Early leaves from the diary of Neal Cassady, golden idol of the Beat Generation. At 19, in a dead end job and on the rebound from 'Cherry Mary', Neal (Thomas Jane) falls for Joan (Claire Forlani). A manic depressive, she soon attempts suicide and Neal resumes hanging out in the pool hall with his older pal Harry (Keanu Reeves). Both Joan and Mary are to figure again in Neal's world - in one life-forming night. Reeves is just fine here as the ageing, boozy friend. The James Dean-like Jane is also good, but the downbeat nature of the project seeps into the film's bones. The soft dialogue, leisurely pace and jazzy score may have you drifting before things pick up towards the end. As teen-rebel movies go, though, it's not at all bad.


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