01.25.08
Review: “Into The Wild”
Based on Jon Krakauer’s 1996 Best Seller, “Into The Wild” is a challenging but ultimately rewarding look at the life and aspirations of the young Christopher McCandless. The story is true and the premise is not an original or groundbreaking one, but it sure hits home.
Chris McCandless graduates from Emory University, donates all his life savings to Oxfam and makes the decision to answer the call of the wild and embark on his great Alaskan adventure. He decides to let go of all the material things and ideas that hold him back and just live. I can understand his plight that life is more than a bank balance or pay check and that life is more than simply the things you own. Life is what you make of it.
This decision has consequences. He has a family and they have expectations. His actions are selfish and cruel, but for how long can we put the needs and comfort of others in front of our own? He does what he needs to do live his life – he is a hero in my books. Not everyone feels that way towards him. His decision is a little stupid or at the most, not very well thought out or planned, but it is admirable.
One problem lies in the fact that he has no experience in the wild. How does one learn to live off a place they no nothing about? They answer is resourcefulness. McCandless tries to deal with all this at the same time as he is attempting to get over the comfort of home. Nobody said it would be easy. He leaves behind his mother, father and sister (played by Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt and Jena Malone respectively) when he leaves embarks on his journey, I believe selfishly so. Without a word he just disappears and cuts off all contact they have with him. McCandless never had a great relationship with his parents to begin with – blame it on the expectations – nor did his parents have a great relationship with each other, and throughout the film his sister tells us of their parent’s abusive relationship with each other and their kids. It is more emotional abuse than physical, but abuse is abuse is abuse. This would make his actions at least partly justifiable in my opinion. His father even abandoned a son he had in a previous relationship, and this fuels McCandless to abandon his father in return. He even gives himself a new alias, Alexander Supertramp.
More than anything, McCandless just wanted more from life, more than what he was getting anyway. He leaves behind what holds him back and searches for something extra. One has to wonder if he found it all worth it in the end.
Now what Penn has done is interesting. He never once preaches about McCandless or justifies his actions but tells the truth in a way that we, the viewers, can make up the assumptions and opinions of him ourselves. This was a gift we did not have to be given and for that, I am grateful. Well could have been spoon-fed all the ideas we had to create on our own.
Emile Hirsch takes on a risky role and produces a fine interpretation. He could have portrayed the man as too caught up on his own profoundness but gives him a sense of ideals that are almost humble. As good as he is, the film is elevated by the amazing supporting players, most notably Hal Holbrook as the old man who has given up hope and living, in that order, and Catherine Keener as the hippie mother who has lost contact with her own son. Keener’s character tries to persuade Chris to recreate a connection with his mother and tries to let him know that what he is doing is probably very hard on his parents, which we know to be true. Holbrook is like the friend and father Chris never had and they touched each others lives more than we know. Kristen Stewart is heartbreaking as the young girl who falls in love with Chris and Vince Vaughn as the man who hires Chris to do odd jobs for him is a different kind of funny in this film, rather refreshing to see him challenge himself. Whenever he parts (read: abandons) from these characters, we cannot help but feel sad, like a chapter in a great novel has ended but we know there will be more to come. They all make obvious impacts that are tough to shake off. Each scene where Emile is paired with one of the supporting actors/actresses is magical. This is not to say that when Emile is onscreen by himself that he does not nail his role too, because he does.
I think that the world needs more people like McCandless and more films like Into The Wild. They enable us to see what we are missing in life by settling for what life hands us and not fighting hard enough for what we deserve in life. Being contempt is one thing, but settling for second best should be a crime. Why live life when you do not live it to the full? These are just some of the ideals I felt and questions I asked of myself when watching the film. Any film that makes me want to question my own existence is great by my standards. “When you want something in life, reach out and grab it”.
Fatac Rating: *****
Into the Wild. Adapted and directed by Sean Penn. Edited by Jay Cassidy. Cinematography by Eric Gautier. Music by Eddie Vedder. Starring: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Catherine Keener, Brian Dierker, Hal Holbrook, Kristen Stewart and Vince Vaughn. Running Time: 147 mins. USA 2007. Rating out of five stars.
Craig Kennedy said,
January 28, 2008 at 5:24 pm
“He never once preaches about McCandless or justifies his actions but tells the truth in a way that we, the viewers, can make up the assumptions and opinions of him ourselves.”
This was really important for the movie, especially for someone like Sean Penn who isn’t exactly known for subtlety and restraint. If he’d hit us over the head with a message it would’ve ruined it, but he left it for us to explore and interpret and discover for ourselves.
