this would have been an easy 5 stars, but parts of it are strangely mundane, almost like a documentary. Apparently there are different versions of this film around and if there is one that is more straightforward I'd like to see it. It's a pretty amazing and unique film though.
How many movies about country signers have incidental wacka wacks guitar music? Rockstar is an overused expression but it really applies here. Despite the puzzling not altogether good editing (the hunting scene was pretty random) this was alot more sophisticated than the usual hickspolitation fare (I realize that's not saying a whole lot) and isn't far from a four star sort of cinephile thing.
usually in this genre you have your small town jerk police chief and your big city/ scary government goons who are at war with each other and the people are scrambling around riding cars and running "shine" a la "Dukes of hazzard". So definately points for quality and originality on the writing end, the acting is good, and how many cowboy movies could play to all black audiences with no apparent contradiction? in 1972?