Review of On the Road (2014) by Tasmina C — 17 Jan 2013

I think you have to understand the back story to this movie to truly understand the deep complexity of it. For those who have given this movie a low review. Go read about this book. Read the book. It was filmed as it was written. Each character was based on a real life person. Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund's character) is based on a real man names Neal Cassady. This man inspired in an entire generation of writers. The Beat Generation. Almost everyone of these men have a character based on Neal Cassady. The main character of One Flew Over The Cuckoo;s Nest is also based on Neal. He was fascinating to me, and knowing that, as I watched On The Road, it made it a completely different movie, than if I didnt know these are all real people. Kerouc himself is represented as Sal. This movie was outstanding in the fact it stayed true to the writing style in which it was originally delivered. Fast and on the go. To everyone, watch it again, after reading up on the book and the muse behind it. You will see it in a whole different light.

I read one review that said this movie focused on two things. Sex and the road. Well, yeah... It is what the book focused on. The exploits of Dean/Neal. Neal had a lot of sex, and the movie is named after the book, which was named because they were On The Road. You expect them to be on the road. I think the fact that Sex was very prevalent gives insight to the men rep'd in this book/movie. Look at it psychologically. Dive into their minds. These are not fictional characters. They are based on real people, dive into their minds. Why did they act this way? What motivated them. What were they thinking? This group is very intriguing to me. I believe for every thinking person, this movie should be a must see.

One more thing that captured my attention was that John Allen Cassady said "For a guy who was born fifteen years after my dad died, Garrett sure did a terrific job of bringing him to life.".