The idea of transforming Jack Kerouac's cult classic novel, "On the Road," into a movie is as old as the novel itself. Despite attempts by Jack Kerouac decades ago, the idea has not gained traction until recently. Even Francis Ford Coppola, having acquired the rights in 1979, was unable to bring the project to fruition. The movie "On the Road" was finally made as the result of the combined efforts of Walter Salles of "The Motorcycle Diaries" fame and five film production companies from four different countries.
The movie narrates Jack Kerouac's cross-country journey through America in the late 1940s through the voice of the lead character, his alter-ego Sal Paradise (Sam Riley). A writer struggling to discover his niche, Sal Paradise meets his biggest inspiration, Dean Moriarty (Garrettt Hedlund), through his writer friend Carlo Max (Tom Sturridge). Dean's character is based on Jack Kerouac's real-life interactions with Nick Cassady. Dean can only be described as the perfect hobo. In a country obsessed with conformism, he is the free-spirited rebel who inspires Sal to find out what he truly desires to do in life.
Dean's first appearance in the movie involves answering the door butt naked. The audience is introduced to his sixteen-year-old wife Marylou (Kristen Stewart) in the same scene. She too is, unsurprisingly, naked. This comes as a bit of shock for those who are used to seeing Kristen as the virginal girl in the "Twilight" series. Marylou's fiery and free-spirited character comes as an even bigger surprise for those who imagined Kristen would never escape Bella's repressed and reticent characterization in the "Twilight" series.
What follows is a picturesque and handsomely shot journey all over America with lots of smoking, drinking, partying, sex, drugs, introspection, and discussions. A large number of family members, friends, and new acquaintances come and go, and each new character helps Sal understand himself, his friends, and his life better.
The director deserves credit for skilfully bringing in characters like Jane (Amy Adams), Ed Dunkel (Danny Morgan), Terry (Alice Braga), Galatea Dunkel (Elisabeth Moss), Camille (Kirsten Dunst), and Old Bull Lee (Viggo Mortensen) without leaving the audience confused. The characters' exit may seem abrupt but it only serves to heighten the focus on the trio of Sal, Dean, and Marylou.
Director Walter Salles prepared the cast for the movie by conducting a three-week boot camp in Montreal on the Beat Generation. The cast enjoyed access to literature related to the Beat Generation, Kerouac's biographer Gerald Nicosia, and interviews with persons who served as inspiration for the characters in the novel.
The director also provided Kristen with access to a 1978 audio interview with Lu Anne Henderson, Nick Cassady's wife and inspiration for Marylou's character in the book. This seems to have helped her get under the character's skin effectively. She also enjoyed long discussions with Henderson's daughter, helping her understand Lu Anne's personality. Kristen's multiple scenes involving physical intimacy with Sal and Dean, including a now-famous scene in a moving car, although slightly surprising, do not seem gratuitous. Overall, Kristen does an admirable job of portraying feisty Marylou as a person who is a few decades ahead of her time.
The movie does not meander too far from the book, and this creates a feeling that the director is unnecessarily emphasizing a single message instead of moving on. However, those who have read the book will agree that the entire novel is, more or less, about the angst of youngsters of the Beat Generation trying to find their life destinies.
By the end of the movie, one cannot but help notice how the three characters have been etched neatly. Sal is the confused one; Dean is the one who thinks he knows what he wants; while Marylou is the one who understands how the search for one's destiny is an endless exercise.
As the movie progresses, Sal becomes more and more assured of himself and finds himself slowly moving independently of his hero, Dean, who continues to live his life king-sized without any desire to change. Sal discovers his wild side and ends up outgrowing that phase to lead a normal life, something Marylou predicted.
Kristen joined the cast of "On the Road" without any screen testing. Apparently, Walter Salles was impressed by her performance in "Into The Wild" and chose her without any misgivings. The movie's cast, Kristen included, produced strong performances that justify the director's faith and laborious preparations, including a road trip that retraced Jack Kerouac's original journey. Providing useful articles, reviews and writings on movies and films online.
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