Two Lane Blacktop The movie

Rob Petrie E395 · 12-27-2012, 12:07 AM

I have tried to watch this move twice in the last year. But it is always on late at night and I fall asleep before the end and then its not on again for months. Who wins the race? What happens at the end?

Ed Fernandez · 12-27-2012, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Petrie E395

I have tried to watch this move twice in the last year. But it is always on late at night and I fall asleep before the end and then its not on again for months. Who wins the race? What happens at the end?

You dont want to know.I guess the meaning is all that you make it to be in your mind.If Dennis Wilson said "I goota check the jets" one more time I would have attacked the projectionist.Personally I thought the movie sucked.Laurie Bird looked like she was on crack and Warren Oats was a poster boy for the LGBT movement,very strange.
Now you know why I never worked as a movie critic.

Jeff Lee · 12-27-2012, 12:07 PM

I love that movie. After trying to find it for years on TV, it was hit & miss and then usually missing the beginning or end which doesn't work for this kind of movie.
Then I found the 2008 remastered version in my library. Included (on paper, not a DVD bonus) was the script (that's a short read), a reprint of the Rolling Stones movie review from 1971 and I believe an interview with the Director (Monte Hellman). On the DVD was an interview with The Driver (James Taylor) who has never seen the movie as that is his policy on anything he does; doesn't look back. Google movie reviews of Two Lane Black Top and find some interesting reading.
Myself, I could identify a lot of me in the movie but let's say several notches below. I spent many hours trying "new jets" or new dwell angle or new valve lash and then sometimes driving around in my Challenger for hours late at night looking for a race. But I never took it to the road and made a living off it like these two guys.
Basically, if you didn't like Easy Rider, you probably wouldn't like TLBT. It's an end of an era type movie; the world is changing and these two guys are free to do what they love with no ties to anybody or anything. The end was controversial at the time and if you understand the deeper meaning of the movie, it makes sense. If you need an ending neatly spelled out for you, you'll hate it. But you have to watch the movie, all of it at once and ideally not interrupted, to take it all in.
The movie was a flop when it was originally released and has sense turned into a sizable cult film. I like it a lot more than Vanishing Point and I could ramble on about hat movie also. If VP had been directed by Monte, it may have been a better movie as the theme wasn't half bad.
There, that's my review.
Look here also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Lane_Blacktop

Hemi Moose · 12-27-2012, 04:00 PM

Some other good cult classic movies from back then like Two Lane Blacktop, Vanishing Point & Easy Rider are, Bullitt, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry, Return to Macon County...

art leong · 12-27-2012, 05:39 PM

That movie inspired us to go to the west coast with the race car and $320 in our pockets (no plastic back then). We had to win something to get back home.

jmcarter · 12-27-2012, 05:59 PM

Based on Ed's review I guess I'll have to skip it...I must be sheltered because I had to google what LGBT means...glad I managed to miss it all these years....besides, I'm more of a Bullitt kind of guy, always get a kick out of them having trouble with the Charger always catching the Mustang...but what a car chase scene, almost as good as the one in "Ronin".

Kirk Morgan · 12-28-2012, 08:47 AM

I was in high school at that time. I went to the out door movies and watched most of those movies. There was a interesting piece on Bullet on Yahoo news the other day. Steve Mc Queen wanted to do all the driving and stunts. He wound up not doing the stunts but did all of the rest of the driving. It was stated that they only used two Mustangs in the film.

Kirk

Greg Reimer 7376 · 12-28-2012, 12:02 PM

I understand the two mustangs in Bullett were a 390 automatic,and a 289 4 speed version. One would definitely handle better and be great in a chase scene, the other could do great Towering Inferno burnouts, especially with no posi and street tires. I noticed while reviewing the classic chase scene- the Stang and the mopar race down a street and go hard right toward the camera, in the foreground heading toward them is a BRAND NEW green 68 Chevelle SS396.Also, does it point out how big American cars were in the 60's? I sort of forgot that.

