Two-Lane Blacktop

USA 1971, 103 minutes
Dir. Monte Hellman
Rating: [PG]
Genres: Cult / Road Movie

Feat. James Taylor, Dennis Wilson, Warren Oates

Aroview: Ambling across a relentless roadscape of diners and gas stations, young petrol-heads James Taylor (yes, the pop singer) and Dennis Wilson (yes, the Beach Boy) face a challenge to race middle-aged braggart Warren Oates.

Much less than EASY RIDER on four wheels, and yet much more, it takes a detour from incident to explore the desolate, hypnotic rhythms of the Trans-American highway, and as such is a signature cult film of the early seventies.

NZ International Film Festival 2007
Adopt-a-Movie Kindly adopted by Costas Thrasyvoulou

Member Reviews

Average rating (Very Good). Showing 1-3 of 4 member reviews.

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4 stars (Very Good) American road movie with a very European sense of alienation? Hellman must be the most personal, idiosyncratic US director. The only modern parallel I can think of for this film is 'Gerry' by Gus Van Sant. ~HiFi
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4 stars (Very Good) Correctly paced. Oates as usual is terrific. ~Tubbs
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5 stars (Exceptional) James Taylor and Warren Oates race across 1970 America on Route 66. Hellman is famous for his portrayals of counter culture obsessives. This proto-slacker picture is a marvel of spare dialogue and not so subtle archetypes. ~bikewrench