Gregory Smith / IFC Films
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There’s a new trailer out for On The Road, the critically acclaimed film that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this year. We’ve seen a few clips from the film, but today we get the first look at the British trailer for the movie starring Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, and Kristen Stewart.

Jack Kerouac’s 20th century coming of age novel has finally been made into a movie, but is it too late? This trailer gives us a great overview of the plot with narration by the main character, Sal (Sam Riley). We definitely get more of a behind-the-scenes what’s in his head point of view rather than fast-paced action scenes (although there are a few). Based on what we’ve seen so far, it looks like director Walter Salles has done a great job in keeping with the spirit in which Kerouac penned the novel. But the question still remains … can the film make it here in the U.S. International screenings thus far have been mediocre at best.
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Big name stars like Garrrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) and Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Saga) are sure to help the film’s pull in the U.S., but will it be enough? It’s also interesting to note that Francis Ford Coppola is listed as one of the film’s executive producers, presumably since he bought the film rights to the novel over 30 years ago.
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While the film’s theme is universal enough, the setting and ultimate story line brings to life imagery of days gone by and a roaming lifestyle that is pretty much extinct today. It’s definitely in a league by itself, standing out from iconic youth angst movies such as The Breakfast Club, Kicking and Screaming, and Empire Records. Check out the trailer below, along with the official synopsis, and let us know what you think.
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On The Road is set to open in North America on December 21st, 2012.
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Official Synopsis: Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Walter Salles and based on the iconic novel by Jack Kerouac, “On The Road” tells the provocative story of Sal Paradise (Sam Riley), a young writer whose life is shaken and ultimately redefined by the arrival of Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund), a free-spirited, fearless, fast talking Westerner and his girl, Marylou (Kristen Stewart).
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Traveling cross-country, Sal and Dean venture out on a personal quest for freedom from the conformity and conservatism engulfing them in search of the unknown, themselves, and the pursuit of “it” — the pure essence of experience.
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Seeking unchartered terrain and the last American frontier, the duo encounter an eclectic mix of men and women — Bull (Viggo Mortensen), Camille (Kirsten Dunst), Carlo (Tom Sturridge), Jane (Amy Adams), Terry (Alice Braga), Galatéa (Elisabeth Moss) – each impacting their journey indelibly.