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Salinger

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Salinger

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Summary

An unprecedented look inside the private world of J.D. Salinger, the reclusive author of The Catcher in the Rye.

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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

John Ferguson

As JD Salinger was among the most reclusive authors of modern times, it's not surprising to discover that this documentary is pretty much reliant on third parties and scratchy archive footage. Nevertheless, director Shane Salerno - better known for his screenplays for films such as Armageddon (1998) and Savages (2012) - delivers a thoughtful portrait of a troubled genius. Although clearly a fan himself, Salerno doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of Salinger's personality such as his obsessions with adolescent women, his treatment of his wives and children, and the influence of his most famous book, The Catcher in the Rye, on killers such as Mark Chapman. While there are contributions from celebrity fans such as Philip Seymour Hoffman, Edward Norton and Judd Apatow, Salerno also gives plenty of screen time to novelists such as Gore Vidal and EL Doctorow, along with family, friends and academics. Ultimately, the film never really gets to the bottom of why Salinger spent almost half of his adult life living in secrecy, but it still makes for a useful primer to one of the 20th century's most fascinating literary figures.

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6.7/10

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rolenameDirectorShane Salerno

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