Review of Into the Wild (2007) by Stephen E — 14 Jan 2013
Emile Hirsch shines in a star-making performance as Christopher McCandless, a kid fresh out of college that decides to leave behind his deceitful parents and hitchhike to Alaska, where he hopes to find peace and freedom in the open wilderness.
So, we follow McCandless as he heads west, discovering characters that inspire him along the way as well as getting into some trouble with the law. To some, "Into the Wild" will come off as another pretentious and irksome 'hippie' flick, but to most, it will resonate and strike an inspirational chord.
It wholeheartedly captures the desire a lot of people have to just up and take a break from their lives; to ditch the constraints of society and go to a place where there aren't any rules to hold them back from what they want to do.
There are moments of self-indulgence in "Into the Wild," which comes as no real surprise, and director Sean Penn employs the tired tactic of 'breaking the fourth wall' one time too many, but it's the film's message that trumps all.
To me, it's the definition of a true American film.
This review of Into the Wild (2007) was written by Stephen E on 14 Jan 2013.
Into the Wild has generally received very positive reviews.
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