Sean Penn's film a 'Wild' success

In 1990, a young man named Chris McCandless graduated from Emory University. During his time there, Chris excelled both in academics and athletics. Immediately following his graduation, he disappeared.

Sean Penn's "Into the Wild," adapted from the book by Jon Krakauer, tracks McCandless' journey to Alaska from his home in Washington, D.C. Chris destroyed all evidence of his identity and abandoned his family and his possessions. He donated all $24,000 of his savings to Oxfam and burnt the remnants of his money. Then he traveled across the country on foot or by hitchhiking, staying with strangers and forming friendships along the way. When he reached Alaska in April of 1992, he found an abandoned bus that he named the "magic bus" and made it his home. Four months later, his body was found by moose hunters. He had died only two weeks before.

McCandless kept a journal of his time away from home, in which he chronicled details of his day-today life. He was also an avid reader and was particularly fond of Tolstoy. His rejection of society may have been intended to emulate Tolstoy's abandonment of civilization.

During his travels, he meets wonderful characters, including some wild foreigners, an old man who crafts leather, a young singer and a hippie couple. Throughout the film, McCandless' real journal entries are written on the screen. The film chronicles the trip in chapters, starting Chapter One when he leaves home. He calls it, "My Own Birth."

The cinematography is incredible. Creative camera angles enhance an already astounding natural landscape, and the audience really feels like it is experiencing the rugged terrain and harsh reality with McCandless.

Without exception, the all-star cast acts flawlessly. Emile Hirsch (McCandless) gives an extraordinary performance, fully embodying the character and revealing inner conflicts in his subtle performance. He is particularly captivating when he plays Chris at the end of his journey.

Catherine Keener (Jan) and Brian Dierker (Rainey) are also wonderful as the hippie couple. They are honest and believable in their love for one another and blissfully at peace with their alternative way of life. Also very strong are Marcia Gay Harden's (Billie) and Hal Holbrook's (Ron Franz) performances as Chris' mother and a lonely old man, respectively.

Penn's screenplay is very powerful. He could have spoon-fed the story to the audience, but instead, he left us yearning to know more. Much of the film is silent, realistically portraying the quiet of a life of solitude.

But at times the realism made the film slow, with minimal human interaction and dialogue. In addition, one camera technique was bothersome: occasionally, characters would stop and look directly into the camera in silence, a jarring and pointless technique.

Most of the best films are about the characters' relationships. But "Into the Wild" is different. While it does explore relationships and the need for human companionship, it also digs into the meaning of being truly on one's own. Only when left alone to fend for himself in nature's savageness can McCandless discover his true self.

This film is a jewel among today's often-lacking movies. It is comprised of a stellar cast, the writing and direction are topnotch and the story is incredibly moving. It is both refreshing and heart breaking, and the story will stay with you long after you leave the theatre.

Into the Wild. Paramount Pictures.

Pros:

Strong acting, directing, and writing; great story.

Cons:

Occasionally slow.