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The Source

1999·Movie
1h 28min
63
DecentGoodWatch score

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The Source fingerprint

Low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension3
  • Fast Pace3
  • Spectacle3

Heart

Nostalgic and melancholic

  • Nostalgia9
  • Melancholy8
  • Pathos7

Humor

Some sharp wit and satire

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay7
  • Satire & Parody6
  • Absurdist Humor4

World

A real life story, history, and show business

  • Dialogue Centrality10
  • World Immersion7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout dialogue and characters

  • Dialogue Quality9
  • Character Depth8
  • Acting7

Style

Standout score

  • Music Composition8
  • Music Centrality8
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Traces the Beats from Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac's meeting in 1944 at Columbia University to the deaths of Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs in 1997. Three actors provide dramatic interpretations of the work of these three writers, and the film chronicles their friendships, their arrival into American consciousness, their travels, frequent parodies, Kerouac's death, and Ginsberg's politicization. Their movement connects with bebop, John Cage's music, abstract expressionism, and living theater. In recent interviews, Ginsberg, Burroughs, Kesey, Ferlinghetti, Mailer, Jerry Garcia, Tom Hayden, Gary Snyder, Ed Sanders, and others measure the Beats' meaning and impact.
Beat Generation DocumentaryLiterary HistoryPoetry PerformanceCultural RevolutionBebop & Jazz InfluenceCounter-Culture IconographyIntellectual BiographyNostalgic AmericanaAvant-Garde ArtsSpiritual Quest

Crew

Directed by:
Written by:

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Source

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Source legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Hoopla. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Source worth watching?

63
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 63/100 (IMDb 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes 88%, and Metacritic 66). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Source rated?

Drug useStrong languageNuditySexual content

Content advisories: drug use, strong language, nudity, and sexual content.

How long is The Source?

1 h 28 min

The Source runs 1 h 28 min.

Is The Source based on a true story?

Yes. It's based on real events or a real person's life.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Source?

Critics77
Audiences70

Yes. Critics average 77 and audiences 70 out of 100, so both groups see The Source much the same way.

What language is The Source in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Source?

4CAGBGGUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Source in 4 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.