On The Road

'On the Road' is based on the seminal beatnik novel by Jack Kerouac, about a young man who sets out to travel the roads and railways of America. After the death of his father, Sal Paradise (Sam Riley), an aspiring New York writer, meets Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund), a wild and infectiously charismatic ex-con. They hit it off immediately. Determined to avoid the pitfalls of a narrow, prescribed life, Sal hits the road, joining Dean on what evolves into a life-changing physical and emotional odyssey. Thirsting for freedom, they discover the world, the ecstasy of experience, the connectedness of humanity and ultimately themselves. The film seems part biopic as it departs often from the book, young audiences will easily connect and relate to mind-set of Kerouac as they are given insight into one of America's legendary free-spirits that pre-dated "Generation X" and the much earlier 'Easy Rider' generation by decades. Interesting supporting characters - like Old Bull Lee (played convincingly by Viggo Mortensen), all kind-heartedness and disparagement, and Steve Buscemi's traveller, with great jazz, it is beautifully lensed by cinematographer Eric Gautier and the '40s period taste feels authentic and energetic.

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