Starring James Franco (127 Hours); Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and David Strathairn (Good Night & Good Luck) this is the story of a young rebel and chronicler of the Beat Generation Allen Ginsberg and his work that started a revolution.
James Franco gives an uncanny performance as Ginsberg being interviewed about the Beat Movement. Elsewhere in San Francisco, his poem Howl is on trial for being obscene. Prosecutor Ralph McIntosh (David Strathairn) sets out to prove that the book should be banned, while suave defense attorney Jake Ehrlich (Jon Hamm) argues fervently for freedom of speech and creative expression. The proceedings veer from the comically absurd to the passionate as a host of unusual witnesses (Jeff Daniels, Mary-Louise Parker, Treat Williams, Alesssandro Nivola) pit generation against generation and art against fear in front of conservative Judge Clayton Horn (Bob Balaban).