Review of Wild (2014) by Axgrinder — 20 Dec 2014

This is Resse Witherspoon at her best. Despite the fact that Witherspoon spends most of the movie without traditional make-up her personality shines through. The majority of the scenes involve Witherspoon by herself so if you didn’t like Gravity because the film centered on Sandra Bullock then you may not like this flick either.

The movie is based on the true story of Cheryl Strayed, a woman unable to cope with her own life. Weighed down with frustration and grief from the death of her sweet, but white trash, mother (Laura Dern) and unable to connect emotionally with her nice guy husband Paul (Thomas Sadoski), her only release comes from engaging in some seriously self-destructive behavior.

But, Paul ultimately her leaves her for her infidelities and she realizes that she’s no longer in control (not that she ever was) and that she’s allowed her life to spiral down dangerously close to the edge of the abyss.

She tries cut-rate psycho-therapy for about 5 minute before giving up. When the therapist asks why she does the things she does, she responds by saying, the only time life doesn’t hurt like sh*t is when I’m fuc*ing someone or shooting up.

As an act of desperation, and despite the fact that she has no backpacking experience, she leaves home (Minneapolis) to hike the 1,100 mile Pacific Crest Trail - which runs from the Mojave Desert in California to Washington State - by herself.

The movie is about her trek. The movie has a grittiness and real-life feel to it. The only odd moment occurs in the closing scene where, despite the fact that the journey proves to be her salvation, Cheryl tries to embrace her past rather than renounce it and claims that she doesn’t seek or need forgiveness or redemption.

It’s a prideful “broken but unbowed” final speech, which I found interesting given that her survival appears to be founded as much on luck and the kindness of strangers as it is on her own inner strength.

But, despite Cheryl’s lack of humility, you still feel good that she makes it through both the Pacific wilderness and her own personal wilderness and through to other side. Stay and watch the credits for some interesting photographs of the real Cheryl.