Rebel In The Rye

J.D. Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" is one of the defining books of the 20th century and was almost in a category by itself when it was published in the early '50s (and has remained so ever since). Salinger acknowledged that his lead character, Holden Caulfield, was autobiographical. Holden seemed to echo the troubles, alienation, and, not insignificantly, the sexual confusion of both straight and gay youth. Hollywood wanted to get their hands on the book but Salinger refused, wisely predicting that the book would be ruined in a screen adaptation.

These many years later, Danny Strong (co-creator of "Empire") has written and directed "Rebel in the Rye," his first film. It is a thoughtful and sensitive portrait of the enigmatic Salinger in his creative struggles, his successes and failures as a writer, and his personal life.

Strong is the award-winning writer of "The Butler," and he put up the money to secure the rights to Kenneth Slawenski's biography "J.D. Salinger: A Life." He cast Nicholas Hoult, of "X-Men" fame (who gay fans will remember as the student boyfriend opposite Colin Firth in Tom Ford's film "A Single Man"). Hoult gives a magnetic performance that captures Salinger's introspective and cocky nature. Strong evokes the literary glamour of post WWII New York, the nexus for a new generation of star writers.

The film picks up Salinger's story as a rebellious young would-be rebel bouncing from one college to the next, disinterested in everything except his own writing. He finally ends up, however reluctantly, in a creative writing class run by Whit Burnett (Kevin Spacey), editor of "Story Magazine," who coaxes Salinger under his wing for a time.

Meanwhile, Salinger meets the toast of New York caf� society, Oona O'Neill (Zoey Deutch), daughter of playwright Eugene, who will only deign to dance with him after he is published. He is, and they do. But WWII intervenes and Salinger is billeted at the front in France, where he sees Oona on the front page of a newspaper announcing her wedding to Charlie Chaplin.

He almost dies in the trenches of Normandy and finds himself in Germany when U.S, troops liberate the camps. Salinger sees atrocities on the battlefield and in the Nazi camps, and after the war, he has a complete breakdown and suffers PTSD.

After he returns from the war to his family, Salinger unsuccessfully tries to put his life back together and cope with complete writer's block. His life spins out of control, and when he is brutally assaulted by two muggers in Central Park he seeks out spiritual guidance at a Hindu temple where Swami (Bernard White) asks him, "Do you write to show off your talent? Or express what is in your heart?" Salinger not only gets his creative drive back, he writes a masterpiece titled "Catcher in the Rye."

Salinger soon hated the celebrity spotlight and was horrified at what a cultural flashpoint the book has become. Fans start to stalk him, so obsessed with Holden that they dressed like the character and showed up at Salinger's house, even after he purchased a remote farm in Connecticut where he lived, remaining a virtual recluse for the rest of his life.

The cinematography by Kramer Morgenthau warm cinematography
creates a stylish visual language is first-rate, especially in tandem with the period art direction by Dina Goldman, from the warm interiors at Columbia to the chic atmospherics of the Stork Club and earthiness of Greenwich Village cafes.

Kevin Spacey doesn't quite pull off a convincing Whit Burnett, but the role, as written (or edited) is rather sketchy anyway. Victor Garber does a great job as Salinger's self-absorbed dad and Dorothy Olding is pitch perfect as Salinger's savvy and sensitive literary agent.