Two-Lane Blacktop' - NYTimes.com/Video

With the auto industry in difficult financial times, A. O. Scott looks back at the early days of America's fascination with cars.

Category:

• Entertainment

Starring:

• A. O. Scott

Tags:

• The New York Times
• NYTimes.com
• NYT
• Critic's Picks
• A.O. Scott
• Two-Lane Blacktop

[scottmanduzy]

warren Oates was so good in everything he did

[CycloneFE]

I like the critic's take on this movie. I have watched it hundreds of times also. I have a recorded vhs from before the movie was available for sale to the public. I think it is a very fair representation of a part of my youth. So many scenes are identical to what I experienced, nothing romantic, just real life, maybe this was one of the first "reality" type of shows.

[andyzip41]

Are you kidding me! This is an all time classic, don't overthink it! American Graffiti without the reality tv. There is no fluff here, The driver, or anyone else in the movie is not thinking about american business,or job security, not too many people were in the early 70's. Take a minute, relax lets call a truce....would you like a hard boiled egg or something...

[mercmarc]

It might be the jets because we dont have an air cleaner to keep debris from the road out of the carburetor.

[1971SuperLead]

@2hotinaz That makes sense, although I am sure that any really large company is going to be stupid to work for. The top never knows what the bottom is up against and so they tell the bottom to do all kinds of stupid things. I remember "empowerment training" where we were all told we were "empowered". Man, all that did was remind us how insignificant we were. In the 21 years I worked at that company, no big shot ever came to the floors to talk WITH us.

[2hotinaz]

@1971SuperLead If you're talking about big companies, I KNOW that Microsoft and Google BOTH bent backwards for their employees, though I'm not sure how it is now that they've grown so large and most likely ruled by the stockholders. In fact, the best companies to work for are smaller ones and privately owned ones who answer to no one but themselves. They ARE still out there, though in this economy ARE harder to find. (Cos their employees NEVER quit, and they're not growing right now!)

[hogochodo]

@1971SuperLead

i guess i look at the film in more of a timeless sense. think of it outside of the 60s/70s counter culture.. the film runs deeper than that. i watched an interview with the director where he mentions that he almost thinks of the mechanic and driver as gunfighters.. in a sense its almost about archetypes.. its hard to explain because it works on such an intuitive level for me. its one of the best films ive ever seen, and because of that, its difficult for me to intellectualize...

[1971SuperLead]

@2hotinaz Where are these companies? I worked for 20 different companies so far and everyone of them was crooked and callous.

[1971SuperLead]

@hogochodo What was the point of their life? Just to avoid the rat race? Is that worth living for? What were they living for?

[hogochodo]

@1971SuperLead

i guess i disagree with both interpretations. true they arent truly "free" but at the same time their existence isnt pointless, just honed to the bare minimum.. taylors character realizes the ultimate possible consequences of that life, accepts it, closes the emotional door and burns up.

apparently the end came to the director in a dream so i guess its open to interpretation..

[1971SuperLead]

@2hotinaz 35 years ago I thought this movie was all about being smart and cool. These guys had broken free from the 40 hour work week grind and were living a superior life. They were FREE! Free from bosses, alarm clocks, the IRS, sucky jobs, bills, etc. I totally admired them. They were two wild boys roaming free in a bitchin car on a wild adventure. What I didn't see was what a pointless existence they were leading. Adventure and freedom are nothing if we aren't feeling appreciated.