Weekend Movie Forecast: Howl Vs. Wall Street 2

I saw the best minds of my generation sitting in class with James Franco. In the past four years, Franco has taken classes at Columbia, NYU, Brooklyn College and is currently trying to get into Yale. Now, while the rest of his peers study poems like "Howl" in order to get ready for their retail/bartending careers, Franco was doing some studying for his role as Al Ginsberg himself in the film Howl. The narrative follows the strapping young poet in his earlier years as he struggles to come out, as well as fight the obscenity trial that his game-changing poem was facing.The poem is arguably the most influential piece of poetry since Whitman, but the movie of the same name doesn't fare so well. Reviews have been decent with J. Hoberman from The Voice saying: "Most compelling by far is James Franco as Ginsberg, successfully nailing the poet's incantatory style, even while providing that voice with a movie star's glamorous vessel. Splendid as Franco's literal characterization and overheated line readings can be, art director Eric Drooker's literal-minded animated interpretation of Howl' (haunted vortex of lonely crowd alienation, 'what now little man?"' monochromatic fascist madness) are as sodden as a cold latkeâas well as a distraction."Basically, Epstein and Friedman are feel-good filmmakersâtheir Ginsberg has one of the shortest, most successful bouts of psychotherapy in history. But is it really necessary to affirm the poem's ecstatic footnote ('Holy! Holy! Holy!') with a montage of smiling reaction shots?" — Gothamist

Robert Horan

Published Sep 24, 2010

Modified Sep 24, 2010

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2023. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Click on the film stills for details and review of this week's new releases and repertory screenings, which include: Howl, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Waiting for 'Superman', You Again, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger, Buried, Enter the Void, A Mother's Courage: Talking Back to Autism, Tibet in Song, and Purple Rain.

Weekend Movie Forecast: <em>Howl</em> Vs. <em>Wall Street 2</em>