For some reason, I am not a big reader. If I read, it is usually the series from “Uncle John’s Bathroom Readers” about stupid useless facts. Honestly, I have only read six full novels in my life, and how I skimmed my way through English classes in all those years in school (one in eighth grade and the rest written by WWE personalities) is not a question anyone wants answered. Now there is one book I have gotten halfway through, and that would be “The Catcher in the Rye”. For some reason, my mind does not wander when reading it, so I was able to burn through the first time on a plane trip and I will finish it very soon. Its author, J.D. Salinger, is the subject of a new film directed by Danny Story, “Rebel in the Rye”. Starring Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max Fury Road, Warm Bodies), Kevin Spacey (Se7en, American Beauty), Sarah Paulson (Carol, Serenity), Zoey Deutch (Before I Fall, Flower), Hope Davis (About Schmidt, Real Steel), Victor Garber (Argo, Titanic), Lucy Boynton (Sing Street, Gypsy), and Eric Bogosian (Talk Radio, Under Siege 2), it focuses on Salinger’s time in college, the release of his most famous work, and the few years after as he deals with the new found fame.
The film is historically correct on the props and scenery, showing New York in a good way. There was a small bit of CGI added, but I could not really tell. Spacey and Hoult do great work, with Spacey as a former college instructor of Salinger who turns more into a mentor and Hoult as a recluse who would become to hate the spotlight. I do have to give a shout out to Garber, who plays his father (who would never allow Salinger to see any of his pride in him at all) and a man who really shaped the man that Salinger would become. There are a lot of supporting roles in this film, such as Paulsen and Deutch’s characters, who compliment the film well.
When it comes to the plot, I thought the film flows well for about an hour and 45 minutes long. This film shows Salinger as a person who goes through the hell of being a soldier on D-Day and dealing with the PTSD to how certain people and events shape his life. After seeing this film, I could see why he was a recluse, and even though I may not understand his mind, I got a clue on why the way he was the way he was in life and his personality. It does not put the pity on him, but it also shows on how he can basically be a jerk to some important people in his life. After seeing this film, I definitely have more of an understanding on the reclusive author. I do like this film and will recommend it as an afternoon or twilight in theaters.