Matt Shea
RubySoho
Morgan Bell
Cibbuano
David O'Connell
Mountain Fog
Into The Wild
November 7th 2007 22:21
My flatmate was looking forward to this film, and after seeing it, I can safely assure him that he'll like it, to which he responded with a double-fist-pump and a whoop of joy. He'll like it because:
1) The soundtrack is composed primarily by Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam. My flatmate loves Pearl Jam, and Penn uses Vedder's deep, rough voice and lightly plucked guitar to provide a haunting soundtrack.
2) The story is about a young college graduate who, after graduation, abandons everything to roam freely through the wilderness. My flatmate, also disenfranchised with academia, is ten seconds away from running into the bush.
Penn clearly felt an emotional connection with McCandless, who he perhaps felt was a kindred soul. The movie makes McCandless into a spiritual demigod, shining a beneficial light on everyone he meets, speaking in poetry and quotables - I see a different side, though. I see an arrogant young man who took off for an adventure, chasing down an ideal, without any respect for the harshness of the wilderness. Penn addresses this in the last scene of the movie.
The real beauty of the movie is in the depiction of an America that the rest of the world doesn't get to see: kind, supportive, honest. Penn shows us this with apolitical delight, and we're renewed with hope.
The Anchorage Daily News had some criticism of McCandless:
"Many Alaskans react with rage to his stupidity. You'd have to be a complete idiot, they say, to die of starvation in summer 20 miles off the Parks Highway."
McCandless' saga, as told by Karkauer, has inspired countless numbers of American boys to chase down the same dreams, reading Thoreau and Jack London, while living off the land. While it's understandable - the desire to get back to nature and live simply flows through us all - it's also reckless and short-sighted.
Penn's movie, though, feels like a pretty, empty box. He spent time and money to get stunning aerial shots and dramatic vistas, but there's an arthouse pretension that mars the film. Nonetheless, it's a departure from middle-of-the-road Hollywood cinematography and editing, which is commendable, especially since Penn will probably get an Oscar nomination for the film.
Is this a good movie? I don't think so, and a small percentage of reviewers agree with me... but it is a fascinating story; despite all the criticisms I have for McCandless, it still makes me want to break free of my civilized life and 'pull a McCandless', which was defined by Judith Kleinfeld in the Anchorage article:
"1. The Hero: A person following their dreams, seeking to test themselves with adversity and risk in order to live life fully.
2. The Soul Searcher: A person abandoning social conventions in an effort to seek truth and to discover the true self that remains hidden under social constraints. A person striving to stick to their deepest values and convictions no matter what the cost.
3. The Dumb Jerk: A person who is futilely questing for something meaningless or worthless. A person who is woefully unprepared for a trip, who clings to misguided, self-righteous principles, losing friends and hurting themselves and their family in the process."
2. The Soul Searcher: A person abandoning social conventions in an effort to seek truth and to discover the true self that remains hidden under social constraints. A person striving to stick to their deepest values and convictions no matter what the cost.
3. The Dumb Jerk: A person who is futilely questing for something meaningless or worthless. A person who is woefully unprepared for a trip, who clings to misguided, self-righteous principles, losing friends and hurting themselves and their family in the process."
I say: Worth watching for the sheer beauty of the American landscape. It's a beautiful country and almost worth going hermit to experience it firsthand. I agree with Dan Schneider, who reviewed the movie, hated it and said:
"This reminds me of the wasted cinematography in The Motorcycle Diaries, another film that glorified a bored suburban loser to a near Christ-like hagiography"
See it for: McCandless meets a lot of interesting people, including a hermit and a farmer played by Catherine Keener and Vince Vaughn, respectively.
*this image is from IMDb
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I saw this film as well and I think you summed it up well:
I felt bad when Iearnt afterwards that it was a true story but it just didn't gel well for me. I was quite disappointed.
Tracy
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
This review hates on the movie... I agree with most of it, especially how cheap and obvious Penn is in his direction. The over-obvious narrative, the mishmash of artistic gimmicks.
I want to see Herzog's Grizzly Man, which I think might fare better with me...
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for that link, I'll have a look later,
Tracy
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I saw Grizzly Man too, tragic tale.
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Michaelie
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Tracy
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
I am on the fence about this movie. Thanks for the review. Eddie vedder soundtrack might swing my vote however
Mis
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Mis, if you're a Vedder fan, you'll end up loving the soundtrack. I'm not a fan, so it didn't help my review...
michaelie, you might as well see this and enjoy it... it's only my opinion that it wasn't that good, but I will say that the story is engrossing. How can it not be fascinating?
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
We might've been...I was at the Monday night one, were you there? I had a quick peek for you and/or JohnD, but I arrived just as the film was starting so really I have no idea who was in that room, I just plonked myself down.
Tracy
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Bryn, I just realized that I haven't seen any other of Penn's directorial work...
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
vedder soundtrack= pass on the movie for me
penn as actor :0)
penn as directo :0(
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
He's my favourite actor, so I keep abreast of his work, although to be honest I haven't seen any of his very recent performances.