Late Reviews: Into the Wild(2007)

  Every now and then I feel like I want to talk about a movie that I've seen. Not just any movie, but one that I've only seen quite some time after it was released-sometimes many years. I don't get to the theater but maybe once a year, so nearly every movie is late for me. Sometimes I skip them entirely for many years. But I still want to talk about them, even if I don't write so good. Oh and I might give spoilers because sheeeesh these movies have been out for long enough!

 
   Today's movie is Into the Wild starring Emile Hirsch. It is the true story of a young man named Christopher McCandless who left everything behind and set out to explore and try to find inner peace. I'm no fan of the director(whom I will not even name here), but the subject matter made me quite interested so I forewent the connections and viewed it without bias. It was beautifully shot, and the mixed time-frame(surely there is a word for that I can't find) is not always favorable(to some), but I quite liked it. You can see where he is-countered with where he came from, and how he ended up that way. I think a wholly linear timeline would not have been as effective.

    The directing was fine, the performance of Hirsch was quite good. The supporting cast really shone in this, especially Vince Vaughn and Hal Holbrook. The locations were stunning. The explanation of certain situations or locations I felt quite lacking. I had no clue he was at the Grand Canyon when he asked about kayaking(maybe I missed it; makes more sense later as to the ranger's response). Or where the wheat farm was located, until he mentions it later. Or exactly what the heck happened to Vaughn's character!

   What I really loved was the ideals of the character(the person). The idea of shutting out society and just getting away from everyone. I would love to do that. I dream about it frequently. I can completely understand romanticizing someone who has the gumption to just get off your butt and get out and "be free". I follow a number of youtubers who do this exact thing. Some have jobs, some don't. Exploring, seeing something, some place new every single day, would be an incredible thing to do.

   What I don't agree with is the way he went about the journey. He decided he didn't need money, and then went to work places to get money for things(such as the kayak). While I can understand his thought process in a way, I do think it was rather silly. He relies on the kindness of strangers, when he initially just wanted to get away from everyone and be alone. He also didn't have a plan. That can be exciting and freeing, but it can also be quite dangerous, as he found out. I can't imagine being stuck in Mexico these days without any identification at all. Or anywhere for that matter. There is nothing wrong with not preparing in certain situations, but I'm not interested in someone who wouldn't be prepared in life or death settings.

    I also think the treatment of his sister was heartbreaking. Sure, ditch the awful parents, but not the one ally you really had before the trek. Loads of people have had awful parents, or awful home lives as children, that didn't go off the deep end and become suicidal. I feel the most sorry for her, what a horrible time it must have been.

   I am a firm believer in the motto "it's not the destination, it's the journey". His journey was, for the most part, beautiful(if he had just done a few things differently). The destination was just awful. I was left thinking "what an idiot". If he had been more prepared, if he had stayed a shorter time and moved on to other locales, if-if-if...but he didn't. It is sad and not at the same time. I'm a seriously over-sensitive cryer in most cases and yet didn't cry once here. I did already know the outcome and was waiting for it. I mostly day-dreamed through the rest of the movie wishing I could do the same in some capacity.

MyScore: 7/10
Recommend? Sure, if you enjoy road trip type movies