I knew next to nothing about these writers, or the Beat Generation, so this movie came as a surprise to me. I enjoy movies that depict a fascinating bit of history that has somehow gone by unnoticed.
The main character in this movie is Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe), but the movie revolved around Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan). The plot zeroes in on the crime that played such a big role in their lives and in some of their books.
However, this movie is really about capturing the zeitgeist and personalities of these larger-than-life figures. For this group, Columbia University from 1943 to 1945 was a time and place where poetry and literature mattered. Really, REALLY mattered.
What I liked in particular was how the film sidestepped all the usual movie conventions about what society was like during the war, and shines a spotlight instead on the drug-soaked world of these people. Many movies about the 1940s look rather modern, but this movie shows us a strange 1940s New York that seems a world away.
This movie is about not much more than a group of gay party kids who have grand, anti-establishment notions, but are seriously into drugs and get into serious trouble. However, the movie has the deliberate pace, self awareness, seriousness, elegiac feel and earnest acting that come with an homage. (I'm not knocking the scene at all, but I half-expected religious music to well up when Allen has sex for the first time.)
The homosexuality was dealt with well in the movie. It's nice to see honest historical depictions of this. Part of the movie is the story of Ginsberg's sexual awakening. Of course I'm also wondering why we need another movie about gays who commit crimes, attempt suicide, and are unstable and generally unhappy. The movie makes the point that one of the real tragedies here is homophobia, David's murder and how easily Lu got off, and how Lu spent the rest of his life in the closet.
There is a message about love in there, reflected in the title.
With one or two exceptions, I thought the movie was well acted, but I'm not sure about the casting. For one thing, the actors were too old. Also, it was a little difficult to see why everyone was falling for, sleeping with or otherwise hanging out with Lu.
This is an interesting historical drama. I suspect I would have enjoyed it more if I had ever read any of these writers. I'm afraid that it's still not clear to me why I should. Poetry and literature have its place, but do they really matter anymore, given the onslaught of visual media and information? Perhaps that's another point of the film.
The world has changed so much in seven decades. Why do these minor figures matter? I suppose there is a direct connection between this young men and the blossoming and liberalisation that took place in the 1960s and 1970s. I'm just speculating though.
The main character in this movie is Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe), but the movie revolved around Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan). The plot zeroes in on the crime that played such a big role in their lives and in some of their books.
However, this movie is really about capturing the zeitgeist and personalities of these larger-than-life figures. For this group, Columbia University from 1943 to 1945 was a time and place where poetry and literature mattered. Really, REALLY mattered.
What I liked in particular was how the film sidestepped all the usual movie conventions about what society was like during the war, and shines a spotlight instead on the drug-soaked world of these people. Many movies about the 1940s look rather modern, but this movie shows us a strange 1940s New York that seems a world away.
This movie is about not much more than a group of gay party kids who have grand, anti-establishment notions, but are seriously into drugs and get into serious trouble. However, the movie has the deliberate pace, self awareness, seriousness, elegiac feel and earnest acting that come with an homage. (I'm not knocking the scene at all, but I half-expected religious music to well up when Allen has sex for the first time.)
The homosexuality was dealt with well in the movie. It's nice to see honest historical depictions of this. Part of the movie is the story of Ginsberg's sexual awakening. Of course I'm also wondering why we need another movie about gays who commit crimes, attempt suicide, and are unstable and generally unhappy. The movie makes the point that one of the real tragedies here is homophobia, David's murder and how easily Lu got off, and how Lu spent the rest of his life in the closet.
There is a message about love in there, reflected in the title.
With one or two exceptions, I thought the movie was well acted, but I'm not sure about the casting. For one thing, the actors were too old. Also, it was a little difficult to see why everyone was falling for, sleeping with or otherwise hanging out with Lu.
This is an interesting historical drama. I suspect I would have enjoyed it more if I had ever read any of these writers. I'm afraid that it's still not clear to me why I should. Poetry and literature have its place, but do they really matter anymore, given the onslaught of visual media and information? Perhaps that's another point of the film.
The world has changed so much in seven decades. Why do these minor figures matter? I suppose there is a direct connection between this young men and the blossoming and liberalisation that took place in the 1960s and 1970s. I'm just speculating though.