There are two Thomas Wolfe's in American literature. The first is known best as the author of "You Can't Go Home Again", in my view the Great American novel. But this film is about the other Wolfe, known as Tom. The two were not related, that they had the same name was a coincidence. While Thomas wrote serious literary prose, Tom's prose was less inhibited, partly because of his friendship with Hunter Thompson. On the other hand, Thomas' life was an alcoholic mess while Tom was very buttoned down in his famous white suits. They both came from the south and had Ivy league educations and were influenced by James Joyce.
It is sad, to me, that this film did do justice to Tom or his writing. The writers of this film wanted to make Tom into a conservative writer such as William F Buckley, Jr. It is true that Tom was no liberal, but he was more of an impartial observer, and while he poked fun of liberals it was not malicious like many on the right. For instance when he wrote about drug culture in "The Electric Kool Aid AcidTest" he tried out LSD himself to understand it. Unlike this biography, he had a good sense of humor.
This biography had lots of interviews of people who knew Tom or his work and lots of film clips of Tom himself. But it had no life. Tom had a life and he deserved better.
It is sad, to me, that this film did do justice to Tom or his writing. The writers of this film wanted to make Tom into a conservative writer such as William F Buckley, Jr. It is true that Tom was no liberal, but he was more of an impartial observer, and while he poked fun of liberals it was not malicious like many on the right. For instance when he wrote about drug culture in "The Electric Kool Aid AcidTest" he tried out LSD himself to understand it. Unlike this biography, he had a good sense of humor.
This biography had lots of interviews of people who knew Tom or his work and lots of film clips of Tom himself. But it had no life. Tom had a life and he deserved better.