在《五支歌》成功之后,杰克·尼克尔森迫不及待地开始执导属于自己的影片,《开车,他说》改编自杰里米·拉纳的畅销小说,影片对准了两人个无拘无束的人,包括一个不满于现状的大学篮球队员以及他日益激进的室友的生活。狂热的镜头和剪辑是70年代早期电影的鲜明特色,而那个时期越南战争的迷茫和错乱也影响到人们的思考方式,而杰克·尼克尔森那种无所畏惧的勇气,在当时看来亦是令人震惊的。Hector is a star basketball player for the College basketball team he plays for, the Leopards. His girlfriend, Olive, doesn't know whether to stay with him or leave him. And his friend, Gabriel, who may have dropped out from school and become a protestor, wants desperately not to get drafted for Vietnam.