Into the Wild (2007)

Though not completely without flaws, Sean Penn's adaptation of Jon Krakauer's book Into the Wild is a truly powerful film. Shot beautifully in locations ranging from Alaska to Arizona, it tells the true story of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), an early 90's college graduate who took the road less traveled following commencement. After giving his $24,000 savings to Oxfam, McCandless hit the road under the name of Alexander Supertramp, working various different jobs with the ultimate goal of reaching the Alaskan wilderness.

Admittedly, some actors are better here than others. Catherine Keener and Hal Holbrook, for example, give honest, real performances that shake you to the core. (Coincidentally, the bonds between their characters and Hirsch's are the strongest in the film.) But on the opposite side of things, there are Kristen Stewart (supposedly attracted to Chris/Alex, but seems to be in a coma throughout) and Vince Vaughn, who plays...well, essentially, Vince Vaughn. It is a testament to Hirsch that he can work consistently around such an uneven group of performances. He handles the role with the grace of an actor twice his age.

Hirsch's interactions alternate with scenes of his isolation in the wilderness. This constant jumping from past to present was a questionable tactic on Penn's part. At times, there are scenes of high magnitude whose impacts are effectively numbed by a quick change of scene and context. It never truly kills the emotional content, but it certainly doesn't enhance it, either.

The true power of the film comes from a line from the early-going. As he arrives in his new-found "Magic Bus," McCandless says:

"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

To assume that McCandless would want or expect all of us to view civilization as a poison would be naive. That's not his message, nor is it the one Penn or Krakauer set out to convey. Rather, their story serves to make us analyze our own lives, questioning the merits of some aspects while finding deeper value in and appreciation for others. Through not just his journey, but also the relationships forged and lost along the way, we discover in McCandless and in ourselves a new way of looking at life.

The movie may not change us, but it gives us something to consider.

3 stars out of 4
7.5/10