Movie Reviews for Into the Wild

Into the Wild

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Movie Reviews of Into the Wild

Movie Review: Why are you so 'Into' Into the Wild?
Summary: 5 Stars

Into the Wild has been in my friend's DVD player for about a month. She has been watching it constantly. I finally got a chance to see for myself, and found it to be a fascinating and compelling story, based on a real person, who may have been tilting at windmills like Don Quixote in his quest for freedom and survival in the extremes of wild nature, but nevertheless, touched the lives of all he encountered along the way.

Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch) has just graduated from college, with excellent grades, but instead of either graduate school or a career, he chooses instead to go into the wild. He donates his trust fund to charity, burns his money, and abandons his car. He renames himself Alexander Supertramp, and begins his quest to live up to his new name. His parents, Walt and Billie McCandless (Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt) are bewildered and hire an investigator to find him, but to no avail. His sister Carine, who also serves as an additional narrator, is hurt that he doesn't call her, either. But she offers insight into what may have driven him off, comparing him to fine crystal that nevertheless is fragile and needs protection.

Along the way he meets hippies Rainey & Jan Burres (Brian Dierker and Catherine Keener). Later, he works on a farm for Wayne Westerberg (Vince Vaughn). He also befriends lonely leather engraver Ron Franz (Hal Holbrook). He kayaks all the way to Mexico and back, rides the rails, visits Slab City in the desert, works in a fast food restaurant, always working towards his goal of surviving a harsh winter in the wilds of Alaska. He reaches Alaska and makes his final stand in an abandoned bus...

Into the Wild was directed by Sean Penn. Great job, Sean. He waited 10 years to make the film, making sure that he had the approval and support of the McCandless family. Everything was filmed on location, and Sean Penn takes full advantage with excellent cinematography. Some of the cast were the actual people from the real life story, such as Jim Gallien, who gives the wanderer boots as he goes into the wild. Brian Deirker was originally hired as a technical consultant for the river rafting, but at Emile Hirsch's suggestion, cast in the role of hippie motorhomer Rainey.

It features music composed and performed by Eddie Vedder. When Sean Penn called and asked him to do it, he agreed on the spot. I am not a fan of Pearl Jam, mainly because of Vedder's voice, which sounds phoney and cartoonish. But he has really matured, and there is just a touch of the cartoonishness in his voice to give it a bit of character and identity. The music is excellent, great acoustic guitar and the singing surprisingly good, it really adds to the film experience. Vedder does the bulk of the music, but there are also a few songs by Kaki King, some others, and of course we get to hear Roger Miller's "King of the Road," which is paraphrased and quoted in the final manifesto.

Besides the music, there are also quotes from literature on title cards between scenes, such as:

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods
(from Childe Harold, Canto iv, Verse 178)

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more,

-- Lord Byron, (George Gordon)

The cast was all really good, with the well known actors and unknowns alike seeming totally authentic. I especially liked Vince Vaughn as someone who both mocks and admires the young man's ambitions. "Can't be juggling blood and fire all the time!"

Also there is a great encounter with Ron Franz (Hal Holbrook). The lonely old man looks askance at Supertramp's vagabond lifestyle, but considers his challenge to get out of his workshop and see the world. The encounter offers director Sean Penn a great chance for his protagonist to illustrate his saga by carving his story onto a leather belt:

Ron Franz: What does the "N" stand for?
Christopher McCandless: North.
Ron Franz: [sounding surprised and frustrated] Alaska?

Once he reaches Alaska, he continues carving out his story on a board he finds in the 'Magic Bus.'

Christopher McCandless: Two years he walks the earth. No phone, no pool, no pets, no cigarettes. Ultimate freedom. An extremist. An aesthetic voyager whose home is the road. Escaped from Atlanta. Thou shalt not return, 'cause "the West is the best." And now after two rambling years comes the final and greatest adventure. The climactic battle to kill the false being within and victoriously conclude the spiritual pilgrimage. Ten days and nights of freight trains and hitchhiking bring him to the Great White North. No longer to be poisoned by civilization he flees, and walks alone upon the land to become lost in the wild. - Alexander Supertramp May 1992

10 movies that pertain to Into the Wild

Alpha Dog (Widescreen Edition) (2006) .... Johnny Truelove was played by Emile Hirsch.
Lords of Dogtown (Unrated Extended Cut) (2005) .... Jay was played by Emile Hirsch. He is the skater who stays true to the skakeboarder's credo.
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002) .... Francis Doyle was played by Emile Hirsch.
Pollock (2000) Marcia Gay Harden won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Kiss of the Spider Woman (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) - Amazon.com Exclusive (1985) .... Luis Molina was played by William Hurt, and he won the Oscar.
Body Heat (Deluxe Edition) (1981) .... Ned Racine was played by William Hurt, and the Body Heat was generated by Kathleen Turner.
Capote (2005) .... Nelle Harper Lee was played by Catherine Keener, and she was nominated for an Oscar.
Being John Malkovich (1999) .... Maxine Lund was played by Catherine Keener, and she was nominated for another Oscar.
Swingers (1996) .... Trent Walker was the breakout role for Vince Vaughn. He was so money.
Hurlyburly (New Line Platinum Series) (1998) .... Sean Penn was great as Eddie, a sleazy Hollywood agent in competition with Kevin Spacey. Hurly Burly is my personal favorite, though he won an Oscar for Mystic River, and was nominated for Sweet and Lowdown, I Am Sam, and Dead Man Walking. Let's not forget Colors or Casualties of War. And who could forget Fast Times at Ridgemont High? I bet he'd love to forget Shanghai Surprise.

Movie Review: The True Great Escape
Summary: 5 Stars

This movie is a great look at the rebellion and confusion of a person out of college and tired of the pressures and conformity of society. It brings a beautiful and in-depth look into the mind of a young man not sure what he wants to do with is life, but pretty sure what he doesn't want. I thought it was phenomenal especially if you wonder if the grass is greener on this other side of untamed life. A young male's mind will relate with his stuggles and envy his passion for pursuing his "truth." A bit long for some, I absolutely enjoyed this wonder film and at this point in my life, I couldn't relate more.

Movie Review: Great movie, LAME DVD
Summary: 2 Stars

This is a great movie and its merits as a film have been well covered by many posts here. But this special "collector's edition" of a "two-disc" DVD is inexcusable. A five star film in a two-star DVD. In fact I gave this special edition two stars ONLY because the film is great. But the DVD offerings here are infantile and quite frankly a rip off. There are no special features on the first disc along with the movie. And the second disc only has two brief documentaries on the making of and some of the characters. Big deal. Granted, it's more than the original version of the DVD, but this is a rip. Oh, don't forget, they've got a trailer on the second disc. Yippie! Thank goodness I bought this DVD double-disc edition used or I'd be REALLY mad if I had paid full price. No commentaries, no real insight into Chris McCandless other than we do see his real parents in a couple shots. The "Experience" doc is good, but way too short. They could have added so much more. What a disappointment and a way to sell short a film and story that deserved and could have had so much more on this DVD. Lame.

Movie Review: Waste of time
Summary: 1 Stars

Heard so much about this movie, not that's time spent I can never get back.

I know many people consider this a great spiritual journey, and I'll get blasted for "not getting it." But I found the main character naive unrealistic in his views. Unfortunately he paid the ultimate price for his lack of understanding.