I’m surprised how much I liked this film; its fanciful reification of American myths as played out by three car jockeys and a hippie drifter girl on the homosocial backroads of early-seventies America is both nostalgically evocative and comically addictive. James Taylor and Dennis Wilson can’t act their way out of paper bags, but the script doesn’t really ask much from them. They eat, sleep and shit car-talk; the scenes they occupy are so pure, generically speaking, they’re apt to put you to sleep. The film’s heart and soul, however, belongs to the trickster/mythmaker “G.T.O.” As played to perfection by Warren Oates, this character is a slippery, mercurial, American original, and Oates races away with the film. While Oates’ iconic character may attempt to steal fire from the gods, he’s also haunted by a nagging rootlessness. “If I’m not grounded soon, I’m going to go into orbit” he cautions himself. It’s a moment both touching and ludicrous, yet Oates makes you believe.
fast and furious writing, jeff. you make me believe.
This is a favorite of Mr. Frisoli’s I believe. At least Warren Oates is I know.
I watched it a couple of years ago and didn’t think much of it at the time, but it’s stayed with me significantly more than most other films I’ve seen more recently than that one, so it must have something going for it.
I’ve meant to check it out again, and I see Video Journeys just got a new copy of Vanishing Point in stock, so I might have to run a double feature there.
Also, there are seven people online right now. That’s a lot for us. Even if one is a robot.
Eight!
It’s like a party!
Mark–Oates is indeed one of my favorites. right now I have Hellman’s Cockfighter waiting for me in my Netflix pile, a film where Oates gives another one of those scroungy mesmerizing performances. of course, my favorite is Peckinpah’s weird epic Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia .
A pretty decent little essay by some dude named Elbert Ventura, who calls Two-Lane Blacktop “a sui generis convergence of Antonioni and Americana.” I don’t nothing bout no Antonioni, may he rest in peace, but its a great line.