Walter Salles sets out on the road again for another compelling character study.
Release date: May 18.
The cast: Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortensen.
The pitch: The Motorcycle Diaries director Walter Salles tackles Jack Kerouac’s seminal semi-autobiographical beat novel of the same name. Sam Riley plays Sal Paradise, Kerouac’s alter ego, in a carefree cross-country road trip that’s jam packed full of jazz, poetry and drugs.
The buzz: Aside from being arguably one of the most influential pieces of literature of the twentieth century, a film has been in the pipeline for well over 30 years – Francis Ford Coppola bought the rights way back in 1980. Understandably, we’re on tenterhooks.
Reasons this could be good: Salles has already proven he’s worth his salt when it comes to making an enthralling character driven road movie, so the film's foundations are at the least reassuring. Plus, you can just feel that Mortensen is going to put in a solid shift as beat gen godfather, Old Bull Lee.
Reasons this could be bad: Based on this trailer, all looks well. In fact, we’re sure it’ll be just dandy. Let's just hope it doesn't become known as Kristen Stewart's Boobie Movie.
The verdict: Has all the hallmarks of a classic, assuming Salles can keep those young rapscallions in check.
Best bit: 0.36 – Undeniably the best bit of the whole trailer is watching Terrence Howard almost slip himself into a jazz coma... Nice.
