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Courtney Love, Norman Reedus, Ron Livingston, Kiefer Sutherland, Kyle Secor ... see more see more... , Sam Trammell , Lisa Sheridan

William S. Burroughs' ill-fated performance of his "William Tell act" -- resulting in his wife Joan Vollmer getting a bullet in the brain with a shot glass atop her head -- soon became the stuff of Be... read more read more...at legend. This film, directed by Gary Walkow, traces this doomed romance from its inception to its bloody end. The movie opens in 1944 New York, where Columbia journalism student Vollmer is already living a bohemian life filled with pharmaceuticals and a host of future beatniks, including hunky Jack Kerouac (Daniel Martinez), a young Allen Ginsberg (Ron Livingston), and of course, Burroughs (Kiefer Sutherland). Also frequenting Vollmer's pad is Lucien Carr (Norman Reedus) whom everyone is enamored with, especially Dave Kammerer (Kyle Secor), who winds up dead after trying to jump the object of his affection. Seven years later, Joan and William have married in spite of Burroughs' obvious homosexual predilections. Their domestic bliss is strained when the two have to flee to Mexico City after they get slapped with a drug rap. Ginsberg and Carr, now correspondents for the UPI, visit the couple only to discover that Burroughs split town with his lover-for-hire. Vollmer and the boys decide to go on a road trip that is brimming with heterosexual tension. William eventually returns from his sex-binge suspecting that Joan had a fling with Carr. During that fateful night, Burroughs pulls out a gun that he was going to sell for drug money and performs one of the most spectacularly botched party-tricks in literary history. This film was screened at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

Flixster Users

42% liked it

1,082 ratings

Critics

57% liked it

7 critics

R, 1 hr. 29 min.

Directed by: Gary Walkow

Release Date: January 1, 2000

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DVD Release Date: October 15, 2002

Stats: 60 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (60)

  • DrBenway
    February 5, 2009
    DrBenway
    I didn't know what to expect going into the film, but I was able to keep an open mind and actually appreciate what the production team was trying to get across. What could have been a great film about William S. Burroughs and his literary influence instead seems to be a slice-of... read more-life picture about a married couple. The script suffers terribly from virtually no uniqueness to these people. How Courtney Love continued to make her way into any spotlight is beyond me, and Kiefer Sutherland attempting to portray Burroughs is like Keanu Reeves portraying Laurence Olivier.


    What a piece of shit
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  • muveekween
    May 14, 2012
    muveekween
    About a couple living in Mexico. It really didn't have much of a plot. I decided to watch this movie because I had seen Courtney Love in "Trapped" and thought she was amazing. This movie was just boring though. Nice hair, makeup and wardrobe but that's about it. Good for one time... read more viewing.

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Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones
April 7, 2010
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

Ron Livingston is excellent as Ginsberg, the film's de facto narrator, and Kiefer Sutherland is admirably restrained in the role of Burroughs. Full Review

Clint Morris
March 11, 2006
Clint Morris, Moviehole

Put it out of it's misery, please?

Dennis Schwartz
October 20, 2002
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

This failed effort would have been better served if it wasn't released. Full Review

Dennis Harvey
July 9, 2009
Dennis Harvey, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

December 6, 2005
Film Threat

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 11, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

December 8, 2002
Film Threat

Click to read the article Full Review

Christopher Null
October 22, 2002
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

Click to read the article Full Review

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