On the Road

2012 / France / 124 minutes

Director:  Walter Salles
Screenplay:  Jose Rivera, based on the novel On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Starring:  Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Alice Braga, Amy Adams, Tom Sturridge, Viggo Mortensen
Genre:  Drama

Jack Kerouac's cult novel On the Road, published in 1957, defined what would become known as the Beat Generation, became a counter-culture touchstone and is now an acknowledged classic of American literature.

This film certainly will not become a classic, cult or otherwise, and is unlikely to become a generational touchstone.  Set in the late 1940s and early 50s, the virtually plotless narrative revolves around aspiring writer Sal Paradise (Riley) who undertakes a series of journeys with his charismatic irresponsible friend, Dean Moriarty (Hedlund).

It's well-made and always looks good, but the novel cries out for a more experimental, free-wheeling approach.  As it is, the film captures none of the verve and excitement of Kerouac's prose, thereby most of the point.  It's a well-night impossible task to make a good film of Kerouac's works because they are so dependent on literary style and technique.  As it is, it's an attractive, well-made but basically undistinguished literary adaptation.  

The film is well-acted by an impressive cast, however while he has the looks and charisma, and turns in a solid performance, Garrett Hedlund doesn't really capture the force-of-nature magneticism of Dean Moriarty.  As Moriarty's young wife, Marylou, Kristen Stewart is fantastic.

    

Her

2013 / USA/ 126 minutes

Director:  Spike Jonze
Screenplay:  Spike Jonze
Stars:  Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Pratt
Genre:  Science-fiction, romance, drama

This film is set in a near future Los Angeles.  Theodore Twombly (Phoenix) is in the process of divorcing his wife, Catherine (Mara), and works writing heartfelt, intimate letters to people on behalf of clients who either can't or won't write their letters themselves.  One day Theodore installs a new, talking, computer operating system (voiced by Johansson) with artificial intelligence, that can seemingly learn, adapt and evolve.  Calling itself Samantha, the operating system soon becomes invaluable to Theodore, and they soon fall in love.

This is a surprisingly sweet, and heartfelt romantic film despite it's science-fiction trappings.  There is a genuine poignancy in Theodore and Samantha's relationship.  Phoenix gives a great performance as the lonely, soulful writer who can only really express himself when he is writing letters posing as someone else.  Johansson however, is the real standout with her entirely vocal performance as the operating system.  There are wonderfully quirky science-fiction touches such as voice operated computers that mimic human handwriting, and the world that the film creates is far enough away that it seems strange and yet close enough to our own that it feels all too plausible.

This is a wonderful film and one of the best love stories of recent times.