“The purest road movie ever made” according to Richard Linklater and equally held in high esteem by the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Ben Wheatley. What is there to say about Two Lane Blacktop that can do it justice without seeing it?

A Journey through impressionistic landscapes of the now defunct American Route 66, James Taylor and Dennis Wilson (yes, the singer-songwriter and Beach boys drummer) star as the “Driver” and “Mechanic” respectively, competing against Warren Oates mid life crisis contender “GTO”, for each other’s “pink slips” on a proposed race to Washington, while each vying for the attention of wandering hitchhiker Laurie Bird credited equally as “The Girl”.

Loose and ambient, yet visually striking and succinct, Two Lane Blacktop captures a snapshot of  a changing American landscape within a mist of loneliness and uncertainty creating in the process one of the best films of the 1970s New Hollywood period.

Part of On the Road film season

Bar opens at 7pm

Two Lane Blacktop: Slow Ride -Essay by Kent Jones

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/621-two-lane-blacktop-slow-ride

Ten (Sixteen Actually,) Reasons I love Two Lane Blacktop by Richard Linklater

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/622-ten-sixteen-actually-reasons-i-lovetwo-lane-blacktop

A.O Scott Critics Picks. New York Times.