Review of Two-Lane Blacktop (1971) by Tim S — 15 Dec 2013

Less of a statement of the times than 1969's Easy Rider, Two-Lane Blacktop is a stream of consciousness road-movie that provides a glimpse of racer culture and American backroad vistas, and the curiosity value of musicians James Taylor and Dennis Wilson giving acting a try.

Neither are particularly challenged by the minimalist dialogue, but Wilson is more at ease than Taylor, who looks somewhat out of place amongst the petrol-heads. Warren Oates' confabulating GTO driver is the real star at work, and there is also a naive but appealing performance by the tragic Laurie Bird (director Monte Hellman & later Art Garfunkel's muse) as The Girl who plonks herself in random cars driven by strange good-looking men and is happy for them to drive her anywhere that isn't home.

Oddly for a film made in 1971 there are absolutely no drug references whatsoever, although there is one lovely vignette in an Oklahoma diner where a clean-cut racer-boy enquires, "Y'all aren't hippies now, are ya?".