Daniel Radcliffe’s visage may forever recall Harry Potter, but he shines as Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings. The film depicts the birth of the Beat literary movement at Columbia University, where Ginsberg forges friendships with young radicals Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs and Lucien Carr. The latter, a handsome troublemaker who is stalked by an obsessive former professor, finally seeks violent retribution in a stunning climactic scene. The well-balanced performances highlight the characters’ quirks without turning them into caricatures, and Radcliffe’s portrayal of Ginsberg, a sensitive poet exploring his sexuality, is especially strong. The plot progresses a little slowly, but the pacing gives the story room to breathe.
Should You See It? Yes. — R.K.
Viewed at Tivoli Theatre