Howl

Here's the trailer to Howl, the Allen Ginsberg biography starring James Franco in the starring role.  The film was the opening movie at this years Sundance Film Festival, and features a terrific cast-- David Strathairn, John Hamm, Mary Louise-Parker, Jeff Daniels and Bob Balaban.  The directors Rob Epstein and Jeffery Friedman sure have a fine pedigree with gay friendly themes as evident by the Oscar winning The Life & Times of Harvey Milk as well as the illuminating gay cinema treatise, The Celluloid Closet.  That being said, the film opened Sundance with mixed reviews, and even the trailer (which focuses on the obscenity trail Ginsberg faced after his poem, "Howl" premiered) looks very smallish and perhaps a bit too esoteric for even the most faithful independent moviegoer.  I'm still looking forward nonetheless-- Franco has proven himself at this point to be a striking versatile actor, and the films distributor, Oscillioscope (founded by Beastie Boy Adam Yauch) is shaping up to be a formidable independent company, as evident by past successes Wendy & Lucy, and last year's The Messenger, which managed two Oscar nominations for supporting actor and original screenplay.  Howl may not duplicate that success, but if nothing else it should be an interesting story.