Episode 60 – 'Two-Lane Blacktop'&'Getting Straight' - a podcast by Phi Phenonenon

Two filmmakers’ filmmakers, ones who both honed their craft in ’60s low-budget B drive-thru movies before achieving gradual and undeniable acclaim, died this past week: Monte Hellman and Richard Rush. I’m joined by Ted Haycraft to discuss Hellman’s most celebrated film and, arguably, Rush’s most interesting one. On this episode we discuss:

- how Two-Lane was greenlit in the wake of Easy Rider, only to be abandoned by the studio on release and for decades after;
- its European vibe as a race movie where no one wants to win;
- the chiseled minimalism of its screenplay by Rudy Wulitzer;
- Warren Oates’ rambling, engaged performance;
- and Hellman’s varied resume, including everything from RoboCop to Head to Reservoir Dogs to an added prologue for the network television premiere of A Fistful of Dollars in 1977.

Also:

- If Richard Rush invented the technique of racking focus;
- how Getting Straight is depressingly still relevant today;
- my seesawing views on this admittedly literate film over repeated viewings;
- and whether or not the movie is speaking for itself through Harry (Elliott Gould) when he’s yelling at women who talk back to him.

Haycraft is film critic for Evansville’s WFIE-14 and co-hosts Cinema Chat on its Midday show. He can also be found on Cinema Chat’s Facebook page.

Two-Lane Blacktop is not currently streaming or available on VOD. Physical media is available from Criterion.

Getting Straight is available on VOD, with physical media is available from Sony.

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