Review of Howl (2010) by Chael N — 15 Jul 2012

"Howl" is a poem written by Allen Ginsberg in 1955 and published as part of his 1956 collection of poetry titled Howl and Other Poems. The poem is considered to be one of the great works of the Beat Generation, along with Jack Kerouacs On the Road (1957) and William S. Burroughs Naked Lunch (1959). "Howl" was written as a performance piece and later published by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti of City Lights Books in San Francisco. Upon its release, Ferlinghetti and the bookstore's manager, Shigeyoshi Murao, were charged with disseminating obscene literature, and both were arrested. On October 3, 1957, Judge Clayton W. Horn ruled that the poem was not obscene, and "Howl" went on to become the most popular poem of the Beat Generation. "Howl" recounts this event by using three interwoven threads: the tumultuous life that led a young Allen Ginsberg (James Franco) to find his true voice as an artist, society's reaction in the shape of the obscenity trial, and an animated section that echoes the poem's surreal style. All three parts dramatizes the birth of a counterculture.

Like many others I encountered The Beat Generation and specifically Jack Kerouac in my high school years. I red his books, biographies and bought picturefilled glossy books about Kerouac, Cassady, Ginsberg, Burroughs etc. And when I was in San Francisco in 2000 I did pay a visit to the City Lights Bookstore. I love the whole era and the stories concieved during it. The freedom perspective, the openness, the dynamic lifestyle. But not the darkness, alcoholism and heavy drugs. I have not red "Howl" but I do have a semiknowledge of the poem. I think "Howl" is an important piece of document for the silver screen, but I think as well that film is somewhat uneven and not fully satisfying in my eyes. I like how the movie is centred around Ginsberg reading "Howl" infront of Kerouac and Co and how the poem has been animated to visualize the story. That is great. It is a powerful and intriguing poem. Franco is great, but the movie does not hold together if you ask me. The narrative is scattered when they are trying to hold the different parts together. I reckon as well that the so called "documentary" parts showing Kerouac etc are not convincing. All in all, I think "Howl" could have been done in a slightly better way, but now shadows should fall on Franco, Hamm, Daniels, Strathairn etc.