Anticipation: On The Road, The Film (1)

Finally found out where On The Road, the film, will be premiering in the U.S. on Dec. 21^st:  New York and Los Angeles.  But so far I have not discovered where exactly in Los Angeles it is showing.  It’s tempting to drive down—400 miles—to see the movie, and drive back—400 miles.  But no; I think not.

It actually may have actually been shown at the Marin Film Festival back in May—it was advertised, but I cannot tell that it actually was.  There is probably a story behind that.

I stumbled on a story from early this year, speculating on the distributors chosen for the U.S. release.  The thought was, they aren’t known for large releases.  It was suggested this means that the film won’t make as much money as it might have.  But I’m not familiar, at this point, with this aspect of the business of the film industry.

Meanwhile, I continue to fret about the screenplay, the adaptation, the actors.  How will Kristen Stewart do?  I’ve already seen two quotes from the film that aren’t in the book.  Dean Moriarty, in the film, apparently exhibits a conscience, self-doubt, and even (perhaps) remorse.  This changes the tone 

significantly.  I’d been wondering how they would squeeze the events into a movie time-frame.  What would they leave out?  But the movie apparently runs about 2 hours and 20 minutes—that should give them a fair shot at a reasonably complete treatment.

Still, I see characters listed that I don’t remember from the book.  Perhaps they have simply given names to some of the characters who aren’t given actual names in the novel.

My suspicion is that I will leave the theater disappointed—and then, slowly, the film will grow on me until I buy my own DVD copy and watch it semi-regularly.

I think of other films, the blockbusters, that are advertised for months ahead of their release; and think of how little PR I’ve seen for this film in the months since it was released in Europe and South America.  I hope it does not sink upon release.  A lot of folks are deeply excited and looking forward to it.  The novel, deceptively simple, has become a meaningful part of our lives.  We want to film to succeed.  But then, ever since the book first appeared, in 1957, it’s been loved by many and dismissed by many.  And maybe we shouldn’t worry so much about such things.