On the Road may get all the attention but Big Sur, in my opinion, is the best book that Jack Kerouac ever wrote.  Telling the story of Kerouac’s attempt to deal with both sudden fame and his growing alcoholism, Big Sur is a meditation on existence that somehow manages to make even the contemplation of self-destruction seem life-affirming.

As for the upcoming film version of Big Sur, I can’t say that I’m hopeful.  As last year’s film adaptation of On The Road demonstrated, Kerouac’s books have rarely gotten the film treatments that they deserve.

However, judging from the trailer below, the film adaptation of Big Sur does get at least one thing right.

Jean-Marc Barr appears to be perfectly cast as Jack.