Two Lane Blacktop (1971)
This cult classic from 1971 explores the mystic relationship between man and car. Sixties singing sensation, James Taylor, and Beach Boy, Dennis Wilson, starred in the film. They joined Warren Oates and Laurie Bird in this masterpiece of odd cinema.
My boyfriend ordered this one from Netflix. Thanks, O Mystical One! He said it is one of his favorite movies of all time. He ogled the ‘55 Chevy, salivated over some of the other cars (sorry, I can’t remember what they were - he would be SO disappointed in me.)
The film shows a drifter-girl (Laurie Bird) getting into a car with two guys she doesn’t know. They accept her graciously, and ignore her almost totally. Their affection is only for their car, and street racing. She is incidental, at first. She manages to sleep with both young men during the course of the next few days. They meet up with another racer (Warren Oates) and decide to have a little competition. They drive furiously toward Washington DC. The winner will get the other person’s car. High stakes!
None of the people in the movie have names. They are “the girl,” “the driver,” etc. Anyhow, the Oates character gets mushy about the girl and wants to take her away from the young men in the other car. Weird as he is, he has more heart than either of the guys… well, I should say the guys have heart for their car and racing, but for relationships? Nah. They’re just not fit for that. The girl is not impressed with their lack of concern for her and that influences her final decision.
Anyhow, you will find this movie odd whether you have a passion for cars or not. I rate it as worth seeing.
One more thing - one of the oddest things about this movie is that neither James Taylor or Dennis Wilson provide any music. However we get to hear Laurie Bird singing off-key throughout. Strange, don’t you think?
Filed under: Cult Classics — Mystique @ 9:34 pm Comments (0)
This cult classic from 1971 explores the mystic relationship between man and car. Sixties singing sensation, James Taylor, and Beach Boy, Dennis Wilson, starred in the film. They joined Warren Oates and Laurie Bird in this masterpiece of odd cinema.
My boyfriend ordered this one from Netflix. Thanks, O Mystical One! He said it is one of his favorite movies of all time. He ogled the ‘55 Chevy, salivated over some of the other cars (sorry, I can’t remember what they were - he would be SO disappointed in me.)
The film shows a drifter-girl (Laurie Bird) getting into a car with two guys she doesn’t know. They accept her graciously, and ignore her almost totally. Their affection is only for their car, and street racing. She is incidental, at first. She manages to sleep with both young men during the course of the next few days. They meet up with another racer (Warren Oates) and decide to have a little competition. They drive furiously toward Washington DC. The winner will get the other person’s car. High stakes!
None of the people in the movie have names. They are “the girl,” “the driver,” etc. Anyhow, the Oates character gets mushy about the girl and wants to take her away from the young men in the other car. Weird as he is, he has more heart than either of the guys… well, I should say the guys have heart for their car and racing, but for relationships? Nah. They’re just not fit for that. The girl is not impressed with their lack of concern for her and that influences her final decision.
Anyhow, you will find this movie odd whether you have a passion for cars or not. I rate it as worth seeing.
One more thing - one of the oddest things about this movie is that neither James Taylor or Dennis Wilson provide any music. However we get to hear Laurie Bird singing off-key throughout. Strange, don’t you think?
