Two-Lane Blacktop

When it comes to cult-favorite road movies with deep roots in the street-racing culture of the early 1970s, you can't beat director Monte Hellman's existential study of young male obsessions, Two-Lane Blacktop. A box-office flop that was initially dismissed by many critics, Hellman's oddly compelling drama gradually gained a reputation as "possibly the greatest road movie ever made," earning much of its maverick appeal from Hellman's precise widescreen compositions and the low-key performances of his non-professional cast. On the verge of stardom as a singer-songwriter whose first album was then climbing the charts, James Taylor takes the lead as the driver of a stripped-down '55 Chevy hot rod, with Dennis Wilson (of the Beach Boys) as his stoical mechanic, and Laurie Bird costarring as the girl who tags along (prompting plenty of sexual tension) as the boys race a boisterous challenger (Warren Oates) driving a new Pontiac GTO in a cross-country duel for the cars' respective pink slips. As an exercise in minimalism, Two-Lane Blacktop's sparse narrative carries a dramatic impact that defies simple synopsis. The Criterion Collection's double-disc edition represents a major improvement over the previous DVD release from Anchor Bay, with an array of in-depth supplementary materials that include two audio commentaries (one by Hellman and filmmaker Allison Anders; the other by screenwriter Rudy Wurlitzer and author David Meyer), interviews (with Hellman, Taylor, and musician Kris Kristofferson, among others), a featurette on the restoration of the film's '55 Chevy, screen tests, a booklet containing appreciative essays, and a 112-page book featuring the original screenplay. Highly recommended. (J. Shannon)[Blu-ray Review—Jan. 15, 2013—Criterion, 103 min., not rated, $39.95—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1971's Two-Lane Blacktop features a fine transfer and a DTS-HD mono soundtrack. Extras include two audio commentaries (the first with director Monte Hellman and filmmaker Allison Anders; the second with screenwriter Rudy Wurlitzer and author David N. Meyer), an “On the Road Again” retrospective featurette with Hellman (43 min.), a “Make It Three Yards” discussion with Hellman and costar James Taylor (40 min.), a “Somewhere Near Salinas” segment with Hellman and musician Kris Kristofferson (28 min.), a “Sure Did Talk to You” roundtable discussion with Hellman, production manager Walter Coblenz, and others (24 min.), screen test outtakes for costar Laurie Bird (15 min.) and Taylor (11 min.), two photo galleries, trailers, and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Kent Jones, appreciations by filmmaker Richard Linklater and musician Tom Waits, and Michael Goodwin's 1970 on-the-set Rolling Stone article. Bottom line: a welcome Blu-ray debut for a ‘70s cult classic.]