A 70's slice-of-life road film, but what makes it stand out is its emotion behind its tar black comedy. Though it contains an acid front, Ashby and his script are able to endear it; they do this by letting the actors completely speak for them both. As it appears to go nowhere, it is shaping its stereoptypes into characters that jump off the screen. Jack Nicholson may have never been more towering than he is here. This is the kind of role that made Jack "Jack." Cuckoo's Nest followed two years later and is mostly typified as the role that brought this persona, but I argue it's this film. Otis Young and Randy Quaid add superlative support, especially Quaid who is brilliant (and Oscar nominated) in this early entry in his career. Ashby's direction is subtle and sharp, focusing on the actors and their faces almost in every single shot. It's a character study, almost feeling like a play in the way characters react and arc over the course of the film. It's striking and extremely sharp, harsh in its simplicty. When you get to the end, you feel like you've come a long way and stood still the whole time. This is the kind of film that with repeated viewings adds more and more depth to its audience, if they're willing.