Kristen Stewart stars in 'On the Road'
Jack Kerouac鈥檚 iconic novel 鈥�On the Road鈥� has been in Hollywood鈥檚 cross hairs ever since it was published back in 1957. Kerouac himself wanted Marlon Brando to make a movie of it, and for many years, Francis Ford Coppola was involved. He鈥檚 still listed as an executive producer for the Walter Salles film of 鈥淥n the Road,鈥� starring Sam Riley as Sal (modeled on Kerouac), Garrett Hedlund as Dean Moriarty (based on Neal Cassady) and Kristen Stewart as Dean鈥檚 mercurial wife Marylou (based on LuAnne Henderson).
Was it worth the wait? Not really, and not just because the wait has outlasted the story鈥檚 immediacy. Kerouac鈥檚 novel about wayfaring bohemians hitting the open road is a classic expression of the American dream; but the way it鈥檚 done here, it seems more like a time capsule that鈥檚 been dug up long past its expiration date. Salles tries to approximate Kerouac鈥檚 hopped-up prose by shooting the film in jittery jump-cuts, and the actors seem to be careening between scenes rather than inhabiting them. It鈥檚 all rather exhausting, as opposed to exhilirating. Grade: C (Rated R for strong sexual content, drug use and language.)
