Appeal to youth but not age

Rating: 6/10 (3 May 2014)

This over-long film has its moments (the cameo by Ben being enjoyable) but breaks down to yet another privileged kid abandoning all his blessings in a self-indulgent quest for finding his true self. Hirsch plays the part very well, no unnecessary facial expressions or gestures. His character even shows maturity with the people he meets – in particular the young girl singer. That maturity does not extend to himself, although there are ample opportunities for him to wake up. As with many run-aways, he decides who's to blame but somehow ends up lumping his sibling in the same pot. Of course, the misery and abandonment he cavalierly leaves behind takes a back seat to his quest for enlightenment. Hal Holbrook steals the show but is just another pawn to be sacrificed along the way. In fact, with the exception of a single experience, "Super-tramp" receives nothing but kindness and understanding from everyone he meets, but still he perseveres. The film is too long by about 20 minutes and should have had the entire river canyon sequence and associated scenes as cuttings on the editorial floor. I had the impression there were some religious-reference scenes that were edited out – if so, thank you Mr. Penn. In the end, McCandless's life can be seen as a futile waste, having little or no relevance to anyone – not even himself. Should this film have been made? I think yes, it is a warning.