Cisco Pike (1972)

The seedy side of post-hippie Los Angeles, from the cocaine crevices of Laurel Canyon to the sea debris of Venice Beach, function as both setting and supporting character in the gritty realism of Cisco Pike (1972). Peace and love had suddenly soured in a town that is surprisingly hard-edged under the surface glitz. Thoroughly menacing Gene Hackman is a corrupt killer cop who makes washed-up musician Kris Kristofferson offload a heavy weight of hijacked pot. Nothing goes right for Kris. After his old friend and touring partner Harry Dean Stanton takes a hotshot in some rich chick’s bathroom, the choices become clear for Kristofferson. Which doesn’t make doing the right thing any easier.