Stunning...a masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (19 September 2007)

I saw this first at Telluride, then again at a screening in L.A. and have to say it only got better, deeper, and richer the second time around.
"Into The Wild" is a tour de force from Penn. The cinematography, acting, and sound track are flawless. But what makes it transcendent, and sure to be one of the few films that lasts decades, is the theme that Penn added. He said it was something he got from the book, but I read the book twice and it's not there. Somehow, this came from Penn himself. It's a theme about God's love and forgiveness and gives the episodic structure it's spine and cohesiveness. The end blew me away. A tragic ending, but beautiful and profound at the same time.
From Sean Penn...who knew??