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Howl Reviews

2009

60
from 2168 members

James Franco stars as Allen Ginsberg in Robert Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's biopic that blends traditional narrative storytelling with documentary-style footage and vivid animation to paint a compelling portrait of the famed Beat poet. For many historians, the counterculture was conceived the moment Ginsberg's landmark poem .. Read more

Starring	James Franco, Paul Rudd, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeff Daniels
Director	Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
Genres	Drama

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Critic's review of Howl
View all critics' reviews (2)
- James Franco puts in another great performance as poet Allen Ginsberg... read more »
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Most helpful member's review of Howl
View all members' reviews (35)
- - 6
  - 5
  More of a squeak than a howl
  
  Good acting and period detail could have made a more powerful expression of what being gay and artistic (if a bit pretentious) was like in the 50s.
  
  ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1008984
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  
  [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Tuttle
  - 24 reviews
  - Newdigate
  - 23 Jun 2011 at 22:23
Most recent members' reviews of Howl
View all members' reviews (35)
- - 0
  - 0
  A must see.....
  
  I didnt know what to expect with this film. At first glance I thought it was going to an artsy, thought provoking film that left me pondering afterwards the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1082103
- - a customer
  - 15 Jan 2012 at 13:10
- - 0
  - 0
  A real good suprise movie, liked it lots
  
  This movie pulls off a really difficult task of being a documentary and a movie with a story all in one film.
  
  The animationtion segments really ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1078921
- - a customer
  - 05 Jan 2012 at 22:58
- - 0
  - 0
  Visualising the invisible
  
  I would say this film was more about the poem, Howl, than about its author, Ginsberg, so perhaps calling it a biopic is misleading. It tries to capture the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1073180
- - robertlondon
  - 17 reviews
  - London
  - 13 Dec 2011 at 21:05
- - 1
  - 0
  Molochs to this
  
  Half marks, a game of two halves, a parson's egg.
  
  On the positive side, the film had some original aspects (in certain ways) to it, and provided ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1066473
- - a customer
  - 24 Nov 2011 at 07:01
- - 0
  - 1
  i wouldnt bother
  
  dreadful film...after watching 127 hours had high hopes for another Franco film....very disapointed.Trying to be too clever and fails miserably.
  
  Report this review
- 1061988
- - tricialovesfilms
  - 8 reviews
  - 12 Nov 2011 at 21:50
- - 2
  - 0
  Beat Generation Lives...
  
  Very well crafted film that depicts so much about Ginsberg and his obvious talent. A bit brave though as it focusees on one poem and one moment in his life. So ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1060028
- - buffyrules
  - 164 reviews
  - southend on sea
  - 08 Nov 2011 at 12:17
- - 1
  - 0
  Prophet meets the future
  
  It is funny I suppose that a line in the film does describe this sense of constantly reviewing things we are all different and we think differently and have ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1058770
- - a customer
  - 04 Nov 2011 at 18:35
- - 0
  - 0
  Self indulgent trash
  
  As a reflection of the 'beat' generation, it comes across as self indulgent trash. James Franco was more like Mike Myers in 'How I married an axe ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1058176
- - Bobma83n
  - 1 review
  - 03 Nov 2011 at 06:59
- - 0
  - 0
  More of a sigh than a howl
  
  A weird mixture! The court scenes were very good, the animation and the clips from his life were quite interesting. The idea of using a poem through the film ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1055892
- - Porcorum
  - 1 review
  - 27 Oct 2011 at 16:52
- - 0
  - 0
  Utterly Fhowl!
  
  I could not wait for this one to end. I feel that is mostly a failing on my part to appreciate Beat poetry. I wish I could enjoy it and empathize with the main ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1054465
- - Elementry_Penguin
  - 2 reviews
  - 23 Oct 2011 at 19:46
View all members' reviews (35)

- - 6
  - 5
  More of a squeak than a howl
  
  Good acting and period detail could have made a more powerful expression of what being gay and artistic (if a bit pretentious) was like in the 50s.
  
  ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1008984
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  
  [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Tuttle
  - 24 reviews
  - Newdigate
  - 23 Jun 2011 at 22:23
- - 3
  - 1
  Ode to windbaggery
  
  I let out a howl of joy when this film ended. zzz zzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1009303
- - firstact
  - 29 reviews
  - South West
  - 24 Jun 2011 at 19:45
- - 2
  - 0
  Turned off after 30 mins
  
  This is officially the most boring thing I have ever seen in my entire life! I normally give films a chance and watch it all before I make a judgement, but with... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1028998
- - a customer
  - 14 Aug 2011 at 14:14
- - 2
  - 0
  Beat Generation Lives...
  
  Very well crafted film that depicts so much about Ginsberg and his obvious talent. A bit brave though as it focusees on one poem and one moment in his life. So ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1060028
- - buffyrules
  - 164 reviews
  - southend on sea
  - 08 Nov 2011 at 12:17
- - 1
  - 0
  Pedestrian story well acted
  
  This is a biopic. It is about Allen Ginsberg and the prosecution of Ginsberg's publishers for obscenity for publishing the poem. As the film progresses ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1009478
- - sandy666
  - 89 reviews
  - Reading
  - 25 Jun 2011 at 08:35
- - 1
  - 0
  Lack of Story - not the most entertaining...
  
  Although i am a huge fan of James Franco and his presence on the screen i did not find so much of that desire to continue to watch him in this film.
  
  ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1012228
- - JF21
  - 3 reviews
  - 02 Jul 2011 at 20:13
- - 1
  - 0
  Beat it
  
  Pretty average and looks like they messed the film up in the editing room. The changing from one situation to the other didn't aid the film in any way. It ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1017005
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - VickyM
  - 15 reviews
  - London
  - 14 Jul 2011 at 11:29
- - 1
  - 0
  Very Venice
  
  You can easily tell why this film was a huge hit at the Venice film festival - it's arty, slow, has a very strong cast, and nothing really happens during ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1029631
- - Swordthain
  - 22 reviews
  - London
  - 15 Aug 2011 at 21:32
- - 1
  - 0
  As with all good poetry, once you find its rhythm the film soon starts to sing.
  
  A slow start means it takes a while to get into the film. But, as with all good poetry, once you find its rhythm the film soon starts to sing. A fascinating ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1035696
- - Profitganda
  - 4 reviews
  - 01 Sep 2011 at 06:41
- - 1
  - 0
  Prophet meets the future
  
  It is funny I suppose that a line in the film does describe this sense of constantly reviewing things we are all different and we think differently and have ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1058770
- - a customer
  - 04 Nov 2011 at 18:35

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Howl - Blu-ray
  
  James Franco stars as Allen Ginsberg in Robert Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's biopic that blends traditional narrative storytelling with documentary-style footage and vivid animation to paint a compelling portrait of the famed Beat poet. For many historians, the counterculture was conceived the ...

- - Buy
- Howl
  
  James Franco stars as Allen Ginsberg in Robert Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's biopic that blends traditional narrative storytelling with documentary-style footage and vivid animation to paint a compelling portrait of the famed Beat poet. For many historians, the counterculture was conceived the ...