Into the Wild | Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden

Into the Wild | Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden | Free at Last

DVDs:

Into the Wild

	Into the Wild Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden Paramount, 2008 average customer review:based on 231 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

This is the true story of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch). Freshly graduated from college with a promising future ahead McCandless instead walked out of his privileged life and into the wild in search of adventure. What happened to him on the way transformed this young wanderer into an enduring symbol for countless people -- a fearless risk-taker who wrestled with the precarious balance between man and nature.System Requirements:Running Time: 148 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/COMING OF AGE Rating: R UPC: 097363481249 Manufacturer No: 348124

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One of the best of 2007

I knew nothing of Christopher McCandless or the book of his life or even anything about this movie until I was sitting in the cinema. The only thing I knew is that Sean Penn was directing and having been very impressed with his gut-wrenching, if incredibly downbeat, The Pledge I was pretty much guaranteed to like this film. My guess turned out to be extremely correct.

Alexander Supertramp (that's Emile Hirsch as McCandless folks) is a man with no attachments. Having been raised in a loveless household by parents who only wish for him to 'or-din-ary' things he entertains them as far as graduating college but escapes to the country as soon as the diploma is in his hands.

His dream is to explore the land with no ID, no money and no chance of being found by those who might want to interfere with his mission of reaching peaceful seclusion in a remote corner of Alaska. Along the way he touches many lives, some brief, some profound and gains experience and character that some might never have even if they lived to a hundred.

Sean Penn's photography and affection for nature give this film an overall gorgeous look. It is surely one of the most uniquely composed films of the year. He reminds me a lot of Clint Eastwood as an actor who can also direct fine movies and encourage impressive performances out of his cast. Pretty much everybody here is on top form, even Vince Vaughn manages to shake off the taint of those tawdry 'frat pack' comedies and play a genuine character for once.

But Hal Holbrook as old Ron Franz really is a standout. I've never seen a more heartfelt or touching performance in so long. It's a real shame he was conned out of the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. I think it's great that Sean Penn brought Holbrook (now 82) back for such an important and thought-provoking role. If you don't shed a tear for him then you have no soul.

Don't con yourself out of a good movie. It may have a limited release but Into the Wild is a film worth taking time out to see. Since I live in the UK, the story of Christopher McCandless (which appears to be some sort of true urban legend in America) is not well known here. I guess that having no expectations of the film made me enjoy it on the right level.

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Free at Last

What i Got out of this movie was simply that this young man lacked nothing materially, but was starved for a relationship with his dad and mom, and had the father wound so common for american young men... having grown up with hard working dads who come home at night spent, and who spend lots of time assembling their portfolios and place their security in how much money they have and what status level they are at, how many toys they have..ect ect.. this young man had probably been told most of his life what to do, how to do it, and this is what success is blah blah... you must look like this, act like this, go here and do this and he was damn tired of it, and wanted to find out who he really was, and if it was impossible to find himself in the presence of his family then he had to get away, and if they had any knowledge of where he was they would probably be sending him money, instruction and advice, and trying to tell him every move to make... so he broke away... and by degrees he grew up and began to see what was really important in life and to find the healing he didnt even realize he needed... the fact that he made mistakes and died as a result does not take away from the movie at all. to me the movie was a true story of the journey we are all on, and the goal is not to die with the most toys or to be a big shot know it all, but to live well and to learn that we all make mistakes and need to learn to forgive and grow and love and to " Call Things by their Right Name" and in this regard i think this young man was a success.

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Moving and Inspiring

Just finished watching this film for the 2nd time. Cried like a baby both times. Between the direction, and Hirsch's, Keener's, Vaughn's (whom I usually can't stand) and (in my opinion) most notably Holbrook's performances, this has become one of my favorite films of the year. I know Holbrook's part was small, but he was amazing, and I really feel that he should have won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Anyway, the scene with him and Hirsch in Ron's jeep is heartbreaking. When he asks Alex to let him adopt him, then realizing that he will never see Alex again, very sad. Kudos to Penn for his direction and screenplay.

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Theories and conjecture

I'm not going to theorize about why CM did what he did. I have no idea. I'm not privy to his mind and thus I have no way of knowing why he chose to do what he did. However, I will say this, I cannot, under any circumstances, fathom having the guts to walk into the wild and make a go of it. I can imagine it all day long but I doubt I could actually do it.

The movie is intense and amazing. It tells a wonderfully tragic story.

I'm incredibly tired of reading reviews of people bashing this man for his "ignorance". Of course he was. We all are. But what makes him unique is that he tried. He took a gamble and it didn't pay off as most people would hope. He still tried. So to all of the wonderful experts on survivalism and backcountry living.... take note... The Man was searching for something. We'll never know if he found it. Ultimately, something found him. Call it a wasted life but it wasn't your's to waste. It was his.

That being said... it is a very good Movie. Regardless of the assumed reasons for any of it.

Try to watch it.

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