Into The Wild is a story about a young boy who travels into the great outdoors. This film is based off a book written by Jon Krakauer, and is also a true story. Christopher McCandless graduated from Emory University at the top of this class; he was an athlete and a bright kid to say the least. After graduating college, Chris abandoned all his possessions, gave the entire balance of his $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked into the Alaskan wilderness, where his body was later found on August 18, 1992. Although this may seem like a spoiler to most, the entirety of the plot is based upon this and it is a key piece of information to know before viewing this film. Such a captivating story changed the lives of those who encountered it and remains today an inspiration to many people.

The film was written and directed by Sean Penn and is an excellent portrayal of Chris McCandless’s legacy. The film opens up with a great establishing shot of Chris walking into the Alaskan territory. The vastness captured within this shot really shows how alone he truly is. He is shown walking on powder-white snow and the only tracks visible are those of Chris walking out to begin his journey. The film continues and as the opening credits roll, they are complemented by the sound of Eddie Vedder and his Golden Globe-winning soundtrack for the film. The music evoked feelings of desolation and freedom from society and all the troubles of the world. A pivotal scene in the film is when Chris is talking with Wayne Westberg. The two are sitting in a bar discussing life, and Chris begins telling Wayne of his plan to head up north. “I’m going to be all the way out there, all the way fucking out there, just on my own, no watch, no map, no axe, no nothing. Just be out there in it, you know, big mountains, rivers, sky, game, just be out there in it you know, in the wild. Just living man, there in that moment, in that special place in time.” This scene, I feel, was very important and very well shot. The dialogue between the characters is personal and real.

The cast for this film was also very well chosen, thanks to casting director Francine Maisler. Previous work of hers includes; Collateral, Babel, Spider-Man, Meet The Fockers, and the upcoming film, Quantum of Solace. Chris McCandless’s character is played by Emile Hirsch, and he does an excellent job portraying Chris and his journey to Alaska. Although the film focuses mainly on Chris, there are still notable performances from Catherine Keener, Marcia Harden, and William Hurt. Other cast includes cameos from Vince Vaughn as well as Zach Galifianakis.

This film is one of my personal favorites. Chris’s outlook on life and society was very bold, and throughout his journey he encountered many people with whom he shared his views. He had a strong passion for the outdoors and was content with living with only the clothes on his back. The outdoors is romanticized concept that has compelled and drawn people for generations, and that fascination will last for centuries. In fact, it is that very calling that this film is about. After watching the film it is very apparent that Chris was inspired by naturalist Henry David Thoreau, and just as the Thoreau’s “Walden” will be remembered, so will this film, as it is such a good portrayal of the life of Christopher McCandless and his epic journey into the Alaskan wilderness. Without a few simple mistakes, Chris would have walked out of the Alaskan territory just as anonymously as he had walked into it. Sean Penn’s vision, a fantastic cast, and an award-winning soundtrack from Eddie Vedder are but a few of the things that make this film so great. It’s a wonderful story, and thanks to director Sean Penn, many can now experience a fleeting glimpse into the life of Christopher McCandless and his exciting journey into the wild.