This film is the ultimate tease. The events I would expect to take centre-stage, instead serve as the climax, culminating from a series of nods in that direction. This sense of foreplay is also reflected in the visual style. There is a definite homo-eroticism in the long, languid shots of our central characters - but it is not till much later on that we are shown anything explicit.
We are told Allen Ginsberg's story, and his role in the events that unfold. Ginsberg, though, is often on the sidelines of the major developments. It is not an obvious choice, then, to tell the story from his point of view. It is a wise choice, though. He is a very relatable character and undergoes a palpable change from sheltered, literary talent to independent, audacious poet. Ginsberg finds his voice, and that is a satisfying story. So, for the story to also include a mysterious and dramatic criminal case becomes icing on the cake.
It is a smart film, and I took the bait it casually litters along the way. I can see this style could be too understated to reach a wide audience.
See this film for some fine performances and a new take on what suspense can be.
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