INTO THE WILD

INTO THE WILD BREATHTAKING JOURNEY

This is not a film... this is a song, a painting, a poem... a magical ode to nature and the endless wonder in every day life. In our "celeb-reality" world, I think it hard pressed to find such a young man, from a privileged family who would take his own life to such an extreme in order to find meaning and spiritual fulfillment. Alexander Supertramp (Emile Hirsch) is Christopher McCandless, or rather who McCandless was. After graduation, he roamed the country, working at a variety of odd jobs, nothing too hard or too easy. He was quietly propelling himself to Alaska where he would take on mother nature on with both hands. When not exchanging views with a fellow traveler, he would talk to himself or his food or whatever amused him. This is one of those roles where the actor becomes the part. Hirsch is mesmerizing and his young face mirrors the splendor and glory of the world he discovered. His fellow actors took him in and gave back the same warmth and understanding, truly showing no part is too small; colorful charachters paving the yello brick road. His search for truth, his spiritual revolution to "kill the false being" unfortunately killed his physical being. In the end, the flora and fauna he drew life from also may have aided in his death. However, this film is not just about this young man's death, but rather the incredible life he lived before he left this world. The movie is not a biography. But when not compared to the real story, standing alone, it stands. The worst part of the film is that he finds the truth, but ironically, it isn't what he thought it would be. "Happiness is only real when shared".
BIG PICK: Perhaps my favorite of 2007. It touched my heart and soul. More than a movie.