Progressive Wednesday

The TGIF Movie Review: Into the Wild

As I mentioned this past Monday, I adore the film Into the Wild, the inspired-by-a-true-story flick Sean Penn directed and scribed based on the book by the same name. It’s a must-read, a book written with a deft hand and kind heart by Jon Krakauer. More importantly, as far as this Friday is concerned, Into the Wild is must-see. For the first time in Progressive Wednesday history (yes, we’re history makers here), I’m reviewing a piece of cinema still in the cinemas. Why? Because this is a beautiful work of art, a combination of powerful acting, an original soundtrack written and performed by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam fame, and visuals that will leave your mouth agape.

So, Matt, what’s the story? Oh, the story. The story is about Christopher McCandless. In 1992, after graduating with honors from Emory University, Chris dropped off the face of the earth to those who knew him. He donated his savings to Oxfam, burned his cash on-hand, cut up his driver’s license, and abandoned his car. He hoofed, hiked, kayaked, and hopped trains all over the country for two solid years. He worked when he needed some money for equipment or meager amounts of food and drink, but he led a tramping life, one of solitude and revelation ending in Alaska. I’m going to give something away: Chris dies. The end isn’t what matters: the why and how of the way he viewed life matter.

This is a story about new friendships, enthusiasm for solitude, male identity, and a consumer culture gone haywire. This is about a world that drives some to drink, others to hit the open road. This is a film about the only two things meaningful: how we live and how we die. This movie makes you want to get off your ass and do something, anything, before the final period is typed and our stories come to close.

So do something for me: watch this film. And then? And then do something you’ve always wanted to do: if only for a few moments, be free.