Reviewed by Cassam Looch
Stars Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt,
Jena Malone, Brian Dierker, Catherine Keener,
Vince Vaughn, Kristen Stewart, Hal Holbrook
Written by Sean Penn & Jon Krakauer
UK certification 15 | UK RRP £19.99
DVD Region 2 | Runtime 143 minutes
Directed by Sean Penn
Director Sean Penn has a very serious aura about him these days. When he’s not off campaigning about this and that he’s starring in dark "Oscar-worthy" movies like Mystic River. It’s amazing he manages to make any movies of his own, and even more surprising that they turn out to be as good as this. The tone of the film matches that we often see from the filmmaker, and yet like him is never anything less than totally absorbing.
Restless college graduate Christopher McCandless decides to walk away from his family and society and instead head off into the wild. Donating all his savings to charity and only a cursory word to his sister, he leaves his parents exasperated as he earns his way to his intended destination of the frozen north. Constantly noting his adventures in a diary he keeps with him, Christopher finds moments of happiness with like-minded souls along the way but never settles long enough in any one place. Eventually he finds himself trapped both physically and mentally and his life is in mortal danger. Penn crafts a superb study of stubborn youth and a lost sense of adventure, based on McCandless’s own diary and best-selling book. The film works on so many levels that at times you struggle to connect with any one strand, and this is the film's only (minor) shortcoming. When Christopher is on the move then you — like him — feel safe, the only real danger appears when he stops and tries to settle… and this is also the moment he desperately tries to reconnect with his family.
The film is not simply an ode to a spirited soul however, and it does convey the exasperation of the parents as well as a selfish/stubborn streak in our lead. Emile Hirsch puts in a tremendous performance, following on from his work in last year’s underrated Alpha Dog. It’s clear to see Penn invest much faith in him because he sees a lot of his own youthful exuberance in him. And the film and direction never allow too much sentiment creep into an otherwise heart-wrenching movie… the scenes with Hal Holbrook are especially moving. Whatever the reasons for the cruel snub to the film and filmmaker at the awards ceremonies were, Sean Penn can hold his head up high safe in the knowledge he was robbed to have not at least been nominated.
EXTRAS None