The Blu-Ray Special Edition of 1971’s Two-Lane Blacktop is the definitive edition of this James Taylor / Dennis Wilson (yes, the singers’) film. During Two-Lane Blacktop, the duo are paired with Laurie Bird and are thrown into a cross-country race. The title itself seems to represent the high-water mark conceptualized by Hunter S. Thompson in Fear and Loathing; there are nods to the hippie subculture as well as the more gritty and rough-hewn seventies. The title ties together wide-open spaces with sparse dialogue; the actors are not given names and feel more like roles than specific characters. Viewers will need to watch Two-Lane Blacktop a number of times to properly understand the nuance of the philosophical content brought to bear; the featurettes included will provide additional insight into the specific choices made in this title.
The transfer of this title to the Blu-Ray format is absolutely stellar, providing viewers with the clearest version that they will have ever seen. The commentaries that are laid down on this Blu-Ray will provide considerable amount of background information for those viewers that were not alive or cognizant during the early seventies; I personally felt that there was a better dialogue between David N. Meyer and Rudy Wurlizer (screenwriter). The viewer’s perception of the film is further clarified with the inclusion of a set of interviews from those intimately associated with Two-Lane Blacktop (Taylor makes an appearance alongside Michael Laughlin (producer), Kris Kristofferson, and Walter Coblenz (production manager).
The Blu-Ray Special Edition of Two-Lane Blacktop can be purchased at any reputable online retailer or at well-stocked physical stores. Check out the Criterion website for more information about their titles and their 2013 slate of releases.
Rating: 9.4/10
Two-Lane Blacktop (Blu-Ray Special Edition) / 2013 Criterion Collection / 103 Minutes / http://www.criterion.com
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
Contact: editor@neufutur.com