James Franco is on a roll at the moment, and this is a powerful, fascinating addition to his CV. Its a relatively little-known story in this country, brilliantly acted, wonderfully put together and ultimately very moving.
Howl was the title of a poem by Beat poet Allen Ginsberg. It was a radical new work that blended the beats urgency and immediacy of language with some striking, raw phrases. The publishers were taken to court on its publication in 1957 for obscenity, and the trial forms part but not all of the unfolding drama. The film begins in mock-documentary style, with Ginsberg, sensitively played by Franco, doing a long interview looking back at the trial but also his life, and the ideas that formed the poem.
As he slowly reveals his story, which bumps head-on with Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady, fragments of the poem are read out, and animated actually rather wonderfully. Franco grasps Ginsbergs drug-induced, frantic speech patterns, but slows down at the crucial moments to reveal moments of great beauty, charm and wit. Suddenly we cut to the courtroom and hear the trial, with Strathairn the prosecutor, believing the poem is obscene, and Hamm the defender. Hamm is still in Mad Men mode but none the worse for that he always convinces in those meetings and Strathairns voice alone could hypnotise a jury into convicting.
There is one weak spot here Ginsberg did not actually attend the trial. As he explains, its about freedom of speech, not about him. However he is missed in the courtroom scenes as it dissipates the tension a little.
Really though the film is a story of a mans life, his struggle with his identity and sexuality, rejection and the excitement of living in New York, captured in poetry. Franco gives an honest performance, and his supporting cast are equally as good. The verdict of the trial may be somewhat predictable, but the film still manages to make the case that this one poem was a hugely important landmark in US publishing history.
Overall Verdict: Mightily impressive drama about an important, if little-known in this country, trial. Youll be tracking down the poems of Allen Ginsberg minutes after the closing reel.
Reviewer: Mike Martin