Young writer Sal Paradise has his life shaken by the arrival of free-spirited Dean Moriarty and his girl, Marylou. As they travel across the country, they encounter a mix of people who each ... Read allYoung writer Sal Paradise has his life shaken by the arrival of free-spirited Dean Moriarty and his girl, Marylou. As they travel across the country, they encounter a mix of people who each impact their journey indelibly.Young writer Sal Paradise has his life shaken by the arrival of free-spirited Dean Moriarty and his girl, Marylou. As they travel across the country, they encounter a mix of people who each impact their journey indelibly.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 4 nominations
- Walter's Wife
- (as Tetchena Bellange)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThere have been many previous attempts to get the film made since the 1950s. Author Jack Kerouac sought to have himself play Sal Paradise opposite Marlon Brando as Dean Moriarty. In 1990, Francis Ford Coppola was set to direct with Ethan Hawke as Sal, Winona Ryder as Marylou and Brad Pitt as Dean. Later, Joel Schumacher was attached to direct with Billy Crudup as Sal and Colin Farrell as Dean. Gus Van Sant was later involved as a potential director.
- GoofsIn the opening scenes, Sal Paradise hitches a ride on the old farm truck. The large, round hay and straw bales in the background weren't available until 1972, when Vermeer built and sold the model 605 baler. Even then, the bales were much smaller and looser until the late '70s or early '80s on United States farms.
- Quotes
Sal Paradise: The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.
- Alternate versionsThe film was re-edited for North American release following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and its French theatrical release because, according to director Walter Salles, that version was "rushed". The new cut is thirteen minutes shorter but contains more scenes and Salles says he has no preference between the two.
- ConnectionsFeatured in At the Movies: Cannes Film Festival 2012 (2012)
- SoundtracksThat's It
Composed and produced by Gustavo Santaolalla
So let's take a page out one of Kerouac's best books, start at the beginning, & let the truth seep out.
I first encountered "On the Road" in the public library when I was in 6th grade. It spawned a fascination, an obsession, an addiction. Between the age of 12 & 18, outside of school, the Beat writers were all that I read. I devoured them. And in the years since my youth Kerouac has morphed from an obsession to a comfort author, I read him to help cushion the blows life brings. "Maggie Cassidy," is still my favorite.
That being said, I walked into this flick with extremely low expectations. I'm more than familiar with the source material & couldn't see how it could translate into anything but a dull film. I expected the film to stagnate. I wasn't really disappointed in this. Anyone that has read "On the Road" has to question the wisdom of attempting to translate that into a decent movie.
Like the novel, there are parts of this film you just have to fight through in the hopes that he'll move off his love for grape picking & into something interesting again.
The plus side is, once you make it past the stagnation, the plot picks up again & you feel the sense of freedom having overcome the monotony of Kerouac. But on the other-hand, I'm fairly certain that's the point.
The bottom line is that if you are familiar with Travelin' Jack you know what to expect before you walk into the film & you walk out with an experience far better than you would have thought it's be. It's an enjoyable film.
However, if you're like most of the world & for some reason do not read, you'll be expecting the legend without understanding the reality & you will hate it, for no other reason than the lack of background necessary to expect Kerouac to be, well, Kerouac.
- generationofswine
- Oct 11, 2012
- Permalink
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Đường Đời Sa Ngã
- Filming locations
- Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina(uncredited)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $25,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $744,296
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $39,550
- Dec 23, 2012
- Gross worldwide
- $9,617,377
- Runtime2 hours 4 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1