Review of Two-Lane Blacktop (1971) by Kevin R — 12 Mar 2010

Those satisfactions are permanent.

Two young men are traveling across the country making money by racing their 55' Chevy. They meet a middle aged man who also travels the countryside racing his Pontiac GTO. They decide to race from the mid west to New York City, and whoever wins gets the losers car. Complicating matters is a girl they pick-up while hitchhiking who plays both sides of the fence.

"Are we still racing or what? I have speed to think about.".

Monte Hellman, director of Silent Night, Deadly Night III; Cockfighter; Shatter; The Shooting; Beast from the Haunted Care; and The Terror, delivers Two-Lane Blacktop. The storyline for this movie is slow paced and focused more on the characters and setting than the actual cars or the race. The acting is first rate and includes James Taylor, Warren Oates, Laurie Bird (Annie Hall), and Dennis Wilson.

"Sure did talk to you.".

"Sure did see you.".

Two-Lane Blacktop is a movie I have been dying to see for some time. I was excited to catch a Grindhouse picture honored by the notorious Critterion Collection; however, it didn't take long to uncover why this film was selected by Critterion. This film really isn't about car racing, it was indirectly about the transition from the 60s to the 70s and the lifestyle of those living and dying by the car along Route 66. This movie is worthwhile as long as you go into it with the right mindset.

"This is a bitch of a car.".

Grade: B.