Kerouac

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Charles T The King of the Beats gets a rather standard documentary treatment, complete with badly done reenactments, but it is hard to screw up such a strong subject. Filmed in the early 1980's, all the Beat writers and various hangers-on are trotted out to tell the story of the author of "On the Road," a novel that changed modern literature. Jack Kerouac was born in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1922 and went to Columbia University on a football scholarship. He pounded out "On the Road" in three weeks, on a giant scroll of parchment paper. He eventually married a couple of times, had a daughter he was never close to, but always wrote- and drank. When Kerouac's life finally seemed to be turning for the better (he was selling his novels), he had a small breakdown over the newfound fame and turned to the bottle. He was up to a quart of hard liquor a day, moved back in with his mother, and died at the age of 47. The film makers utilize video of Kerouac on a couple of talk shows, and his transformation from the voice of the Beat generation on "The Steve Allen Show" to rambling angry drunk a few years later on "Firing Line with William F. Buckley" is sad to watch. What does not work here are the reenactments of Kerouac's life. Kerouac had a certain look that is hard to duplicate, although actor Jack Coulter certainly tries. The problem is the reenactments seem to have no budget, and early 1980's America does not stand in well for 1950's and 1960's America. At one point Kerouac is standing in front of a movie theater showing "Amityville 3-D," a film that would make me drink a quart of liquor a day, too. Peter Coyote, sounding like Kevin Costner, narrates and John Antonelli handles the directing chores. I will recommend the film because if you do not know Kerouac all that well, this is a safe place to start. "Kerouac" has been shown under a few other titles, and it stands as preeminent biography on its subject. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/27/23 Full Review Audience Member The only thing redeeming about this was some of the interview clips from people who knew Kerouac like Burroughs. Maybe Kerouac didnt have that interesting of a life. Would of liked to hear more of his drunk escapades and his travels around the country and Mexico. I really cant suggest this movie at all. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member Is it the best documentary I've ever seen? Who knows? It's Jack Kerouac.... I'm not objective. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member This touchs on the basics of the complex and sad life that Kerouac actually led, and follows his books like a time line. The dramatizations from passages of his books attempt to breathe life into them, but it all seems a bit off. The interviews are the key element in this documentary. Also the shots from Kerouac's rare television appearances also add an element for those who had never seen the man in reality or beyond his words. I give it 3 stars for subject matter and half a star for the interviews and television clips. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member such a bad source of reference. i was attempting to watch it and i could barely understand what they were saying. barely emphasized ANYTHING on kerouac and basically just SUCKS as a documentary. very boring as well. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Kerouac

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