"Rebel in the Rye" Why JD Salinger Remains an Intriguing Literary Legend-Kevin Spacey & Nicholas Holt Star

"Rebel in the Rye" is a biopic movie about JD Salinger's life & the germination & tribulations connected to his masterpiece "Catcher in the Rye."  The movie doesn't belabor the tedium of writer's blocks or idiosyncrasies.  It's a fascinating depiction of J.D. Salinger's (JD) life beginning in 1939; a time when he was at odds with himself & uncertain of how to become a professional writer. Becoming a writer was the one thing he was certain he wanted to do with his life although unsure how to hone his talent or if he possessed the talent to have his work published.  The dashing & sarcastic JD (a magnetic Nicholas Holt, "X-Men Series") is newly enrolled in a creative writing class at Columbia taught by Prof. Burnett (Kevin Spacey in another Oscar worthy performance).  The banter between the upstart student & his sagacious mentor is salty & irreverent.  Burnett is a prof. & publisher with the genius to uncover & propel great writers but lacks his own literary talent.  He  provides a steadfast balance to Salinger's well being & volatile temperament.  There's plenty of factual material in Salinger's life that would seem fictitious.  JD enlists in WWII and is among the troops that landed on D-Day in Normandy.  JD continued working on his novel during the war.  The movie doesn't dwell over the atrocities of war, yet its harrowing scenes of recruits' apprehensions & the liberation of camp survivors are indelible.  JD's is humiliated by the termination of his torrid love affair with Oona O'Neill, Eugene O'Neill's daughter, while serving in the war.  Her marriage to the much older, world renown Charlie Chaplin made major headlines.  Post WWII, JD spends time in a psych ward dealing with PTS.  Smatterings of Holden Caulfield can be garnered from JD's life.  But it's the powerful storytelling & clairvoyant voice of its star, Nicholas Holt, the keeps us glued to the screen.  The trappings of society prove too distracting for JD to pursue his art & his self-imposed ostracism is somewhat understandable.  Holden Caulfield was a fictional character that tapped into many people's pain.  This thoughtful and beautifully shot film gives us a glimpse into the mind of a genius; its relentless drive shooting for perfection.  The film poses the question does the compulsion to create a masterpiece destroy the heart required for normalcy?  The terrific supporting cast includes Hope Davis & Victor Garner as his parents and Sarah Paulson as his stalwart & supportive publisher.  JD Salinger is arguable one of the most influential writers of the 20th C.  Danny Strong is the dir/screenwriter/producer of "Rebel in the Rye" based on Kenneth Slawenski's biography "JD Salinger, a Life."  I was enraptured by this graceful film about this groundbreaking writer who led a fascinating life & became a notorious recluse.