The Film Is Greatly Inspiring to Say the Least

Rating: 10/10 (7 March 2008)

I must comment personally as I acted on the set as a close-up background extra in the restaurant scene for two 12 hour days sitting nearly next to the portrayed family played by Emile Hirsch, William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden. It was one of the most enjoyable scenes on a set of many that I have appeared in and acted here in my home town of Portland Oregon while listed with a studio for this work.
I was anxious of course to see the movie as it released and this particular scene and how I appeared, only to find that the editing cut much of the background appearance out. I hope to see an uncut version of the movie one day as Penn came to each restaurant table to film each group of acting parents with their graduating children up close.
As for the movie, I was pleasantly shocked that the story line paralleled my own life and a 10,000 mile solo road trip that I made within one month in 2000 to perform a sidewalk astronomy venture for the random public and schools with the use of an expensive solar research-grade telescope. The character, McCandless that Emile Hirsch plays, encounters very similar incidences with relationships and people just as I did on my trip. That of a hidden prophecy finally revealed and there is something to be learned. Some scenes in the movie brought me to tears. He, the character McCandless, encounters very similar people, the opposite genders offerings, accidental and serendipitous events, the old sage father-like figure played by Hal Holbrook is what I thought, was Holbrook's finest acting ever. The scenery in Alaska with the music soundtrack is captivating; breathtaking. The movie simply inspires any viewer to realize that we as humans are driven and obligated to adventure and to the call of the wild. I believe there is something for everyone in this film. Penn's direction and work on this film is well deserving of many awards. Mark