THE DAILY BEAT: Howl biopic: Actors playing Ginsberg, Kerouac, & Cassady

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Howl biopic: Actors playing Ginsberg, Kerouac, & Cassady

According to imdb.com, the biopic Howl, depicting the obscenity trial of Allen Ginsberg, will be released in 2010. James Franco is playing Ginsberg, Todd Rotondi is playing Jack Kerouac, and Jon Prescott is playing Neal Cassady. I leave it to you to determine the appropriateness of the casting, but I think two of the three picks are right on, maybe all three. I'll reserve judgment until I see the film.

James Franco

Todd Rotondi

Jon Prescott

5 comments:

Jonny Ross said...: seen a few pics of franco as ginsberg floating around online and must say it's a pretty good fit. not the slam dunk his playing james dean was, but it works. if they decide to keep the story going and film part 2 my vote is for david cross as the older, 60s ginsberg, after seeing his little bit in the dylan pic. now i'm wondering what the status of 'tritessa' is, starring edward norton as jack.; November 10, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Anonymous said...: Todd Rotondi doesn't look anything like Kerouac!; November 11, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Anonymous said...: you should look at pictures from the film, that picture looks like an old photo of Todd.; July 20, 2010 at 6:19 PM
Anonymous said...: Does anyone know if Todd Rotondi is gay or straight?; December 7, 2010 at 7:17 PM
Anonymous said...: He is straight and has a son; July 18, 2012 at 6:04 PM

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Reviews of The Beat Handbook

Gerald Nicosia, author of the acclaimed Kerouac biography Memory Babe, said The Beat Handbook is "full of Jack's heart."

Jared Randall, author of the excellent book of poetry, Apocryphal Road Code, said this about The Beat Handbook: "Sometimes a book comes along at just the right time. In my wandering pack of experiences, I find they often do. Enter The Beat Handbook by Rick Dale."

Kenneth Morris, Kerouacian extraordinaire, said this:
"I just finished reading Rick Dale's beautiful utterance and call to action of Kerouac mind-set and zen sensibilities. It made me laugh and reflect on my own life and road I have naturally grooved into after absorbing the Kerouac canon. The road less traveled always had my name on it. And that has made all the difference. The Beat Handbook 100 Days of Kerouactions reaffirms the attitudes and ideology that made the Beats and Kerouac the important men of ideas that America (and the world) thirsted for, needed, and swallowed whole. Beautiful, absorbing, Top Ten whipsmart from my articulate, tender-hearted friend and fellow traveler. Highly recommended."