Texas, 1933. School teacher and aspiring writer Novalyne Price meets pulp fiction writer Robert E. Howard, and while they come from different backgrounds and have different outlooks, they fall in love, though their connection never comes to fruition.
The take
There are people in life that have a one of a kind voice that you can’t help but listen to, as they provide different perspectives that challenge your own in compelling ways. The Whole Wide World tries to capture the fairly elusive pulp fiction writer Robert E. Howard, but through the perspective of the one love he once had, Novalyne Price. It’s a unique perspective, one that contrasts the choices the real life couple made that diverged their paths– pursuing the road less travelled over what’s socially expected– and director Dan Ireland crafts some pulp-like moments, especially with the rousing score and the excellent performances. That being said, Ireland does play it safe with his debut, as The Whole Wide World leaves things as vague as Howard did in his relationship with Price.
What stands out
The way Howard is characterized. When watching a biopic like this, usually I get out with respect and appreciation for the person in question, gaining a new understanding of them, but with this film… I can’t say I understand Howard. It doesn’t make it less compelling, but it’s incredibly frustrating.
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