Review of Wild (2014) by Orlando O — 04 May 2015

A movie about Cheryl Strayed, she is emotionally damaged after losing her mother and going in a troubled path. She follows a path of drugs, sex with strangers, and distance with her husband. She tries to redeem herself by going on a very long hiking journey to come to peace with her troubled actions. Reese Witherspoon did give an outstanding job as her performance. It is a role that is different from what she would usually tackle on.

The direction and cinematographer was perfect, and director Jean-Marc Vallee (who helmed Dallas Buyers Club) managed to adapt another based on a true story of Cheryl Strayed. He managed to balance the movie as Cheryl is on the hiking journey of the Pacific Crest Trail while maintaining flashbacks throughout that shows her relationship with her mother Bobbi (Laura Dern). A mother who was there to comfort her daughter and son, after leaving an abusive husband/father. She was always there, until her diagnosis of cancer that started the impact emotionally with Cheryl and her brother. Cheryl lost her husband for her sexual affairs with anyone, and her drug addiction. He still supported her for the long hiking journey that will help her. The negative thing about the movie, is trying to be invested in a plot that is not strong enough to hold the movie. It is more of a character study of a person trying to overcome her own troubled choices to better herself. Overall, Wild is a good film that has a sharp direction, beautiful cinematography, and a great performance from Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern.