Two-Lane Blacktop (DVD, 1999)

You have to appreciate the technical details in this film to get a better understanding of why it holds such an esteemed cult status. The visuals and the other small details are the key: casting, locations, scenery, acting, lighting, sound and camera-work. Parse it out, then put it all together and come up with your own meaning. This is a character movie and the two biggest characters are the late model GTO and the hopped up '55 Chevy that are raced across the country on two-lane blacktop back roads.

Well-known character actor and Monte Hellman favorite, Warren Oates ("GTO"), plays the biggest braggart and lying story teller you can imagine--he's "bigger than life". Juxtapose Oates's constant BS with the taciturn and straight forward (when he speaks) James Taylor ("The Driver") (about as lifeless a character as you can imagine, but appears to be living in the here and now, except when it comes to money to keep his enterprise going) to see extremes in human behavior. Hellman gets the most out of his cast, and the director's comments reveal how much time was spent casting the movie. "The Girl" is a frenetic character, who flits from one male character to another; perhaps representing a female paradigm of inconstancy and indecision, she seems to be the only character who doesn't know where she's headed, but she still goes with the flow. Also features a scene with Harry Dean Stanton (H. D. Stanton in the credits), playing a homosexual hitchhiker (Stanton has admitted that his friend, director Monte Hellman, didn't tell him that he would be playing a gay man until the scene was shot) who is picked up by Oates in Oklahoma. Dennis Wilson is a kick as "The Mechanic", who seems to reflect the personalities of the other three main characters.

The movie is slowly paced. Those who prefer big-time action films or were raised on "Sesame Street" may have difficulty sitting through this one. Those who think a character study movie involves a lot of talking may fall asleep. Those who prefer a movie that has an ending that doesn't leave them hanging, will not like the fact that this movie ends with no real resolution, as The Girl, GTO, The Driver and The Mechanic go their separate ways. But, isn't that what your life is like until you die? What's a metaphor, if not this movie?

I am a gearhead so any movie dealing with high-performance REAR WHEEL DRIVE CARS is always good. This movie is just another facet of "Car" movies that represent what life was like for us baby-boomers.
The movie would never be considered as "Oscar" material. The dialogue is slow, often meandering and requires several cups of coffee to stay awake from beginning to end. But when you hear that 454 Chevy Engine fire up you remember why you are watching this movie from begining to end. (The movie has an odd ending to say the least. I just tell them the meaning is real deep!)
This movie should be watched with American Graffiti, Hollywood Knights, and Bullitt. (I apologize for any I have not mentioned)
Is this a great movie? "NO" Do non-gearheads find it pointless? "YES" But if you can find it...buy it!

i bought because anchor bay dis continued releasing the movie

hard to find even on vhs

the one i bought off ebay was a copied dvd that was shrinkrapped and had a kodak photo paper front cover and a cd label "sticker"

someone went to great lenghts to make it look real put the purple bottom of the disk gave it away.

eventhough i only paid $15.00 plus S&H its worth that


just watch out for fakes

MN12birdman was here 10-11-06

My wife and I are both huge fans of James Taylor. Need I say more? OK, I will.
The movie is far from being one of the best I've ever seen but is still very enjoyable to watch.

Old Detroit steel, High Performance, and Nostalgic Drag Racing. When a race was still a race. Has always been one of my all time favorite movies!!!