Review of Into the Wild (2007) by Alenor L — 30 Dec 2012

Director Sean Penn.

By Zanele Jiane.

This is a touching character study, we meet Alexander Supertramp realise that he does not want to be forged in the same mould as everyone he grew around. He despises them. He sees the world through Tyler Durden's lens, he refuses to believe that relationships are the core of life and says that life is everywhere and in everything. True. This is something he later discards and he realise that true happiness is best enjoyed when it is shared.

The movie has tons of merits, the direction which is sterling, the non linear storyline keeps you working hard to follow and sometimes messes you up a beat. but it is good for such an important film as it makes one want to view the movie again.

Alex throughout the movie and in his life, because of his authenticity and commitment to his cause, touches many lives, of all age groups, gender, socio-economic standing, he is a magnetic force of nature, but he is equally challenged by his new friends to not be tough on life, his parents, to stop thinking too much, and these challenges haunt him towards the end of his life and makes a journal entry to reflect this.

The music reinforces the major themes of the movie and the casting helps as well in the story, Catherine Keener is quiet a screen stealer and William Hurt although he inhabits less screen but he draws you in and makes you suffer with him. his eyes says it all. In the beginning of the movie he looks quiet arrogant, notice him in the graduation ceremony after his son leaps to the stage, he wants to slap him, and when he speaks of buying his son a new car, he calls his son's car a "Junker", but the unpronounceable hurt, guilt he sustains during the departure of his son reduces him to his knees. I grieved with him.

There is so much more that can be said about this movie all of it beautiful.

Highly recommended.