Kill Your Darlings

Movie Title--  Kill Your Darlings

Release Year--  2013

Running Time--  1 Hour and 42 Minutes

Director--  John Krokidas

Cast--  Daniel Radcliffe, Michael C. Hall, Dane DeHaan, Jack Huston, Ben Foster, David Cross, Jennifer Jason Leigh, John Cullum

Based on the true story of three Beat Generation poets, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs, their interactions during their early years in college and their involvement in a Riverside Park murder.

Set in the 1940's, Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe) is over joyed when he is accepted into Columbia University.  He arrives as an unexperienced freshman but it isn't long before he meets rowdy and unconventional Lucian Carr (Dane DeHaan).  Allen and Lucian strike up a friendship and it isn't long before Allen realizes that the only way Lucian manages to stay at Columbia is because of an older man, David Kammerer (Michael C. Hall).  David is Lucian's ex-lover who is still obsessed with him and pressures Lucian for sexual favors in exchange for writing papers and doing the classwork that keeps him from being expelled.

Through Lucian, Allen meets William Burroughs (Ben Foster) and Jack Kerouac (Jack Huston).  Together the four of them set out to cast out conformity and in doing so, they build the foundation of the Beat Generation.  As the men spend more time together, Lucian tells David that he is done with him and breaks ties.  Lucian then takes advantage of Allen and the growing feelings Allen has toward him and recruits Allen to write his papers.

Allen takes Lucian his paper and see him packing his bags to leave and he tells Allen he is joining the merchant marines with Jack Kerouac.  Allen is heart broken  and when he leaves Lucian's room, he sees David.  David asks Allen if he has seen Lucian and Allen tells David that Lucian is gone then tells him where to go to find him.  David goes to the recruiting office and Lucian encourages David to walk with him.  While out, David and Lucian get into a confrontation and Lucian kills David.  Lucian is arrested for the murder and Jack and William are both arrested on association charges.  Lucian asks Allen to write his deposition for him and once it is finished, Lucian dismisses it as fiction so Allen turns it in as his final term paper where he gets the choice to withdraw it or become expelled.

This movie is a little strange and it almost seems to build into nothing.  I understand it is a true story with not a lot of room for anything imaginative but the whole thing just kind of had a lot of build-up without a lot of conclusion.  I will be very honest, other than hearing the names Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs I am not very familiar with their work and that therefore could be the reason why I thought there was a lot of build to this story without any kind of closure.  

I really think this is a story about self discovery and growth.  I will admit that it was a little difficult watching cute little Harry Potter all grown up and doing homosexual scenes but once you get past that, the performance he gives is a good one.  

I think it really is a personal preference when it comes to this film.  People will be split down the middle, half will like it and the other half will hate it.  If you decide to watch this one, let me know what you think and Don't Forget the Popcorn!