Author Chuck Klosterman (probably best known for his road-trip book “Killing Yourself to Live”) attempts to answer the question in a thoughtful way in an article for The Telegraph in London.
The essay contains ruminations about such films as “Easy Rider” and “Two-Lane Blacktop,” both which were shot partially on Route 66.
Klosterman also gets an interesting take from “Motorcycle Diaries” director Walter Salles:
Because of the necessity of accompanying the internal transformation of its characters, road movies are not about what can be verbalised, but about what can be felt. In this sense, road movies contrast dramatically with the present mainstream films, in which new actions are created every five minutes to grab the attention of the spectator. In road movies, a moment of silence is generally more important than the most dramatic action.
Cue up a scene from the Route 66 ghost town of Glenrio.
In a related article, The Telegraph lists the five greatest car movies of all time.
Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang? Days of Thunder? I can think of several I feel are better. For one, how about Vanishing Point? And Gone in 60 Seconds? And Smokey and the Bandit?
But, I know: opinions are like arm pits, every one has a couple and they usually stink.
“Including yours,” would be their retort for your last sentence.
I couldn’t find the rest of list with their link. I cant believe American Grafitti is not in the top 5. That top 5 list is wack.
Where’s “Herbie the Love Bug”?
gimme a break.
I love James Taylor, but Two-Lane Blacktop has to be one of the worst films ever made.
Fortunately, he redeemed himself through his involvement with a much better car movie a few years ago….
How about “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World?”