Into the Soul of a Man

Rating: 10/10 (22 September 2007)

"Into the Wild" is not the sort of picture that seems to bring to mind Sean Penn. True, he is one of the most passionate, dedicated, and intense performers to work in Hollywood, a man who has given us some of the best performances in the last two decades. What he has done is to go behind the camera and transfered that passion into a work of enormous sympathy, compassion, and spirituality.
In the novel, it is not very clear what drives the obsessive behavior of Alex (Chris). In the movie, the forces are somehow more positive but the results are still tragic, with a slight difference in the tone of the closing scene. It is not the end what matters but the journey, and the journey, as presented by both the novel and especially, this very fine film is something to behold.
The movie takes us back and forth in time and expands on some of the background and motivation behind this young man's odyssey. We are given information as to what happened in his home, and there are still subtle hints as to how he sought and acquire the need to connect with happiness, the one thing he yearned and which, in the final epiphany proves to be somewhat ironic. As played by Hirsch, the revelation is heartbreaking, but as I mentioned before, it's those glorious moments where he somehow connects to what he thinks he wants that raise this film into very special places.
To be able to achieve that, Penn's directorial job is perfectly supported by a truly amazing cast, which includes William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden, Jena Malone, Vince Vaughn, and in a lovingly portrayal, Hal Holbrook, whose every minute in the screen shows the yearning for companionship and the effects of true love on people. The film clocks in at almost two hours, and every minute is precious, full of emotion, feelings, potent forces that appeal to us, yet simultaneously scare us.
It's gorgeously photographed, and scored with much insight in order to deepen the effect of the story. It's a movie that should be viewed by all, regardless of whether we understand the message at first. The truth is that it's hard to imagine anyone not affected by it.