Review of Two-Lane Blacktop (1971) by Brian E — 12 Jul 2009

"Freedomâ??s just another word for nothin left to lose", only the thrill of always moving with as little sidetracking as possible, one has to stay devoted to the blacktop. This could easily be called a male flick - classic cars, dusty open roads and not much talk -a true male heaven, which the tagalong girl only emphasizes. But the lack of dialog and simple plot convey the filmâ??s poetic feature, stressing the loneliness and struggle to forget it. It is a neatly woven set of scenes in a widescreen composition, non-flamboyant description of rural America and lack of sense of belonging. The scene during which the characters enter a sleepy town somewhere on the Route 66, a feeling of disquiet creeps up. They are waiting for a spare parts store to be opened, but being drifters, long pauses make them nervous; their zen characters could only be soothed by the sound of a speeding engine.

A true movie buff, I believe, should appreciate every artwork that comes from the B-movie drive-in theater era; itâ??s never a dull affair.