Users Picks DVD Relases Release Schedule Reviews Smarcine Picks Classics Home MOVIE REVIEW: INTO THE WILD 10/02/07 “I read somewhere... how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong... but to feel strong.” Christopher McCandless not only makes this statement but he brings it to life by leaving it all behind, literally, and taking on the world. Chris is not exactly the body builder type so he must have felt very strong because he succeeded for a long period of time, something that I’m sure the majority of us would not be able to do. This movie takes you on his journey step by step as he searches to find purpose, meaning, truth, and basically himself. This is like nothing I’ve ever seen. The closest concept I can think of is Castaway with Tom Hanks except for one major difference: Chris chooses to go on this adventure. The movie was long at well over 2 hours but so was the journey. The movie was slow at times but so was the journey. The movie was odd and unexpected but so was the journey. The movie was breathtaking and beautiful and so was the journey. This film was like watching a master artist create a piece before your very eyes until it culminates with the finished masterpiece at the end. You might or might not like it, but it is still considered a masterpiece. Christopher McCandless, a.k.a. Alexander Supertramp (Emile Hirsch), is a bright young man who graduates from Emory University. Having deeply rooted issues with his parents and not wanting to conform with the “norm” of society, instead of getting a job and settling down, he decides to embark on a journey of a lifetime that peaks at the peak of the United States; Alaska. The problem is that he takes whatever he could stuff into his backpack and his old car. That’s it! He leaves all his other possessions behind including all of his money. Actually he gave away his entire savings of $24,000 to charity and burned whatever he had left in his pocket . . . yes burned. So how did he survive? Exactly! But somehow he does and for a very long time. He starts out heading West for as long as his car survives. After that he’s on foot, hitchhiking, or riding the Colorado River rapids. He works odd jobs here and there so he can pay for necessities and he meets the most incredible people along the way that become his new family. But when his travels finally take him to his final destination, the wilderness of Alaska, he truly disconnects from everyone by going “Into the Wild” with only his backpack of stuff and a gun for hunting his meals, all the while reading up on the philosophies of life from the top authors of the books he took with him and incorporating the philosophies of his new family. There are three things that stand out above all else in this picture: the story itself, the gorgeous cinematography (which was shot entirely on location), and Emile’s performance. While watching this film you will wonder if this guy is crazy or is he a genius, is he stupid or is he taking on the challenge, is he just plain suicidal or is he an adventurer, is this unrealistic or is this extreme realism as he escapes what he calls sick society to find ultimate freedom. He totally isolates himself from his former life by eliminating all ties, destroying any form of ID, and leaving no trails so as not to be found. This determination reaches it’s climax with a man vs. nature showdown. The real kicker about this drama is that it is based on a true story. I don’t know what rock I was under but I really don’t remember hearing about this case back in 1992 and it did make national news. Needless to say, I was dumbfounded while watching this story knowing that it actually happened. Emile has accomplished his biggest career changing role ever with his best performance to date which I think has potential for an Oscar nomination. But Emile was not completely alone. He did have a talented supporting cast with the likes of William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden as his parents, an interesting appearance by Vince Vaughn as a wheat farmer, and soul-touching performances by Catherine Keener and Hal Holbrook as two different characters encountered during the journey. Director Sean Penn is demonstrating that he is for real. This was not an easy story to tell but he took on this challenge, similar to Chris taking on his, and came out with a good product. The imagery combined with the connection created between the audience and Chris are top notch. I won’t be surprised if Sean gets an Oscar nod. I’ll leave you with this thought given to Chris by Ron Franz (Hal Holbrook): “if you forgive, you love . . . if you love, God shines His light on you.” So does God shine His light on Chris? You’re going to have to find out for yourselves.   Review By Cine Marcos  cinemarcos@smartcine.com MORE MOVIE REVIEWS >>>   People Movie Review Into The Wild   Bostongirl 100 Traveled about an hour to see this film and it was worth it! What a profound screenplay and the acting is superb. I could barely keep myself together from completely balling my eyes out  by the end and so many of the moments were heartfelt and sincere. I thought Hal Holbrooks performance as a supporting actor was one that will forever stay with me. I also think that the performances of Catherine Keener and Jena Malone were right on. My favorite new face though is Emile Hirsch who should be nominated for an academy award. This movie is going to create a snowball effect like Little Miss Sunshine. It is a message that is well told. I hope people "get it." Have a happy day. Kristi 90 Leaves one thinking about the simplest breath of air - is it being cherished. Are we living or living to be loved. The writing of In to the wild makes one ache due to recognition of having been there if only in a glimpse Suzanne 100 I have not been glued to the screen by a movie in a long time. I have not cried so hard (all the way throught the credits and into the restroom stall) from a movie since Sophie's Choice. Into the Wild was a transcending experience. I loved being wrapped up in the beauty of the places that Chris traveled. The quirky Swedish travellers, the aged hippies (Catherine Keener  perfectly cast), the mid western ho-dunk boys club (Vince Vaughn), and the psuedo grandfather (Hal Holbrook) are the "families" that Chris leaves behind on his quest to Alaska. Having become entwined with these angels on his highway makes the end of the film even more emotional. Where he went he made friends. I am wondering how are they dealing with the loss  of the Supertramp? It was the best movie I have seen in a long while. I will buy the soundtrack and I will cry again. The spirit of Alexander Supertramp will live on through this film forever.   Kris 10 The guy was a bum, go see Pulp Fiction. In the last scene at the restaurant where Samuel L. Jackson's character says he is going to walk the earth, & Travolta's character defines it as being a bum, I kept thinking of that scene throughout this movie. He wasted his life, left his poor sister, & parents wondering about him, sure the parents were not nice, but then he could have moved out, gotten a job, keep in touch with his sister at least, but no, he was just a self absorbed selfish prick who was over confident & got what he deserved in the end. He abandoned life, so life abandoned him. Mark 100 One of my top three films during the last few years. It shows that all films do not have to be "touchy-feely" with a happy ending. The tragic conclusion to this young man's soul searching is hard to accept. Pushing away established norms and declining to accept the conformity of his middle class parents he sets up to travel this multi faceted country of ours. The voyage shows us unaccepted and surprising ways of living through the contacts he makes on his way to his final destination: Alaska.The ending reminds us of the fragility of our growing children who often have the tendency to overstate their capabilities when facing nature and isolation. Family life and its ties have afterall quite a bit of merit when all that teenage "angst" goes away and setlles down. Submit Your Movie Review  Name: Movie:   Rating: None 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Review:   Director: Sean Penn Writer: Sean Penn(Screenplay)               Jon Krakauer (Book) Genre:  Drama Adventure Duration: 2hr 20mins Staring:  Emile Hirsch                  Marcia Gay Harden                  William Hurt                  Jena Malone                  Catherine Keener                  Brian Dierker                  Vince Vaughn                   Zach Galifianakis                   Kristen Stewart                   Hal Holbrook Producer:  Sean Penn                      Art Linson                      Bill Pohlad Distributor: PARAMOUNT vantage   Rating: R for non-stop violence, language               and some nudity. Release Date: September 21, 2007  OFFICIAL WEBSITE VIEW TRAILER CRITICS REVIEWS & SCORES ROLLING STONE >> 88 HOLLYWOOD REPORTER >> 65 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY >> 82 NEWSDAY >> 88 Home | DVD | Advertising |  Press Kits submissions | Publishing All movie titles, pictures, etc... are registered trademarks and/or copyrights of their respective holders Copyright ©2007 The Entertainment Report Group