Howl
Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman
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Plot Summary
James Franco stars as counter-culture revolutionary Allen Ginsberg, who recounts the road trips, love affairs and search for personal liberation that led to the most electrifying work of his career: the poem Howl. Meanwhile, in a San Francisco courtroom, Howl is on trial as prosecutor Ralph McIntosh (David Strathairn), defense attorney Jake Ehrlich (Jon Hamm), and a host of witnesses (Jeff Daniels, Mary-Louise Parker, Treat Williams) debate the artistic merits of the controversial poem, and whether or not it should be banned from publication.
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Movie Reviews from Rotten Tomatoes
TOMATOMETER
62%- Reviews Counted: 101
- Fresh: 63
- Rotten: 38
- Average Rating: 6.4/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Rotten: Admirable if fundamentally academic.
Fresh: What could have been a trivial exercise in nostalgia instead becomes a powerful case for the cathartic power of art.
Fresh: The result, though clearly flawed, is passionate and ambitious, celebrating that long-gone era when a book of verse could spark a revolution in consciousness.
Fresh: It's sweet stuff, a portrait of an artist in turmoil, under fire and laying himself bare. Howl captures Howl beautifully.
Customer Reviews
Cool
An interesting film. Shows you show much beatniks pushed the culture forward. And the acting is fantastic.
Gives a great perspective.
From his first reading, to his obscenity trial, to flashbacks of events in his life, this movie gives a great overview of Ginsberg's life. Well worth a viewing.
Disney Ginsburg?
Franco is fantastic, the supporting cast pretty weak. I like the focus on the poem, rather than just another romanticized bio-pic. However, the animation is pedestrian and seems totally insensitive to the work it is meant to "enhance." I had my eyes closed for most of it as to not ruin a beautiful poem. Would not recommend.
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Also Available
- Howl (Remastered)
- explicit
- Allen Ginsberg
