It's been nearly five years since I re-watched "Two-Lane Blacktop," the iconic (there, I said it) American New Wave road film from 1971. As that film turns 50, its director, Monte Hellman (below right) has died -- last month; he was 91.
I first saw "Two-Lane Blacktop" when it was only about 30 years old at the old location of the Gene Siskel Film Center near downtown Chicago. It immediately captivated me, and it haunts me to this day. It is the obvious pinnacle of Hellman's spotty career as one of the many descendants of Roger Corman on the pulpy side of the '60-'70s New Wave.
In tribute, I ordered up Hellman's preceding movie release:
THE SHOOTING (1966) (C-minus) - Meh. This one is a laconic would-be Spaghetti Western, but it mostly sits flat on the screen. If you want to see Jack Nicholson on a horse, this a good opportunity to do that.
But if you want an Old World revenge morality play, you have plenty of options (such as "McCabe and Mrs. Miller"). Here, we are treated to Warren Oates, the only truly compelling part of the film. (He would go on to star in Hellman's next two films, including 1974's "Cockfighter.") He is joined by the arresting Millie Perkins as a woman who hires Oates' character to join her on a journey to track a mysterious rider (Nicholson).
Like "Blacktop," the dialogue is spare. (It was written by Carole Eastman (as Adrien Joyce), who would go on to pen her masterpiece, "Five Easy Pieces" starring Nicholson.) It might help if you are a fan of westerns, especially of the more modern variety, but this one just dragged too often.
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