Watched #2: On The Road Special

I'm not normally one that criticises film adaptations for not sticking exactly to the book, they are completely different mediums afterall. However I was nervous to see what Walter Salles had done with a book I know so well, having read it at least 5 times. And knowing it so well I couldn't help but notice what was missing, things like Sal's time as a security guard with Remi near the start of the book, and much reduced sections with Terri, and the ride on the back of the farmers truck. On The Road is such a dense book with so many events that to include them all would have been impossible. So the screenplay sensibly concentrates on the story concerning Dean Moriarty.

  One thing that did bug me was the amount of sex in the film, not in a prudish way but it did make it seem like a much higher concentration of sex than the book (ie.all the sex is kept in when other parts are left out). The other aspect of this is the gay sex, something that in the film is right there wheras in the book is more subtley suggested or alluded to.

  These are relatively minor criticisms though when they got so much right. Particularly the feel and themes of the book, it's not a non-stop party like many seem to think, Sal & Dean are slowly drifting apart almost from the moment they meet and becoming more desperate as they go. The environments look authentic, not the usual pristine, neat, polished world of so many 1950's period pieces - it's dirty, sweaty and real. The cinematography is beautiful, filmed I have since discovered by Eric Gautier who also filmed Into The wild, the use of handheld camera's for when sal is hitchhiking is a good touch
and there's a warm, nostalgic graininess to the whole movie.

  Importantly I felt the cast was very good, Salles chose very well picking young up & coming actors for the key roles. Sam Riley is very good as Sal Paradise, pitching him perfectly as the quiet observer & confidant to the stronger characters. Kristen Stewart was quite a revelation as Marylou, an amplified version of the character on the page, more energetic, sexier & more sympathetic. Garrett Hedlund however, is stunning as Dean, he doesn't start the movie all maniacal energy, rather building his madness through the film after each little setback or argument, a feat all the more impressive when you consider that it wouldn't have been filmed in order.

  It was a joy to see this book brought vividly to life before my eyes after years imagining it. Nervous? I needn't have been, now I can't wait to watch it again without those nerves.