The Supertramp

Rating: 9/10 (15 June 2012)

There are those that say this film is boring. I fear these are the kinds of people that say, "Outside? What's that?". Into The Wild is going to be one of those films you love or you hate and it will very much depend on your own personal views on life.
For me, I loved it, and some day I am going to follow in the footsteps of Christopher McCandless. It is a voyage that is best suited to the wilds of the USA as here in Britain it is quite hard to travel for 10 miles without stumbling across a village of some sort. There aren't as many panoramic views or long stretching highways or indeed as many strange but incredibly friendly people.
Emile Hirsch appeared from nowhere to claim the leading role in this film, perhaps being best known for the piece of drivel The Girl Next Door. Although Lords of Dogtown was quite good. Anyway, I like it when a film uses an unheralded name and to all intents and purposes Emile Hirsch delivers the goods in his first real leading role.
Christopher McCandless (Hirsch) is a recent college graduate and sick of the lies and deceptions of his constantly arguing parents whose only concern seems to be status. He could not care less for having a faster car or a posh girlfriend or a six figure salary. So he gives all of his money, $24,000 to charity, burns his car and vanishes with little more than a backpack, sleeping-bag and large bag of rice.
The film is beautifully shot and Eric Gautier's cinematography is stunning. But then, if a professional filmmaker had failed to capture the wonderful scenery of open America you would really wonder if he or she had chosen the right career. So often we, particularly us Europeans, view America as this fat hamburger eating loud obnoxious nation of slobs. In reality this could not be farther from the truth. America is a tremendously diverse country rich in different cultures and we can forget at times how vast the land itself is. Christopher McCandless takes us into the wildness of it all.
Along the way we meet some great characters and the casting crew did a great job of filling the roles with experienced actors with presence. One of my favourites was Jan played by Catherine Keener. On the surface she is a witty hippie full of the joie de vivre. However there are darker undertones that Keener hints at us until they are fully revealed and her subtle presentation should be praised. Vince Vaughn continues a line of comic actors who prove that they can be more than just a comedian. Although Wayne Westerberg (Vaughn) is still very much a Vaughn type character; loud, in your face and smelling a bit boozy, upon meeting McCandless we see he is scared. He likes the comfort of the society he's in and Vaughn does well in portraying this. There is a great cameo from Hal Holbrook as Ron Franz, a lonely pensioner with a huge heart.
The only unwelcome face, for me was Kristen Stewart who again presents a bland and non-smiling forgettable character. She serves as McCandless's brief love interest although to my relief he is sensible enough not to pursue her.
The journey and the people encountered are what drives this film. Hirsch is a joy to watch and successfully mixes a blend of naive happiness and lonely realisation. The message is clear; happiness is best when shared. Throughout the film McCandless opposes this doctrine and states to Westerberg, "You're wrong if you think joy can only come from the presence of other people." He is a character I can highly relate to and his openness and willingness is refreshing to see on the big screen.
This film was inspiring for me. McCandless throws away the map and the rule book and with no plan sets off into the world to experience for what it is, renaming himself 'Alexander Supertramp'. I have yet to talk about the best part to this film though. That is the soundtrack. The soundtrack is truly awesome and nothing I can say will justify it. You simply must watch this film. Then you must simply buy Eddie Vedder's CD.