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IMDbPro

Big Sur

  • 2013
  • R
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
Big Sur (2013)
 	A recounting of Jack Kerouac's (here known by the name of his fictional alter-ego Jack Duluoz) three sojourns to the cabin in Big Sur, owned by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti.
Play trailer1:46
2 Videos
25 Photos
DramaRomance

A recounting of Jack Kerouac's three sojourns to the cabin in Big Sur owned by his friend, poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti.A recounting of Jack Kerouac's three sojourns to the cabin in Big Sur owned by his friend, poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti.A recounting of Jack Kerouac's three sojourns to the cabin in Big Sur owned by his friend, poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

  • Director
    • Michael Polish
  • Writers
    • Michael Polish
    • Jack Kerouac
  • Stars
    • Jean-Marc Barr
    • Kate Bosworth
    • Josh Lucas
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    2.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Polish
    • Writers
      • Michael Polish
      • Jack Kerouac
    • Stars
      • Jean-Marc Barr
      • Kate Bosworth
      • Josh Lucas
    • 15User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
    • 49Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos2

    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 1:46
    Watch Theatrical Trailer
    Festival Version
    Trailer 2:49
    Watch Festival Version

    Photos25

    Jean-Marc Barr in Big Sur (2013)
    Kate Bosworth and Michael Polish at an event for Big Sur (2013)
    John Robinson at an event for Big Sur (2013)
    Kate Bosworth and Radha Mitchell at an event for Big Sur (2013)
    Jean-Marc Barr, Kate Bosworth, Radha Mitchell, and John Robinson at an event for Big Sur (2013)
    Big Sur (2013)
    Big Sur (2013)
    Stana Katic in Big Sur (2013)
    Kate Bosworth in Big Sur (2013)
    Kate Bosworth in Big Sur (2013)
    Jean-Marc Barr and Radha Mitchell in Big Sur (2013)
    Jean-Marc Barr in Big Sur (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jean-Marc Barr
    Jean-Marc Barr
    • Jack Kerouac
    Kate Bosworth
    Kate Bosworth
    • Billie
    Josh Lucas
    Josh Lucas
    • Neal Cassady
    Radha Mitchell
    Radha Mitchell
    • Carolyn Cassady
    Anthony Edwards
    Anthony Edwards
    • Lawrence Ferlinghetti
    Balthazar Getty
    Balthazar Getty
    • Michael McClure
    Patrick Fischler
    Patrick Fischler
    • Lew Welch
    Stana Katic
    Stana Katic
    • Lenora
    Henry Thomas
    Henry Thomas
    • Philip Whalen
    John Robinson
    John Robinson
    • Paul Smith
    Jasper Polish
    Jasper Polish
    • Vulture Girl
    Vanessa Ross
    • Lady Dining
    Richard Conti
    Richard Conti
    • Cabbie
    Natasha Goss
    Natasha Goss
    • Party Girl
    Jeffrey T Ferguson
    Jeffrey T Ferguson
    • Bar Patron
    Deanna Marks
    Deanna Marks
    • Wife
    Shelby Lyon
    Shelby Lyon
    • Emily Cassady
    Katrina Sherwood
    Katrina Sherwood
    • Wifey
    • Director
      • Michael Polish
    • Writers
      • Michael Polish
      • Jack Kerouac
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Prologue: "... all over America high school and college kids thinking Jack Kerouac is 26 years old and on the road all the time hitch hiking... While there I am almost 40 years old, bored and jaded... " - Big Sur - Jack Kerouac
    • Goofs
      When Jack is traveling in the car talking about alcohol you can see modern vehicles instead of 1950's cars.
    • Quotes

      Jack Kerouac: A man needs truth like a machine needs oil.

    • Connections
      Featured in Chelsea Lately: Episode #7.164 (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Tiger Rag
      Performed by Charlie Parker

      Written by Nick LaRocca, Edwin B. Edwards, Henry Ragas, Tony Sbarbaro, and Larry Shields (aka The Original Dixieland Jazz Band)

      Courtesy of ESP-Disk', Ltd

      By Arrangement with Fine Gold Music

    User reviews15

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    If You Like Kerouac...
    It's impossible to discuss this movie without putting it in the context of "On The Road", which could not find an audience. Knowledge of who Kerouac was is limited in the TV age; and his books, all fictionalized tales, yet autobiographical in nature (and to some a serialized mythology of an artist's life) are reduced to a cult-fan base in this era. If the iconic road story that launched Kerouac into the literary firmament was rejected by the Superhero loving movie audience of today, what chance does a psychological internal monologue about an artist's descent into alcoholism have.

    So we are left with a simple dividing line: do you know the work of Kerouac and the milieu of "The Beats"? If you don't, then this movie will seem odd and slow-paced, overwhelmingly pointless and pretentious. If you are a fan, then we are confronted with another question: Is simply seeing the narratives underlying Kerouac's poetic stream of conscious writing brought to life worth dealing with the limitations of converting works of art that are not plot-based to film? Like "On The Road", "Big Sur" delivers a simple enough joy to the Kerouac fan. There it is: a dramatization of Kerouac's iconic writings, replete with tons of required voice-over narration of the jazz-based flowing verbiage that makes Kerouac Kerouac. But, you can't help but think, wow-it's just not possible to make a conventional movie out of a Kerouac story, you must have excessive narration, because Kerouac was entirely about the words - the rhythm, the cadence, the explosion of images and alliterations. None of this is bad, but it requires an acceptance of the source we are dealing with to accept such an extensive override of normal plot-driven movie storytelling.

    The movie is well directed. Polish mixes imagery well, establishes mood and atmosphere, and handles the semi-hallucinatory descent into alcoholic stupor with a pleasant restraint.

    The actors all do top-notch work, although some of the peripheral characters such as Lew Welch, Ferlinghetti, and Whalen seem to have no emotional connection to the main character or his problems. They are just there. Even Neal Cassady ultimately fades away at the end.

    Kate Bosworth enters the movie halfway through the story and becomes the last lifeline that Kerouac throws away. While undeveloped as a character, she does a fine job representing the last real thing left to hold onto. She fits the role well, and plays out the heart-wrenching string aptly, as a character smart enough and jaded enough to cope with her fate.

    As a fan of Kerouac, I can say that there is so much good about this movie and it's straight forward attempt at delivering Kerouac's last important novel as a film, that I would recommend it highly to anyone that enjoyed "On the Road" as a film. If you were bored with OTR, or didn't get it, you will not enjoy this subtle intelligent movie.
    helpful•22
    3
    • jamfitz001
    • Apr 4, 2014

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 1, 2013 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Биг-Сюр
    • Filming locations
      • Big Sur, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • 3311 Productions
      • Troy Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $37,466
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $16,835
      • Nov 3, 2013
    • Gross worldwide
      • $37,466
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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