Beat (2000 film)
Encyclopedia
Beat is 2000 American
drama film
written and directed by Gary Walkow
, concerning the period of writer William S. Burroughs
's life that he spent with his wife, the late Joan Vollmer
, leading up to her accidental murder in 1951.
The film stars Kiefer Sutherland
as Burroughs, Courtney Love
as Joan, Norman Reedus
as Lucien Carr
, and Ron Livingston
as Allen Ginsberg
. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival
in January 2000.
(Courtney Love) balancing a water tumbler on her head as William Burroughs, her husband, aims a gun at her as she entices him to shoot her. The film then cuts to Joan and Burroughs in the months prior in Mexico City, as Burroughs is leaving on a trip to Guatemala to meet his male lover, Lee (Sam Trammell). Joan, despondent to William's affair and his disinterest in her, is left to take care of their two children while he goes on his vacation.
Various flashbacks from that point on tell the story of the 1944 murder of their mutual friend Dave Kammerer in New York City, while Joan was a student at Columbia University
. Dave was killed by Lucien Carr
(Norman Reedus) after he made unwanted sexual advances on him. Lucien arrives at William and Joan's apartment and confesses to the murder.
The story cuts back to Mexico City in 1951, and Joan goes on a vacation in the country with Lucien and his friend, Allen Ginsberg
(Ron Livingston), while William is in Guatemala with Lee. On their trip, Lucien, who has recently been released from prison for the murder of Dave, attempts to romance Joan but she dismisses his advances. Meanwhile, William unsuccessful tries to pursue Lee while the two are in Guatemala.
William returns home to Joan, frustrated by Lee's dwindling lack of sexual and romantic interest him, and falls into a depression. Joan asks him to return to New York City with her, but he refuses due to his pending charge for heroin possession in the United States.
At the end of the film, William accidentally shoots Joan in the head while at their friends' apartment after the two had been drinking. The film ends with Lucien receiving the news of her death in a telegram.
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
written and directed by Gary Walkow
Gary Walkow
-Filmography:As film director* Crashing * Beat * Notes from Underground * The Trouble with Dick He has no relation to Gary Fialkow.-External links:* - Official website...
, concerning the period of writer William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II was an American novelist, poet, essayist and spoken word performer. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th...
's life that he spent with his wife, the late Joan Vollmer
Joan Vollmer
Joan Vollmer was the most prominent female member of the early Beat Generation circle. While a student at Barnard College she became the roommate of Edie Parker and their apartment became a gathering place for the Beats during the 1940s, where Vollmer was often at the center of marathon, all...
, leading up to her accidental murder in 1951.
The film stars Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland is an English-born Canadian actor, producer and director, best known for his portrayal of Jack Bauer on the Fox thriller drama series 24 for which he has won an Emmy Award , a Golden Globe award , two Screen Actors Guild Awards and two Satellite...
as Burroughs, Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
as Joan, Norman Reedus
Norman Reedus
Norman Mark Reedus is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal as Murphy MacManus in the 1999 film The Boondock Saints as well as its 2009 sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day and for the character of Daryl Dixon in the AMC television series The Walking Dead...
as Lucien Carr
Lucien Carr
Lucien Carr was a key member of the original New York City circle of the Beat Generation in the 1940s; later he worked for many years as an editor for United Press International.-Early life:...
, and Ron Livingston
Ron Livingston
Ronald Joseph "Ron" Livingston is an American film and television actor. His roles include a disaffected corporate employee in the film Office Space, a sardonic writer in a short-term relationship with Carrie Bradshaw in the TV show Sex and the City, and Captain Lewis Nixon in the miniseries...
as Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
in January 2000.
Plot
The film opens with Joan VollmerJoan Vollmer
Joan Vollmer was the most prominent female member of the early Beat Generation circle. While a student at Barnard College she became the roommate of Edie Parker and their apartment became a gathering place for the Beats during the 1940s, where Vollmer was often at the center of marathon, all...
(Courtney Love) balancing a water tumbler on her head as William Burroughs, her husband, aims a gun at her as she entices him to shoot her. The film then cuts to Joan and Burroughs in the months prior in Mexico City, as Burroughs is leaving on a trip to Guatemala to meet his male lover, Lee (Sam Trammell). Joan, despondent to William's affair and his disinterest in her, is left to take care of their two children while he goes on his vacation.
Various flashbacks from that point on tell the story of the 1944 murder of their mutual friend Dave Kammerer in New York City, while Joan was a student at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. Dave was killed by Lucien Carr
Lucien Carr
Lucien Carr was a key member of the original New York City circle of the Beat Generation in the 1940s; later he worked for many years as an editor for United Press International.-Early life:...
(Norman Reedus) after he made unwanted sexual advances on him. Lucien arrives at William and Joan's apartment and confesses to the murder.
The story cuts back to Mexico City in 1951, and Joan goes on a vacation in the country with Lucien and his friend, Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
(Ron Livingston), while William is in Guatemala with Lee. On their trip, Lucien, who has recently been released from prison for the murder of Dave, attempts to romance Joan but she dismisses his advances. Meanwhile, William unsuccessful tries to pursue Lee while the two are in Guatemala.
William returns home to Joan, frustrated by Lee's dwindling lack of sexual and romantic interest him, and falls into a depression. Joan asks him to return to New York City with her, but he refuses due to his pending charge for heroin possession in the United States.
At the end of the film, William accidentally shoots Joan in the head while at their friends' apartment after the two had been drinking. The film ends with Lucien receiving the news of her death in a telegram.