5 of 12

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 3

is that except from the past aspect, it's quite difficult to understand where in the story things are, none of the divides are clear. I think a much more fluid storyline would have achieved this movie greater appreciation, although I accept that it was pretty well received by most who saw it.

The story itself is an incredibly important one, ever had that feeling of wanting to abandon your existing life and living one closer to nature? Well this is certainly one of those movies that show you some places that you can fall foul early. It's the areas of bad times that appealed to me more so than the good, though I can't deny being touched by the relationships that Alexander makes on his travels. I'm haunted by images of Alexander desperately trying to get food in the Alaskan wilds, in particular his efforts with a moose, this is storytelling so good it could bring you to tears.

The relationships of the movie are poignant ones; Alexander makes himself a new family with a pair of Rubber Tramps (a term given to travellers by vehicle), Jan and Rainey played by Catherine Keener and Brian Dierker respectively have nothing, yet for the nothing they have it seems that the world is theirs. Vince Vaughan plays Wildman Wayne Westerberg, an individual filled with wild and crazy ideas. And then there is the lovely looking Tracy played by Kirsten Stewart, who finds love for the first time in her life with Alexander, this too has tearfully moving aspects to it. Even a brief encounter with a couple of foreign travellers opens Alexander's eyes to the wonders of the world, and seemingly leaves them enhanced by the situation.

I'm not convinced however as to the touching nature of Christopher/Alexander, I have had a great many encounters in my life but few I feel have really touched me, call me harsh I know! I find it difficult to believe that this one young man had such an effect on people that ultimately their lives were changed because of it; I feel quite safely I can point this stories aspect as being fiction, whether it is from the "Hollywood" perspective, or from the writing of the real life Christopher McCandless. Now I have no mean to disrespect the McCandless family in that statement, but there are aspects of this story that we will never be able to truly verify.

Emile Hirsh who I was last obviously aware of in the 2004 movie The Girl Next Door, lays his soul on the line for this performance, it's so terribly tragic that he was not considered for an Oscar, because he literally

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Movie reviews: Into the Wild (2007)?
We want to hear your view. Write now!