Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Kill Your Darlings Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 18, 2014

Academics isn't always about rote memorization. An education isn't just about knowing the how's, when's, or even why's. Certainly, a basic, classical education rooted in the fundamentals of language and literature, mathematics and science, and history and religion are invaluable for the forward journey (and rear-view mirror study) through life, but at the same time self-discovery and a broader view of the world, the way things work, and the way one believes they ought to work are just as important in the pursuit of not only life, liberty, and happiness but also in the process of discovering one's place in the world. Kill Your Darlings tells the story of a college freshman thrust into a mysterious world of nonconformity, a world towards which he has an aspiration to explore but never the proper external force to direct him to the sort of mental freedom he deeply craves. The film starts strong but grows significantly bolder and darker as it moves along, its edge becoming perhaps a little too sharp, but it's nonetheless a fascinating journey into shadowy territory and the birth of several literary rebels.

Friends...and more.

Allen Ginsberg escapes unease at home when he's admitted to the prestigious Columbia University. There, the bookworm speaks openly, but somewhat shyly, for his love of Walt Whitman's poetry, pushing against the accepted grain and catching the attention of the more openly rebellious and troubled student Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan). Lucien takes Allen under his wing, pushing him into exploring the world beyond the university's stuffy academic standards and practices and discover his own inner voice. Carr's uneasy relationship with David Kammerer (Michael C. Hall), a man with whom Carr shares secretive past, becomes a key focus in both students' lives. As the young men explore the underworld around them, they begin to travel down a darker path that will potentially prevent their return to the status quo.

Kill Your Darlings explores a large number of themes, themes of rebellion, nonconformity, homosexuality, the power of words, the influence of mind-altering substances, obsession, and murder. Generally, the film juggles its myriad of dramatic angles very well, even as it releases some of its earlier, and more interesting, subjects in favor of pushing forward with the darker elements that give name to the film and purpose to the build-up and character transformations. The film is at its best in its first half, as Allen finds in Lucien an opening to a world on which he's flirted with its periphery -- he admires Walt Whitman, for example, because of his structurally rebellious writings -- but never found the courage and confidence to explore head-on. In the film's first half, Allen comes to learn the importance of finding oneself rather than simply finding others, as his English professor teaches. In class, he's taught the value of the status quo. Outside of class, he's taught to grasp his inner rebel and break away from the conformity that defines the world around him. Ralph Waldo Emerson, writing on conformity and nonconformity, warns of the dangers of too much nonconformity, ultimately itself becoming a conformist world viewpoint. That's the fine line Allen is tasked with walking as he trends away from the system but is threatened by a full-on push to totally reject the world around him and, in essence, conforming to a nonconformist approach to life.

The film moves on from there to explore the dangers of total disconnect but also champion one's freedom to find personal satisfaction and even critical success as part of a breakaway movement, here as part of the "Beat Generation," a collection of writers that ignored standard styles in their writings and allowed outside influences -- drugs, sexual experimentation -- to further give a novel bend to their works. As the film progresses, it exposes the sordid truths behind Lucien's and David's relationship while Allen's and Lucien's bonding in the ways of nonconformity and rebellion grow stronger but experience strain. Much of the drama comes from the clashing of cultures and ideas. The film is set at the height of World War II -- one of the characters has a brother on the front-lines at Anzio -- at time in which the mere utterance of a slang term for the male sexual organ in the library was enough to warrant a call to the police, never mind public displays of restricted or other materials deemed distasteful for the time. In essence, the film plays like a precursor to the counterculture movement in the 1960s as told through the prism of academics who used the established system as something of a negative template for their way of thinking, writing, and living.

Kill Your Darlings takes on something of a slightly cold, muted tone that accentuates the rebellious nature and darker dealings that shape the story. It's nicely directed and photographed, taking a rather low-key approach that emphasizes characterization and plot construction rather than snazzy trickery meant to distract the audience from the core story themes. While the film would benefit from an expanded runtime to more fully explore the fascinating avenues it opens, it's nevertheless a rather tight, intoxicating journey as presently constructed. It's well acted all around. Daniel Radcliffe gives his most daring and mature performance of his career, not quite escaping the Harry Potter look -- the glasses and wardrobe don't help -- but breaking far, far away from that world in terms of adult-centered dramatic exploration and risk taking. Dane DeHaan is terrific as Allen's influence Lucien, an influence for better or for worse. The slow progression into chaos and the gradual construction of his dark past give the actor plenty of room to construct the character through subtleties and broad strokes alike, which he masters in every scene. Michael C. Hall is also wonderful as Lucien's somewhat mysterious older companion.

