Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Quick Facts:

Genre: Drama

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, Hal Holbrook

Screenplay and Directed By: Sean Penn

Run Time: 148 Minutes

Special Features: No

Rated: R


My Opinion:


I made a slight mistake in watching this film with some Special Forces friends who expected lots of bears eating people. I had to put up with their growling imitations whenever any animal (even a squirrel) was shown on the screen. Needless to say, I could not fully appreciate this great film until I saw it alone.

Alone. "Happiness is not real unless shared" is a sentence written by Chris McCandless shortly after he made this realization, having spent a long time trying to get away from people. By the time he wrote this, it was too late. I have not (yet) read the book, so I can not say how true the film is to the true story of Christopher McCandless. I will make sure that I do read/hear it in the near future.

The true story of Chris McCandless, a.k.a. Alexander Supertramp is an amazing film filled with great actors, wonderfully written and directed by Sean Penn. Chris a.k.a. Alex (Hirsch) is a young college graduate, rebelling against his well-off parents (William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden) by not following in their footsteps. Chris is an A student whose grades are good enough for admittance to Harvard law school. Without telling anyone, Chris donates his life savings to charity and takes off on an adventure that will lead him to some great people and experiences.

Chris gets rid of his identity by destroying all of his identification cards, credit cards, social security card, even destroying the money in his pocket. Going west through Arizona and Nevada, illegally kayaking south to Mexico, then northwards through Los Angeles and into South Dakota, Alex (as he named himself) finds odd jobs on an as-needed basis. This is how he meets Wayne (Vaughn), one of the rare people Alex remained in contact with throughout his journey. Leaving people behind wherever he went, Alex tells that "People are mistaken that they need relationships with other people. All they need is all around them, all they need to do is reach out." Alex here refers to nature and implies that one can be perfectly happy in complete solitude.

Alex finally ends up in the wilderness of Alaska, where he hunts, writes, reads and generally has a relationship with the nature around him. Unfortunately, Alex not only realized that he was mistaken in his assumption that he does not need people, but also that denying who he is is denying his very existence. I say "unfortunately" because Chris (after his realization, Alex went back to his original name of Chris) realized this too late for himself, but not too late to share this realization with the world outside of the wilderness.

Exceptionally well done, with fantastic direction and great screenplay, outstanding acting, cinematography and stunning photography, great music by (among others) Eddie Vedder of the Pearl Jam, I can not say enough good things about this film. Although sometimes esoteric and a bit drawn out at times, with some scenes seeming like they do not belong (a particular scene stands out when Chris talks to an apple that he is eating, then looks into the camera and makes a face as he approaches the camera - a scene better suited for outtakes then the actual feature), and although somewhat erratic with Chris' history and childhood mixed with the present, Penn did a great job of portraying elusive emotions and making seclusion look artistic and interesting. Not many directors could do that.

All in all, I liked "Into The Wild" as true story about a troubled young man who learned important lessons at a very high price, but who managed to share these lessons with the rest of the world through documentation of his life. A bit extreme, Chris McCandless was nonetheless an adventurer and a free spirit. He just needed some time and space. And Chris comes back to life through Hirsch's wonderful acting and Penn's direction. Enjoy the film.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age