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The Beats might be beat, but they're not out
In case you weren't aware, the Beats were a literary movement in the late 1940s and 1950s who blazed a trail of sex, drugs and jazz and opened the way for the hippies in the late 60s (with Ken Kesey and the Pranksters in the years between, see The Magic Trip for more on that). They wrote novels and poetry, and they generally lived it large - and now they are they are the latest film sensation, with two Beat related films coming out soon.
Firstly, lets start with the last Beat film which came out in 2010. Howl starred James Franco as the key Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, and the film follows the court case for obscenity that followed the publication of his first book of poetry, also called Howl. Jon Hamm of Mad Men plays the defending lawyer and the film features some great animation to illustrate the poem. Some have found the film a little complex - what with the extended court case - so you might want to put down your poker.dk and game of Draw Something in order to concentrate, but it is enjoyable.
This summer we have the treasure chest of all Beat books being set to film: Jack Kerourac's On The Road. The film stars English actor Sam Riley as Sal Paradise, the Jack Kerouac character, and Garrett Hedlund as Dean Moriaty, who was based on the key Beat Neal Cassady (who also turns up in The Magic Trip) the film will also feature Kirsten Dunst, Kristen Stewart, Viggo Mortensen and Steve Buscemi amongst others, it should be a great film.
Next year, former Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe will also take on the mantle of Allen Ginsberg (who also features in On The Road). Kill Your Darlings marks the beginning of the Beat story in 1944 when one of their number killed a man who had become infatuated with him. 'Kill Your Darlings' is a writer's term for not being afraid to cut out the stuff you are happiest with if it doesn't fit properly.
So beatniks and hep cats around the world, get your berets out and get ready to howl.
In case you weren't aware, the Beats were a literary movement in the late 1940s and 1950s who blazed a trail of sex, drugs and jazz and opened the way for the hippies in the late 60s (with Ken Kesey and the Pranksters in the years between, see The Magic Trip for more on that). They wrote novels and poetry, and they generally lived it large - and now they are they are the latest film sensation, with two Beat related films coming out soon.
Firstly, lets start with the last Beat film which came out in 2010. Howl starred James Franco as the key Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, and the film follows the court case for obscenity that followed the publication of his first book of poetry, also called Howl. Jon Hamm of Mad Men plays the defending lawyer and the film features some great animation to illustrate the poem. Some have found the film a little complex - what with the extended court case - so you might want to put down your poker.dk and game of Draw Something in order to concentrate, but it is enjoyable.
This summer we have the treasure chest of all Beat books being set to film: Jack Kerourac's On The Road. The film stars English actor Sam Riley as Sal Paradise, the Jack Kerouac character, and Garrett Hedlund as Dean Moriaty, who was based on the key Beat Neal Cassady (who also turns up in The Magic Trip) the film will also feature Kirsten Dunst, Kristen Stewart, Viggo Mortensen and Steve Buscemi amongst others, it should be a great film.
Next year, former Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe will also take on the mantle of Allen Ginsberg (who also features in On The Road). Kill Your Darlings marks the beginning of the Beat story in 1944 when one of their number killed a man who had become infatuated with him. 'Kill Your Darlings' is a writer's term for not being afraid to cut out the stuff you are happiest with if it doesn't fit properly.
So beatniks and hep cats around the world, get your berets out and get ready to howl.
