Hmm

Rating: 6/10 (1 October 2007)

When I heard this movie was being made, and then later, heard it was being made by Sean Penn, I cringed at the prospect. The story of Chris McCandless is a sad, almost incomprehensible one, that simply fell into the hands of a very capable writer in Jon Krakauer. In some ways, Krakauer single-handedly developed the controversy of Chris' life that made the story so compelling. It's not surprising that a Hollywood hothead like Sean Penn would come along and make the story his baby. But, of course, I can't blast Penn too much, since he is clearly a talented actor and director.
That said, "Into the Wild" is a beautifully-written, albeit arrogantly-directed movie. The book is paper-thin; why in the world did Penn feel compelled to make the movie well over two hours long?? It's a shame, because the length of the film diluted its poignancy and power. I kept thinking to myself, when is this guy going to (finally!) get to Alaska?! Also a shame, because Chris' final social interaction, with Ron Franz, was also the most touching one.
I can't see how someone could fully appreciate the movie without reading the book (as evidenced by people who, thinking it was some kind of comic relief, were laughing in the theater when Chris was shouting to the sky how hungry he was). I don't want to make my own conjectures about Chris' sanity, motivations, or responsibility; you're supposed to judge that for yourself. And in some ways, your impression of Chris will probably echo your feelings about the film.