“Howl” is a film about Allen Ginsberg’s famous poem and the trial about it’s vulgar language and literary worth, basically the attempt to ban it from America.
I enjoyed precisely 50% of this film. If you see it, you’ll immediately know to which half I hated. If Ginsberg saw this film, he would be mortified. I daresay this film could not have been made while Ginsberg was alive. That 50% is THAT BAD.
The other 50% is pretty good. Well, enjoyable to watch. James Franco, you beautiful man, A+. Ginsberg would approve. And Jon Hamm had a supporting role, so of course that was lovely. But when the movie ends, you realize : “Wait… I didn’t learn anything new about Ginsberg, there was no conflict, and no other sides to the trial were seen… This wasn’t a movie! Shit.” I agree, don’t make poems into movies. Nor musicals, for that matter.
I give “Howl” a 4.
I hope this movie gets a wide release so I can complain freely about the half that made it stink.