Kill Your Darlings Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Kill Your Darlings enjoys a typically excellent Sony Blu-ray transfer. The picture features a classically filmic appearance, a hair soft in a few spots and around a couple of edges but lightly grainy and beautifully so. Details are commandingly even and precise. Period clothing textures stand out nicely and complexly, particularly sweaters and heavy sport jackets. Facial details are even and natural, while structural backgrounds around Columbia and outside of its boundaries in New York City are pristine. The color palette never finds much brilliance. The picture offers a subdued selection of colors, colors that are consistently accurate but not afforded the sort of bright, cheery surroundings to help accentuate their vitality. Still, neckties, dresses, in-school accents, and other objects display the film's palette as it was intended. Black levels are sufficiently deep and accurate, while flesh tones never stray very far from natural, reflecting the picture's own color scheme. The image suffers from no distracting wear or digital anomalies. All in all, a brilliant transfer from Sony.

Kill Your Darlings Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Kill Your Darlings arrives on Blu-ray with a Sony standard-issue DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This is a dialogue-heavy film that relies on the spoken word as the primary device to advance the story. Fortunately, it plays neatly and evenly from the center with lifelike presence and attention to detail. Musical playback satisfies, whether from lightly scratchy records, radios, or live concerts that send smooth and robust notes and crisp, accurate lyrics into the listening area. Minor ambient effects and generalized supportive sound effects enjoy natural placement, accuracy, and volume when necessary. Though not a dynamic soundtrack in the traditional sense, listeners will appreciate this track's focus and capable delivery of its key elements.

Kill Your Darlings Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Kill Your Darlings contains a quality assortment of supplements.

• Audio Commentary: Actors Daniel Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan, Co-Writer and Director John Krokidas, and Co-Writer Austin Bunn guide audiences through the film, beginning with the challenge of shooting a difficult scene on day one and moving forward to discuss the picture's life history and cinematic influences, shooting locales, themes and structure, and plenty more. It's a fun and fast yet informative and well-spoken track. Fans will definitely want to give it a listen. With optional English subtitles.
• In Conversation with Daniel Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan (HD, 6:04): The stars sit down with Moderator Jenelle Riley for an all-too-brief Q&A session. With optional English subtitles.
• Q&A with Director/Co-Writer John Krokidas and Co-Writer Austin Bunn (HD, 1:05:42): The duo field a number of questions from the comfort of home. With optional English subtitles.
• On the Red Carpet at the Toronto Film Festival (HD, 7:29): Clips from the cast and crew's appearance at the festival, followed by a few comments from John Krokidas before a screening. With optional English subtitles.
• Deleted Scenes (HD): You Gotta Love College (1:07), It's Our Bastille Boys! (1:09), Do You Even Want to Be With Me? (0:46), You Can't Run Forever (0:47), I Thee Wed (0:28), In the Trenches (1:43), and The Perfect Day (1:18). With optional English subtitles.
• Kill Your Darlings Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:03).
• Previews: Additional Sony titles.
• DVD Copy.

Kill Your Darlings Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Kill Your Darlings might have been more, and it might have proved significantly more gripping had it chosen a path and stuck with it through to the end, but as it is the film takes audiences on a fascinating journey first of academic rebellion, then personal exploration, and finally to a murky-to-dark tale of murder and secret lives. If nothing more, the film would benefit from an extended cut that more fully explores all of the paths down which it takes its audience, but the end result is nevertheless a satisfying, dramatically gripping, and mentally challenging story of rebellion and the growth of several of the more influential writers of the second half of the 20th century. It's not a perfect film, but openminded audiences will certainly find much to treasure here. Sony's Blu-ray release of Kill Your Darlings features standout video and fine audio. A fair collection of extras round out a must-own package. Recommended.