Day 4: "Into the Wild"

"I'm going to paraphrase Thoreau here... rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness... give me truth."

Once in a while in the realm of film there comes along a year so stacked in greatness that often many tremendous movies get lost in the shuffle. The most recent year to house a cavalcade of superlative films would be 2007. For most film fanatics, this is the year that gave us the tremendous “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood”, which are masterpieces in their own right. Yet, with these mammoth gorillas in the room, the depth found in 2007’s film crop is its most valuable asset. Adding to the strength of this miraculous year in film is Sean Penn’s grossly underrated “Into the Wild”, which is a film that is stunning in both the story it tells and the natural beauty it possesses. The film opens up with our protagonist Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch) reaching his exploratory goal: taking refuge in the Alaskan wilderness as a means to escape a life built on rich excess. From there, the film works backwards as we see McCandless’ journey from college graduate to an isolated vagabond.

His exploration into the world is one that is both selfish and humble. McCandless cuts himself off completely from his family and friends, which only raises fear in the ones he loves, but at the same time his ambition to see the world without the wasteful lens of modern day life is awe inspiring. So, it is no surprise that director Sean Penn places Emile Hirsch in dangerous situations that display the profound beauty McCandless surely experienced in the wild. From kayaking a rapturous river to hitchhiking across the country, the journey of McCandless is one that is both tiring and riveting, and it’s clear that Sean Penn and Emile Hirsch are smitten with the subject matter. As a matter of fact, Hirsch more or less officially puts himself on the map as one of the up and coming actors in Hollywood. His performance is demanding and exhilarating, as he seemingly embodies the spirit of McCandless. Whether it’s his constant fluctuation in weight (especially in the final frames of the film) or his determination to actually hike nature’s obstacles, Hirsch shows a passion for the subject matter that is as authentic as McCandless’ desire to be one with the earth. Of course, as idealistic as McCandless was, both Penn and Hirsch make sure that their depiction is honest. Never do they place McCandless on a pedestal. Instead his ideals are juxtaposed against the reality that for as beautiful as nature can be, it can be just as harsh.

Such a reality is seen throughout the film as McCandless’ journey leads him to numerous colorful characters on the road, all of which are played wonderfully by a supporting cast that features Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, and Zach Galifianakis. But the most important supporting actor, the one who has the most impact on the film, is that of Hal Holbrook who plays Ron Franz. With the character of Franz, Holbrook is able to deliver a tender performance, as he offers the first real sense of trepidation for McCandless and the audience. More specifically, in the case of Holbrook, we get the sense that for as enticing as isolation may be, especially in a world dominated by a greed mentality, human connection is what enriches our lives and makes the world more bearable. Unfortunately, McCandless doesn’t heed Franz’s call and makes his way to the Alaskan wilderness to be alone with no one to trust, but mother nature herself. You don’t have to see the film to know that things end on a grim note. Despite all of this, Penn and Hirsch do enough to make McCandless’ journey bubble with emotional brevity. It’s sad in one instance, but it’s also stimulating to know the gratifying experiences McCandless had.

And this is the beauty of the film, for it often has a dangerous current flowing underneath, but there are so many invigorating moments that it’s hard not to see the potential risks as being worth it. From the dangerous hikes to the beautiful locations, Penn and his crew make “Into the Wild” shine with life. Granted, at times Penn’s camera work can become a little too intrusive, but this is merely a drop of water in the ocean considering the range of emotions and exploration the film has to offer. With powerful songs by Eddie Vedder in tow, the film is not only a journey for McCandless, but is also a road map to discovering a type of homeostasis for ourselves. For we may not be pleased with certain aspects of our life or the rift that exists between the present and the past, but we should never fully detach ourselves to the point of isolation. In the case of McCandless, the beauty he saw across North America would have been far more poignant had he shared it with someone. This notion is indicated by one of the final messages found in his journal that read: “Happiness only real when shared.” Well, through this film and a terrific performance by Hirsch, McCandless is able to share his moments with us, both good and bad. Perhaps now happiness can be achieved for McCandless' unwaivering spirit.

One of Eddie Vedder's terrific songs for the film: