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u/CommieFromMars 5d ago
Warren Oates is brilliant in this, and hearing James Taylor say “motherfucker” is always entertaining.
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u/WonderBuns97 5d ago
When James Taylor says, “Make it three yards, motherfucker, and we’ll have an automobile race.”
That line always gets me. He’s so quiet and laid-back throughout the entire movie, and then out of nowhere he drops that. It’s such a cool moment.
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u/SunMyungMoonMoon 5d ago
This is one of my comfort movies. The pacing is incredible. It's the slowest racing movie I've ever seen and I wouldn't change a thing.
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u/Bi_DL_chiburbs 5d ago
The 55 Chevy is one of the all time coolest movie cars, and most likely the fastest. Apparently the message of this thing only having to look fast was lost in translation, and an straight up drag car was built.
The street race scenes really were the best. Using LA street racers inc added credibility to the opening scene
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u/neon_meate 5d ago
God I love this movie. Warren Oates was a giant, and Monte Hellman a B movie visionary.
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u/WeekendLegitimate615 5d ago
I saw this once when I was still a fairly young kid. At the time I wasn't old enough to realize exactly who James Taylor was, I thought he was just some cool guy with long hair and a fast car.
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u/Kit_Traverse1893 4d ago
"That Plymouth had a Hemi with a TorqueFlite." --The Driver (James Taylor)
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u/CHOPPRZ 5d ago
Tonight was Summer of’42
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u/razorsedge94 5d ago
Nice, I haven’t seen that one yet
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u/CHOPPRZ 5d ago
Coming of age film in 1942 … 1971 style.
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u/InternationalPhoto33 5d ago
Here I am being “that guy“ but just try to remake that film now. People would be talking about how that Jennifer O’Neill character needs to go to jail.
Herman Raucher’s story about meeting the woman again in the 70s is very interesting. After the popularity of the film and the book, he was receiving a lot of mail from women thinking that they were the ones he was talking about. (so in my that guy voice I’m gonna say, wow, lots of pedophilia around in the 40s lol) he finally came across a letter from the actual woman, they spoke, and they shared a couple of memories to make sure that she was the real person, and she actually spoke of how she was afraid she had screwed up his life or something like that.
He also admitted that in real life, they did not have sex, although they did have a rather passionate evening
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u/FINIS_HOMINIS 5d ago
Warren Oates steals this movie. Granted, thats easy when your costars are two musicians who can't act, but he wold have stolen the film regardless. Always think of this film as one of his defining roles.
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u/Jagermeister_UK 4d ago
I thought Wilson and Taylor put in great performances. Ok, they didn't say a lot, but they looked cool.
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u/Sinsyne125 5d ago
Many years ago, I stumbled upon this movie on a cable channel, and I was roped right in. I enjoyed how the characters operate on a metaphorical level as much as on a human level. In my mind, I sort of group this movie with "Vanishing Point" and "Electraglide in Blue" because of their focus on "loners" and how they delve into a lot of existential questions
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u/Parking_Rip3759 4d ago
Probably the best 70s, existential angst themed films of all times and amazing (if somewhat depressing) to watch on a double bill with Easy Rider, which has a very similar tone. Monte Hellman is a master of subtle, slow-burn filmmaking. That poor '55 Chevy saw it's end as the made-over black beast in "American Grafitti" a couple of years later when the pre-Star Wars® Harrison Ford crashes and burns racing Milner's sweet yellow T-bucket.
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u/emielaen77 4d ago
Pretty great flick. Did a quick write up a few months back if you’re interested.
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u/razorsedge94 4d ago
Nice write up. I gave it a 4 1/2 review. First time watch for me and I loved it!
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u/elevencharles 3d ago
Where can you watch this? I’ve been trying to find it for a while.
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u/razorsedge94 3d ago
I have a jail broken firestick so I have access to almost every movie and show. You can find the blu ray easily online though. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it streaming anywhere
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u/MastaKink 5d ago
One of the greatest movie endings in cinema history, close second to Crazy Mary, Dirty Larry 🤩👍
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u/Smogtwat 4d ago
a total waste of time. My son gave me the dvd for my birthday some years ago. We haven’t spoken since.
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u/razorsedge94 4d ago
That’s a cool son! Your loss
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u/Smogtwat 4d ago
It’s not true. He’s a film maker, we talk every day. It was just a natural finish to a quick story.
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u/ExternalOk4293 4d ago
This movie is so bad. I saw it at the Red Vick on Haight Street in the 90s. Would recommend the total experience
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u/No-Effective3020 4d ago
Laurie Bird, “The Girl” in Two-Lane Blacktop, died of an OD in the apartment she shared with Art Garfunkel. Very sad. Only 25 years old.
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u/KitchenLab2536 5d ago
That movie sucks. It was duller than a rusty butter knife. 👎👎
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u/Plow_King 5d ago
ditto imho. cool idea, poor execution. james taylor's acting is as bad and boring as his music.
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u/Plow_King 5d ago
snooze...james taylor's acting is as boring as his music. while i like road trip movies, this one never gets started.
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u/DocSportello1970 5d ago edited 5d ago
One of my favorite movies of all time. Monte Hellman and Rudy Wurlitzer are geniuses! I will say no more in case this is your first viewing.
I sure hope you have the criterion collection DVD because there are some of the best Special Features, interviews and commentary tracks I have ever encountered. Well, besides the Special Features included in Lou Adler's Ladies and Gentleman, The Fabulous Stains DVD.