or even if you just have a couple hours to kill.

Doc about a friendship

[jellopuke · 7/10 · 28 February 2023]

Dennis Hopper's right hand man tells stories about his time with him.

This is a pretty good look at Dennis Hopper as told by his pal Satya De La Manitou. You don't get a full look at his life or anything, just the times the two of them shared and what they meant to Satya.

Overall a heavy focus on the 70s and 80s, with the most time given to the period of THE LAST MOVIE.

There is some nice cinematography here and the behind the scenes looks are very interesting but if you want a straightforward documentary, you might be a tad disappointed. There isn't much detail about specific other movies, but there are lots of stories.

A Cut Above the Rest. Truly Unique.

[thatguycorp · 9/10 · 23 May 2018]

A beautifully shot and moving exploration into the artistic enigma that was Dennis Hopper. I didn't know that much about his followup to Easy Rider called The Last Movie before seeing this film and found myself simultaneously inspired and stunned. Great insight and stories here from Hopper's buddies particularly Dean Stockwell, David Lynch, Wim Wenders and Hopper's "Right-Hand Man" Satya.

Hey, Man.

[deltablues-06321 · 8/10 · 30 March 2018]

Great insight and stories of the amazing Dennis Hopper from his wing-man, Satya De La Manitou A must see for any Hopper fan. He's missed beyond words. Well done, Satya!