Starring not-yet-famous James Taylor and Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, “Two-Lane Blacktop” (1971) is an existential film that cruises the open road to the tune of Easy Rider. The instant cult-classic, directed by Monte Hellman, depicts the two drifters on a cross-country trek, heading east from the West coast. The boys’ journey is punctuated by intermittent drag races and existential angst. The Driver (Taylor) and The Mechanic (Wilson) meet GTO, a dude named after his Pontiac. All agree to a winner-takes-all road race. Their prospective pink slips are up for grabs, and the cars are all each man is.
Cruising the gamut of Americana scenes in a bulked-up modified ’55 Chevy, the Driver and the Mechanic run into a drifter named Girl at a gas stop in a Route 66 town. After stowing away in the backseat, the Girl proceeds to mix things up. Director Hellman says the plot lives almost entirely in subtext. What he creates is arguably the best road film ever made and a lovely contribution to 1970s cinema aesthetic.
Le Mans
Released in 1971, and featuring the legendary Steve McQueen, 'Le Mans' is a quintessential car cult classic. The film is based on the famous '24 Hours of Le Mans' sports car race, the world's oldest and most strenuous race held in the town of Le Mans, France. McQueen plays Michael Delaney, a racer for Porsche who's still riddled with guilt after an accident killed his fellow driver a year back.
Delaney must overcome his trauma and win the great race at Le Mans. Brilliant acting coupled with director John Sturges' unparalleled skills make this a must-watch film for any car enthusiast.
Tucker: The Man and His Dream
This story is about an automotive dream that didn’t come true. Ford dreamed of watching thousands of cars roll off his assembly line invention, and his dream created the biggest automotive company in the world. 'Tucker: The Man and His Dream' portrays Preston Tucker (Jeff Bridges) and his dream to produce his beautiful and amazing automobiles, but frankly, automotive history did not roll in his direction.
Preston Tucker, the tale reveals, built 50 of his lavish 1948 Tucker sedans, but competition in post-WWII Detroit by the top three manufacturers pulled the plug on his ambitions. Corruption from DC were their accomplices. This 1988 film by Francis Ford Coppola also stars Joan Allen, Dean Stockwell, Lloyd Bridges, and Martin Landau.
Two for the Road
Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney star in 'Two for the Road' (1967). It’s essentially a love story that takes place on the road. Accompanying the drives through the South of France are a white Mercedes-Benz 230 SL, a Roadster, an MG TD, an Alfa Romeo, and a Triumph Herald. The various cars from different eras serve to remind the viewer of the setting’s time and place since the story is presented non-linearly. It takes place through a 12-year time period beginning when the couple fall in love.
AV Club calls it “a clear-eyed, openhearted, and ultimately open-ended portrait of a marriage.” Directed by Stanley Donen, 'Two for the Road' was nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar. It was filmed on location in France.
Speed
'Speed' is one of those stressful movies that has you hanging on to the edge of your seat and your jaw clenched tight for the duration. A speeding city bus, full of people, is wired to explode by a crazed bomber, but only if it slows down to under 50 mph.
The race is on for stars Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Joe Morton, and Jeff Daniels. This is what they are up against. Reeves plays LA Bomb Squad specialist and Dennis Hopper plays the mad bomber with an explosive extortion scheme. The 1994 movie features a bus most prominently. Critics liked it. Audiences agreed. All told, 'Speed' brought $350 million to the box office.