Dir: Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Duration: 90mins
Print Source: pault@madman.com.au
www.madman.com.au
Perhaps the best known beat generation poem, Howl was Allen Ginsberg's earliest masterpiece, spat forth from his life and personal experiences and detailing his outcry at the injustices of the world. This biopic tells the story of Ginsberg's early years and the trial which dogged the publication of his poem by City Lights. Excellently cast, with James Franco turning in a fantastic performance as Ginsberg, Howl goes further than previous beat bio-pics and counters balances the live action with a luminously realised animated version of the poem which offers a new level of life to Ginsberg's already powerful work.
A bold film which not only tells the story of a writer and his work, but also reveals the meaning and power art can have, and the importance of creativity, Howl is a uniquely realised movie.