The Source

The Source
by Chuck Workman

The Source
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DVD Cover Information

Actor: Allen Ginsberg, Dennis Hopper, John Turturro, Johnny Depp, Philip Glass
Director: Chuck Workman
Brand: Genius
Cinematographer: Andrew Dintenfass
Cinematographer: Don Lenzer
Producer: Chuck Workman
Writer: Chuck Workman
Producer: Hiro Yamagata
Producer: James Cady
Producer: Mark Apostolon
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Black & White, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 88 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-07-05
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Fox Lorber

Movie Reviews of The Source

Movie Review: The Beat "Beat"
Summary: 4 Stars

Over the past several months I have, seemingly, grabbed every film documentary about the "beat" literary movement of the 1950s that I could get my hands on. This film, "The Source", continues that quest. And why am I interested in this movement, essentially a literary movement and not particularly, at least overtly, a consciously political movement that would not seem to fit in with other literary movements that I have given space to here? Well the short answer is that I just like the free verse spontaneous literary styles of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs and company. More to the point I have been trying, as this documentary and others reviewed in this space have attempted as well, to link the liberating effects of that 1950s scene as forbears of my own generation, the Generation of '68, a much less literary-inclined generation.

That idea sets one of the parameters of my interest. Another is the question of what of this collective wealth of archival footage, interviews and readings that virtually all the films reviewed have presented gives the best idea of what was going on then for those of us who were really too young (or were not born yet)to appreciate this breathe of fresh air. This effort is one the better ones for two reasons. First, the producers have established clearly who they believe are (as I do) the central players in this drama, the above-mentioned Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs. Of course, the "beat' scene is not complete without recognizing the role that madman-for-all seasons Neal Cassady, Zen-master poet Gary Snyder, street poet Gregory Corso, Michael McClure, Lawrence Ferlinghetti (if for no other reason that the establishment of the City Lights Bookstore, a central hangout) , and host of other minor poets, hangers-on and crazies played. They are given space here, as well. But without the core literary/philosophical leadership of the three there make not have been such a phenomenon.

Secondly, and more importantly, in recognition of that centrality the producers have given over a fair amount of time for a rather short documentary (about an hour and a half) to extensive readings of Kerouac's work (by Johnny Depp) , Allen Ginsberg's ground-breaking and defining "Howl", and Burroughs "Naked Lunch" (by Dennis Hopper, who else, right?). These readings are important. "Beat" was driven by the sounds of jazz and the blues, among other aural influences so the sounds (and nuances) of the works are more critical than more cerebral efforts. Although to our current ears much of this may sound self-indulgent this was the breakout sound of the "beats", and to paraphrase Kerouac's ending to "On The Road", the sound of the fathers, the fathers that we never knew, Kerouac/Ginsberg/Burroughs.

Summary of The Source

Jack kerouac allen ginsberg and william burroughss spawned a movement call the beats that set precedents for the political hippie and spiritual movements of the 1960s and 70s. This is a comprehensive portrait of the beat generation. Contains: interviews with ginsberg burroughs and timothy leary and more. Studio: Genius Products Inc Release Date: 06/19/2007 Starring: Johnny Depp John Turturro Run time: 89 minutes Rating: Nr Director: Chuck Workman
This documentary is a treat, a look at the beat writers that benefits not only from a wealth of vital source information, including interviews with major figures, but also from an abundance of intelligence and wit. Interspersed with clips of Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Neal Cassady, and William S.? Burroughs are brilliant montages of clips that set the beats in the context of their times. The story of how the beats rebelled against American conformity in the 1950s is well known, of course, but this documentary manages to find fresh ways to relate their views on life and writing. Segments in which Johnny Depp, John Turturro, and Dennis Hopper portray, respectively, Kerouac, Ginsberg, and Burroughs may strike some as extraneous, but the good performances redeem their inclusion in the film. As befits the documentary's title, The Source devotes considerable attention to the influence of the beats, and interviews with such notables as Ken Kesey, Jerry Garcia, and Philip Glass, performance clips of Bob Dylan, and news footage from the 1960s establish how the sensibility of the writers trickled into all of society. This is not only a fine introduction to the beats, but those who already revere them will find the profusion of material contained it to be a delight. --Robert J. McNamara

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