12-27-2012, 12:07 AM	#1
Rob Petrie E395 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Woodlawn IL Posts: 1,093 Likes: 162 Liked 220 Times in 79 Posts	Two Lane Blacktop The movie I have tried to watch this move twice in the last year. But it is always on late at night and I fall asleep before the end and then its not on again for months. Who wins the race? What happens at the end?

12-27-2012, 12:07 PM	#3
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Two Lane Blacktop The movie I love that movie. After trying to find it for years on TV, it was hit & miss and then usually missing the beginning or end which doesn't work for this kind of movie. Then I found the 2008 remastered version in my library. Included (on paper, not a DVD bonus) was the script (that's a short read), a reprint of the Rolling Stones movie review from 1971 and I believe an interview with the Director (Monte Hellman). On the DVD was an interview with The Driver (James Taylor) who has never seen the movie as that is his policy on anything he does; doesn't look back. Google movie reviews of Two Lane Black Top and find some interesting reading. Myself, I could identify a lot of me in the movie but let's say several notches below. I spent many hours trying "new jets" or new dwell angle or new valve lash and then sometimes driving around in my Challenger for hours late at night looking for a race. But I never took it to the road and made a living off it like these two guys. Basically, if you didn't like Easy Rider, you probably wouldn't like TLBT. It's an end of an era type movie; the world is changing and these two guys are free to do what they love with no ties to anybody or anything. The end was controversial at the time and if you understand the deeper meaning of the movie, it makes sense. If you need an ending neatly spelled out for you, you'll hate it. But you have to watch the movie, all of it at once and ideally not interrupted, to take it all in. The movie was a flop when it was originally released and has sense turned into a sizable cult film. I like it a lot more than Vanishing Point and I could ramble on about hat movie also. If VP had been directed by Monte, it may have been a better movie as the theme wasn't half bad. There, that's my review. Look here also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Lane_Blacktop __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

12-27-2012, 04:00 PM	#4
Hemi Moose VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 2,824 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Two Lane Blacktop The movie Some other good cult classic movies from back then like Two Lane Blacktop, Vanishing Point & Easy Rider are, Bullitt, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry, Return to Macon County...

12-27-2012, 05:39 PM	#5
art leong VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Richmond Hill, Georgia Posts: 2,003 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Two Lane Blacktop The movie That movie inspired us to go to the west coast with the race car and $320 in our pockets (no plastic back then). We had to win something to get back home. __________________ Art Leong 2095 SS

12-27-2012, 05:59 PM	#6
jmcarter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Richmond Hill GA (and Port Ludlow WA) Posts: 4,122 Likes: 1,978 Liked 2,707 Times in 853 Posts	Re: Two Lane Blacktop The movie Based on Ed's review I guess I'll have to skip it...I must be sheltered because I had to google what LGBT means...glad I managed to miss it all these years....besides, I'm more of a Bullitt kind of guy, always get a kick out of them having trouble with the Charger always catching the Mustang...but what a car chase scene, almost as good as the one in "Ronin". __________________ Jim Carter 2340 Super Stock 2340 SST/2340 Stock

12-28-2012, 08:47 AM	#7
Kirk Morgan Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 193 Likes: 0 Liked 52 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Two Lane Blacktop The movie I was in high school at that time. I went to the out door movies and watched most of those movies. There was a interesting piece on Bullet on Yahoo news the other day. Steve Mc Queen wanted to do all the driving and stunts. He wound up not doing the stunts but did all of the rest of the driving. It was stated that they only used two Mustangs in the film. Kirk

12-28-2012, 12:02 PM	#8
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,111 Likes: 164 Liked 649 Times in 208 Posts	Re: Two Lane Blacktop The movie I understand the two mustangs in Bullett were a 390 automatic,and a 289 4 speed version. One would definitely handle better and be great in a chase scene, the other could do great Towering Inferno burnouts, especially with no posi and street tires. I noticed while reviewing the classic chase scene- the Stang and the mopar race down a street and go hard right toward the camera, in the foreground heading toward them is a BRAND NEW green 68 Chevelle SS396.Also, does it point out how big American cars were in the 60's? I sort of forgot that.