LeonLouisRicci
Alan Ginsberg is an Iconic Figure of the Beat Generation. His Worth as a Poet is, Like All Poets and Art for that Matter, a Matter of Taste. Ginsberg's Howl Might be too Self Indulgent to be Great Poetry but is a Seminal Work that Broke Boundaries, and was Famously Attacked for being Obscene.The Obscenity Trial that was the Result of the Book being Sold Openly on Bookstore Shelves is Witnessed here with Verbatim Trial Transcripts Dramatized by Actors. The Beats are Secondary to Ginsberg's Persona and this One Particular Poem. That Coupled with HIs Homosexuality is the Focus.James Franco seems to be Acting here and the Beard is Laughable at Times. But it is an Honest Effort and doesn't Distract too much from the Overall Impact and Power of the Movie. It is a Unique Format Interspersing Surreal Animation to Illustrate some of the Poems more Lured Laments and it Works Just Fine and has a Distorted and Catchy Style.Overall, the Film is a Fine Gloss of the Beats and a Somewhat Intriguing Probe into One of its Accidental Founders. Ginsberg is Like an Angry Dove and His Stream of Consciousness Poetry is Interesting and its Clunky Style is Either Genius or Nothing More than an Angst Ridden Excuse for Him to Lay Waste to a Hypocritical World that did not Accept His Lifestyle or His Family's Mental Illness with Much Compassion. Overall the Film and Ginsberg's Work is a Matter of Taste or it could be said
"One Man's Meat is Another Man's Poison".
Armand
about freedom, words force, fear, solitude and a subtle form of revolution. a film who seduce not exactly for story itself but for its spirit. because the mixture of animation, performance of James Franco who preserves not only the spirit of the period but the faith of poet as mentor gives special seduction to movie. film of a poetry , it is a chain of doors. and that fact transforms it more in a reflection seed than an artistic success. short - a necessary docudrama. and one of movies who impose a lot of emotions after its end because it reminds the pure essence of word, the need of truth affirmation of basic things who defines the life.
gavin6942
As Allen Ginsberg (James Franco) talks about his life and art, his most famous poem is illustrated in animation while the obscenity trial of the work is dramatized.I do not know what Ginsberg's voice really sounded like, but I have to assume that Franco nailed it, because Franco is not known for his superior acting and he really goes out of his way to sound different on this one. Sadly, the beard looks painted on, and I never fully feel like the style of his hair and clothes is appropriate for the time period. Maybe it is, maybe not.Franco also deserves credit for portraying a homosexual. While it is not maybe as bold as "Brokeback Mountain", it still takes some courage. (One could also -- and probably should -- give credit to all the homosexual actors who have played straight all their lives. Think of all the women Neil Patrick Harris has had to kiss. Awkward?)
Bolly_Boba_Booboo
Howl is truly an enigma: It didn't do well at the Hollywood box office, but it soared overseas. From what I hear, the Hollywood audience wasn't quite ready for the intergenerational theme imbued in the film. Well, I say the Hollywood audience was being stubborn. This film handles the theme quite tastefully, and there are no Lolita-like gratuitous sex scenes or love scenes. In fact, Jeffrey Friedman (the director) makes sure that James Franco doesn't even get to see many kids around his neighborhood, so as not to make him seem like a weirdo.Mary-Louise Parker is absolutely wonderful in this film. It seems she decided to gorge on biryani and other delights, as she is chubby in the film, but in my opinion she looks gorgeous thick or thin. Todd Rotondi, who I think is one of the most underrated actors out there does an outstanding job portraying a conflicted Kerouac. Anupam Kher and Aaron Tveit round out the great performances. The music is fabulous, the story wonderful, and the acting superb.
AD
