Questioning Existence

Rating: 8/10 (28 October 2009)

Sometimes you put a disc in the player and you're unsure as to whether or not you are going to enjoy the film coming up, despite numerous fantastic reviews. Into The Wild was one of those for me.
I needn't have worried. Within 10 minutes, I was glued to the screen, watching a fantastic story unfold before my eyes - and then it was over. The best movies have a tendency to do that. They immerse you with such force that you literally lose track of time, and this film is a fairly lengthy affair.
Most people will have questioned their existence at some point in time, I guess it's in our nature to do so - but not many will have gone to the extremes that the main character does - he quite literally goes through hell and high water, trying to prove to himself (and possibly to everyone else) that life is so much more fulfilling when you take a chance and break the mould - despite the motivations for doing so.
A true story, lovingly followed to the letter (literally) by Sean Penn and his ensemble of faithful cast and crew, Into The Wild is one of those movies, that despite it's not-so-Hollywood ending, leaves you with a reason to rekindle a little faith in humanity - and perhaps a tear in your eye.
I rate this at 8.2 out of 10. It's original, refreshing and utterly watchable - perhaps multiple times. Brilliant stuff.