I love a good book and for me – JD Salinger has always been an author that I admire and love. He’s also been someone that I admire. So the excitement for Rebel in the Rye was real.
This biopic of legendary author J.D. Salinger (Nicholas Hoult) details his relationship with socialite Oona O’Neill (Zoey Deutch), his experiences fighting in World War II, and his writing process for The Catcher in the Rye. Kevin Spacey and Sarah Paulson co-star. Written and directed by Danny Strong, Rebel in the Rye made its world premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
We’re breaking down for you why we enjoyed Rebel in the Rye.
The Writing
We love a well written movie and Rebel in the Rye is just that. Danny Strong wrote a movie that felt like you were living right along side Salinger. You suddenly felt like he was relatable, as if he was real. I think that sometimes we miss the moments that make people real to us – that we think we know the people we admire, but we’re missing a little part. For me, Rebel in the Rye felt like I was not watching a movie, but living inside Salinger’s head.
Traveling Through History
For me one of the greatest things about a movie is an authentic feel. Sometimes when things are out of wack, when they don’t feel like they make sense, when it feels poorly done – it is really bad. I can’t get into it. But for me, Rebel in the Rye, felt as though it was really a look back in time. I wanted to pay attention to every detail. I wanted to see the costumes, the scenery, the music – everything. Rebel in the Rye felt like it was taking it’s time and made sure that everything was right. That was refreshing.
Seeing Inspiration Come To Life
When we think about writers or any artists really, a lot of times we don’t think about the reasons that they wrote something. At least I don’t. I think about Stephenie Meyer and Twilight being a dream, sure. But it never really occurs to me that a lot of what is written is based off someones real life (even though I am a writer). So it’s neat to see inspiration come to life. It’s great to understand.
Understanding More About The Man Behind The Book
I think – at least for me – I always want to know more about the authors of some of my favorite books. I want to understand the author because I know that something made them the way that they are. So for me, getting so see Salinger’s history, the reasons that he felt the way he did, acted the way he did, and so much more made me have a deeper appreciation for the man behind the books.
The Cinematography
One can not deny that this movie was beautifully shot. Everything was lit well. You felt like you were traveling back in time with every moment. There is so much love for the way that this movie was shot. We don’t see such care taken all the time. Some movies you see every flaw, but I didn’t in Rebel in the Rye. I saw its greatness.
Rebel in the Rye is in theaters now.
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