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| Movie Review: Howl Alternate Title: The Ultimate Rant
Story: "I saw the best
minds of my generation destroyed by madness" is the first line
of Allen Ginsberg's ground breaking 1955 poem, 'Howl.'
Kudos to writers and directorsRob Epstein and Jeffrey
Friedman for being able to capture that special and important
moment in time with great imagination and energy.
It is 1957 and poet Allen Ginsberg's
publisher, Lawrence Ferlinghetti is on trial
for obscenity for publishing Ginsberg's poem 'Howl and other Short Stories'
via his City Lights Publishing House.
This is not your usual biopic. The dialogue used
in the film is culled from courtroom transcripts and interview tapes.
The film journeys back and forth from the courtroom, to the Ginsberg
interviews and is interspersed with beautiful animation as Ginsberg
reads his poem to an audience in San Francisco.
Is this a film for everyone? Probably not. But,
if you still feel some inner turmoil, want to know how the Beat Generation
began, and could use a good howl, check it out. You will not be disappointed.
The beat goes on.
Check out the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba9yazkl0UE
Acting: James Franco as a very
young Allen Ginsberg is wonderful. David Strathairn as
Prosecutor Ralph McIntosh always delivers. Jon Hamm
(as defense attorney, Jake Ehrlich is pitch perfect. Bob Balaban
as Judge Clayton Horn is terrific. The balance of the supporting cast
all do a fine job including: Alessandro Nivola (Luther
Nichols), Treat Williams (Mark Schorer), Mary-Louise
Parker (Gail Potter), Todd Rotondi (Jack Kerouac),
Jon Prescott (Neal Cassady), Aaron Tveit
(Peter Orlovsky) and Jeff Daniels (David Kirk). Trivia: From the film's web site "Renowned poet,
world traveler, spiritual seeker, founding member of a major literary
movement, champion of human and civil rights, photographer and songwriter,
political gadfly, teacher and co-founder of a poetics school. Allen
Ginsberg (1926-1997) defied simple classification".
Predilection: It is no coincidence that I rate my
movie reviews with 'howls.'
Food: Do not recall any food.
Sex Spectrum: Lots of spoken words about sex - but
none on screen. Soundtrack: Wonderful
Opening Titles: A terrific graphic opening sequence
which leads to the title. Howl. All of the rest of the credits are at
the end. Visual Art: Loved Ginsberg's wallpaper.
Theater Audience: Fairly crowded with a very mixed
group.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I paid attention throughout.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Perhaps
Big Screen or Rental: Oh, definitely go for the big
screen.
Length: 90 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 9
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