On the Road: A Journey of Love, Loss, and Literary Longing
Following the death of his father, Sal, a young New York writer, encounters Dean, a charismatic car thief who lives life to the fullest, sparking a flame wherever he goes. Dean, married to the sixteen-year-old nymphomaniac Marylou and never staying in one place for long, pulls Sal into his whirlwind, eventually drawing him into a relationship with his wife.
Francis Ford Coppola acquired the rights to adapt “On the Road” back in 1979, but struggled for three decades to find the right fit. Numerous projects were considered, including one with Brad Pitt. However, there’s no need to lament Pitt’s absence, as Garrett Hedlund (“Tron”), who ultimately landed the role of Dean Moriarty, more than delivers. In fact, setting aside Kerouac and the Beat Generation, the adaptation can be viewed as a somewhat protracted tale of unrequited love – a talented writer and a string of women captivated by an irresponsible yet undeniably charming rogue.
A Missed Opportunity for Innovation
A bold move would have been to create something entirely new, defying the book’s “unfilmable” reputation. However, Salles chose a more conventional approach, resulting in a visually appealing and atmospheric film that might resonate with teenagers. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing – after all, if anything can entice today’s youth to read Proust, it might just be a glimpse of Kristen Stewart’s bare chest. Nevertheless, the bohemian rebellion against bourgeois comfort is reduced to a rather mundane and uninspired story about the joys of youth, living in the moment, and carefree living. It turns out that before rock ‘n’ roll, there was jazz, along with sex and drugs. The film effectively promotes these vices, but the poetry seems to constantly elude the grasp, no matter how intently Sal gazes around with his hazy, impenetrable eyes.
Ultimately, the fleeting American landscapes and the entwined young bodies fail to hold attention for over two hours. It might be better to grab a drink with friends or even pick up a book – perhaps Proust, for instance.