JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonTwo Lane Blacktop (1971) - Trailer Included
March 17th 2008 00:01
The Fumes of Change
DVD Available in Australia
Screenplay: Rudy Wurlitzer
Starring: Warren Oates, James Taylor, Laurie Bird, Dennis Wilson, James Mitchum
“I don't believe I've seen you. 'Course there's lots o' cars on the road like yours, they all get to lookin' the same.” – The Driver
In the 70’s their was an unofficial trilogy of films linked by their cultural purpose and fuel injected message. Occupying the same orbit as Easy Rider (1969) Vanishing Point (1971) Dirty Mary Crazy Larry (1974) these are a series of anti-establishment road movies, super charged with a 140MPH death wish.
Central figures, often specks upon a wider landscape fighting society’s polluted regime. Struggling to escape the restrictions of class, colour and cash they see their high powered automobiles as a spiritual vessels speeding towards a malfunctioning fate.
Soaked in gasoline and burning rubber, Two Lane Blacktop is the story of a worked 56 Chevy and its three occupants, The Driver, the Mechanic and the Girl.
Touring through Middle America, Driver (James Taylor) and Mechanic (Dennis Wilson) are destined to drive. Earning a buck street racing and experiencing the country. They stop for some chow one day and the Girl (Laurie Bird) helps herself to the backseat of the car, she is silently accepted.
“You guys aren't like the Zodiac killers or anything, right?” – The Girl
Since the beginning of their journey a yellow GTO (Warren Oates) has also been following the same path. Its navigator, a lost soul whose 9-5, married life and career has crumbled leaving only confusion and a lack of identity.
“Performance and image, that's what it's all about.” – G.T.O
Soon the green light beams on a race for Washington D.C revealing everyone’s true self and nature in a changing society.
The Trio and their Machine
John Doe says:
Directed by cult master Monte Hellman, (Cockfighter, Ride the Whirlwind, The Shooting) a mood of disillusionment permeates the cinematography and minimalist script. The camera balances wide open vistas with claustrophobic interiors within the automobile.
The music of the day including the Doors, Chuck Berry and Kris Kristoffesen is used sparingly. Naturalistically only appearing when a jukebox or radio is on in a scene.
There is an improvised feeling to the film that adds truth to the organic story. This is a movie about the characters and their relationship to each other and a changing society. The cars serve as a metaphor of escape while we watch an intriguing postcard in time.
Two Lane Blacktop is ripe in behind the scenes cinema lore. Making his only feature film appearance, Folk music icon James Taylor is the introverted and focused Driver, silent and brooding.
Bringing enigmatic charisma before the lens, the Mechanic comes in the form of tragic Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson. A one time friend of Charles Manson, Wilson had a long struggle with substance abuse and drowned in 1983.
The films dark side notes continue as Laurie Bird (Annie Hall, Cockfighter) plays the Girl, a nomad drifting from place to place without any boundaries or inhabitation's. Laurie committed suicide in 1979, she was 25 years old and living with musician Art Garfunkel at the time.
Between shots - James Taylor, Dennis Wilson, Laurie Bird and Warren Oates
It is no secret John Doe gets a buzz out of witnessing death defying stunt driving and this has plenty. What makes the film such a cool experience to watch though is the casting and skilful capturing of moments in time. There is an authenticity caught on film that elevates it to being an historical document in this house.
Watch the Two Lane Blacktop Trailer
Warning Spoilers: Here is a scene from the film that lets you feel the mood
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The speeding machines are a buzz, though this isn't a chase film.