Howl

In college I had a lengthy love affair with the Beat Generation poets. In particular I read lots o Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Hearing Kerouac read his poetry aloud is like a warm buzz from a glass of wine. The first time I read Ginsberg's Howl my head was spinning. You must read it start to finish to get the full effect.

James Franco (love him) proves his skill as a true actor in a movie based around Howl. He plays Ginsberg as a young man, manages to sound like him reading Howl to a crowd of 50s hipsters. The publisher that helped Ginsberg's poem reach mass audiences is on trial for obscenity (wouldn't those prosecutors be surprised today?). If you were ever into the Beats you will certainly enjoy "Howl".