INTO THE WILD
Humane, Naive And Fearless: For Chris McCandless, A Dangerous Adventure Of Soul
And Spirit
PopcornReel.com Movie Review: "Into The Wild"
By Omar P.L. Moore/September 21, 2007
Traveling Man: Emile Hirsch as Chris McCandless, a young man
of privilege who gave up his identity and connections to American society to
live in the Alaskan wild, as seen here in a publicity shot for Sean Penn's new
film "Into The Wild", which opened in New York and Los Angeles today.
(Photo: Chuck Zlotnick/Paramount Vantage)
Sean Penn directs Emile Hirsch and the two are a perfect match in
"Into The Wild", a stirring emotional journey about the real-life Christopher
McCandless, a well-fed, rich, young 21 year-old man who escaped the abusive
relationship he suffered with his quarreling parents to travel deep within
himself and into the natural expanses of Alaska, where he would spend the rest
of his life. McCandless' life is documented in Jon Krakauer's book, which
Mr. Penn adapts for the screen.
Hirsch is McCandless, a southerner from Atlanta who opts to skip law school and
instead journeys off to the Alaskan wilderness. He is tired of the
trappings of material things and despises the shallow conventions set by his
well-to-do spoiling parents. Chris gives away all $24,000 of his savings
accounts to Oxfam and peels away every trace of his societal identity and
possessions and makes a cross-country excursion that leads him to Alaska.
Along the way, McCandless touches the lives of strangers, and changes them
forever, while recollecting his own past and evaluating the measure of his own
life as he goes on a solo trek to survival and nirvana.
Penn directs this film with flair but also a great deal of economy, letting the
story and the visuals speak louder that any cinematic gyrations might. The
director eschews too many visual effects, resisting distracting the audience
from what is for the most part a spiritual and deeply affecting epic. Two
narrative voices sustain "Into The Wild": that of McCandless and of his sister
Carine (Jena Malone), and while the dual narration is maddening and perplexing
at times, by the end credits we understand why the technique has been employed,
Mr. Krakauer's novel not withstanding. The film is deftly paced, and split
into four chapters, including one entitled "Manhood". Much of the beauty
of Mr. Penn's film is found in its cinematographic splendor (Eric Gautier),
further enhanced by the great American locations that include Alaska, Arizona,
California, Oregon, South Dakota and Washington.
But for all the visual poetry, it is the performances from Emile Hirsch, but
most especially from Hal Holbrook, which are outstanding. Mr. Holbrook
deserves strong Oscar consideration early next year for his role as a lonely
senior citizen who develops a close bond with McCandless. Holbrook plays
Ron Franz, a man cautiously living the last days of a long life. He has
been there and done plenty of that, and he is beguiled and mystified by Chris's
desire for the most simple life, at such a young age. Holbrook is so
touching and priceless in such a wonderful acting turn -- that he has to be the
odds-on favorite to win a supporting actor Oscar -- for he surely deserves one.
And Brian Dierker is sensational as Rainey, with a good bit of acting by
Catherine Keener as Jan, Rainey's lover. They are a throwback hippie
couple experiencing their own internal ebbs and flows together, and are as close
to surrogate parents to Chris as can be. In just a few exchanges, they
easily form a sincere, more familial attachment than Chris's biological parents
(played by William Hurt and Marsha Gay Harden) have in a lifetime. The
scenes between Keener and Hirsch are remarkable.
At times, "Into The Wild" has a Malickian touch -- it is
peaceful, meditative and soothing. The tranquility of the film is
occasionally interrupted by Eddie Vedder's songs, which echo vibrantly and
powerfully punctuate the various crossroads of Chris's journey into natural
habitat. Mr. Vedder wrote the songs for the film, and the Pearl Jam front
man's voice is jarring and haunting, matching the ruggedness of survival and the
harshness of the protagonist's solo journey. Mr. Hirsch is convincing as
McCandless in a very physical role, but he shines from the inside out, with the
rigors of his travels showing on his face. Other actors leave memorable
marks, including Vince Vaughn in a small role as a construction manager involved
in some shady dealings, who has some sarcastic and cynical things to share with
Chris as he invites him in to help build some new habitats. There is a
warmth and maternal peace to Jena Malone's work here, even though she plays
Chris's sister Carine. She is Chris's protector from afar, and it appears
that the further away from human contact Chris is on his lonely sojourn, the
closer she is to him.
"Into The Wild" is a strong film which should find itself among the best picture
Oscar nominees next January, and sincerely expresses its heart and soul as it
follows Chris's own discoveries. Chris doesn't change as he ascends to a
higher place in the wild, yet his stature grows, not in a hagiographic way in
Mr. Penn's smart direction, but in a way that leaves a distinct impression on
its audience.
"Into The Wild" opened today in New York and Los Angeles and expands next
weekend in San Francisco and numerous other U.S. cities, with further expansion
in October. The film is rated R for language and some nudity. The
film's duration is two hours and 38 minutes. With Kristen Stewart (as
Tracy) and Zach Galifianakis (as Kevin).
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