And he didn’t shy away from showing the pain Chris’s actions caused others. He didn’t make him out to be a saint.
A fascinating, inspiring movie that sticks with you for a long time.
Nice review.
Nick Plowman said,
January 28, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Thanks Craig :)
I think it was a fine film, Sean Penn has made me proud, once again.
Cinematically-Correct.com said,
January 28, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Good review! I have yet to see this one. It’s good to know that there isn’t an agenda being pushed here. As Craig said above, Penn doesn’t exactly pull on the reins that much.
Nick Plowman said,
January 28, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Thanks for the visit!!
I’m glad you like the review, I think you should see it, I would love to hear your thoughts on it as well.
It is one of my favs of 2007.
Daniel said,
January 30, 2008 at 4:44 am
“more films like Into The Wild.”
I never really thought about that. It’s true, we could use more of these and fewer Rambos.
But then, it’s more the story, not the movie, right? Like we could use more people like Chris McCandless, as you say. But that’s where I’m unsure. He’s an inspiring spirit, but he just seemed so irresponsible in so much of what he was doing. You just want to slap him. Like when he killed the bear – aargh! What was he thinking? I read the book about 10 years ago and I don’t remember feeling that way. Anyway, I’m not making any sense. I guess you just reminded me that this is story is living, breathing, and true.
Nick Plowman said,
January 30, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Lol :) I cannot believe Rambo would even be made, why?
I wish films that could open our eyes enough to make us want to live life to the fullest but not making it out to be a completely great thing by keeping us aware of the negative implications as well, would be made more often, and it is people like McCandless that can inspire people to aspire for the forgotten things in life today. It is all a matter of opinion though, and I respect yours, and wonder if I am perhaps on my own planet in terms of what I took away from the film.
I guess what you are saying is true, but I could identify with Chris, maybe not to the extreme, I know I want more from life and am pretty irresponsible from time to time. If it means getting to where I want to be in life, sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Into The Wild gave us both the up and downside of getting what you want out of life, so it could be seen as a cautionary tale, at least it was for. There were times when I could have slapped Chris too, but he wouldn’t be the first me I felt that way. You make perfect sense and your opinion just happens to be little different from mine, which is no problem at all.
Thanks for the visit Dan!
Craig Kennedy said,
January 31, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I had some of the same issues that Daniel had…the irresponsibility and the selfishness of McCandless is hard to get over, but at the same time it’s easy to admire his passion and his idealism.
It’s not that we should all abandon our families and jobs to run off to Alaska, but I think we could all use a little bit of that spirit of adventure. A little of that sense that there has to be more to life than what we’re getting out of it.
This aspect is very inspirational to me.
Nick Plowman said,
February 6, 2008 at 5:11 pm
For me as well, and I wonder what anyone of us could accompish in life if we had a little bit more of that spirit. I sure as hell wish I could get more out of life.
Mike M said,
March 20, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Wow what a breathtaking film, makes me want to let my spirit run free and go do something adventurous. Scenery was awesome, I like the bus that was a nice touch. the film gave me a warm fuzzy feeling long after it had finished. ****1/2
Nick Plowman said,
March 21, 2008 at 7:59 am
Another film I would love to discuss deeper Mike. It was nice
Daniel said,
May 15, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I was just listening to the soundtrack for this and remembered your enthusiasm about it. Plus Emile Hirsch was just in Speed Racer. I wish I could have seen it again on the big screen.
Daniel said,
May 15, 2008 at 6:15 pm
And by “it” I meant Into the Wild.
Nick Plowman said,
May 15, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I have not listened to the soundtrack in ages, but it is really amazing stuff. I still don’t even have it on DVD, which sucks because I really loved the film.
I would have loved to have seen it again on the big screen, it played for a week or two, maybe three, and then vanished. Which sucked.
And I cannot wait to see Speed Racer, dammit.
J.D. said,
May 15, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I just… I just… can’t love it. And I’m actually trying, because you do! But I can’t. It’s just SO up it’s own ass. :(
Nick Plowman said,
May 15, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Well, I just did not see it that way {in its entirety, some of it was, but I looked past it, I always seem to find a way to ignore the bad in film, to a certain extent}.
I am cool with you not liking it though.
J.D. said,
May 15, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Oh, don’t get me wrong, I liked it – it surprised me, in fact, because I was expecting to hate it… but the ensemble, it’s saving grace, is so incredible that I couldn’t. Hell, I think even Hirsch was pretty good!
But I really hate the way Penn made it. It’s just sooooo irritating, and kinda retarded.
But I’m cool with you loving it though. ;)
Nick Plowman said,
May 15, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Well, I am glad to know that you did not HATE it.