One thing I will say about this film is that it won’t matter if you are not a fan of author JD Salinger, nor will it matter if you aren’t fond of his book “Catcher In The Rye” (I haven’t even read it, so I bought it to read it on my iPad this weekend!) – it is my bet that many of you will find this film as compelling as I did!
This fascinating documentary by Shane Salerno (writer of Armageddon) shows this fascinating man’s hunger for success and how, once he got it, wanted nothing to do with it.
Salerno, who spent nine years and $2 million of his own money researching Salinger’s life, presents interviews from 200 people. What drew me was the varied figures interviewed: There was someone to interest every audience member, no matter what their interests are and what age group they are from. There are interviews with celebs such as Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Edward Norton and Judd Apatow who, despite being seen by many as unnecessary inclusions, give the younger audience members proof that Salinger’s work is admired by people from every age and genre. Martin Sheen, Gore Vidal, author Tom Wolfe and other literary figures, colleagues, critics and fans contribute to Salerno’s vast list of admirers of Salinger.
Catcher in the Rye has sold an astounding 65 million copies and still sells 250,000 copies each year. There was such a division over its importance and influence over youth that while some schools had students read and study the book, other schools believed it was a negative influence and obstructed any reference to it in their classes. This of course, might of been justified by the influence that the main character in the book, Holden Caulfield, had over the man who killed John Lennon and the man who shot Ronald Reagan – not exactly the best way to make people like your book! The director made me think that this contributed to Salinger’s avoidance and mistrust of the media.
What I found most interesting was Salinger’s hatred of the fame that accompanied the success of this novel. After he wrote the book, Salinger fled the spotlight of New York and went and hid in New Hampshire. This is where he died, aged 91 in 2010.
It is doubtful however that he will be forgotten any time soon. Despite putting it in his will that Catcher in the Rye is never to be made into a movie, Salinger wrote five extra books which he arranged to be published starting in 2015. This is bound to be big news in literary circles, after the unbelievable success of his last book!
Great way to never be forgotten JD!!
Reviewed by Kirstey Whicker
Rating out of 10: 7.5
More News
