by Kendall Newton
Contributing writer
There are a lot of amazing movies that escape the notice of the general public. “Into the Wild” is one of those movies.
Released in 2007, it was adapted for the screen, directed by Sean Penn and stars Emile Hirsch as Christopher McCandless.
The movie is based on a true story about a college graduate who donates his life savings to charity, abandons his car and sets out to travel the United States on foot before hitchhiking his way to Alaska.
Christopher McCandless is a young man overflowing with an infectious passion for life. He affects the people he meets on the road in life-changing ways.
I’m not particularly passionate about nature in the way that McCandless is, but his lust for life made me want to live as loudly and boldly as possible.
I first saw “Into the Wild” in 2007 only because it was nominated for best editing and best supporting actor Oscars, and every year I try to see all nominated movies. I expected to be bored and unimpressed by a pretentious nature movie.
What I found was a movie that moved me unlike any I had yet seen.
The movie is not only an awe-inspiring story but it is incredibly well made. Sean Penn adapted the book by Jon Krakauer, which I found to be rather dull in comparison, and gave it so much life.
The real McCandless and the authors he idolized pepper the film with quotes. The soundtrack was done by Eddie Vedder and gives the perfect touch of American folk-ness.
While only one actor, Hal Holbrook, was nominated for an Oscar for this film, the entire ensemble cast is impressive.
Actors include Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn and even Zach Galfianakis. Leading the pack is Emile Hirsch: impressive and charismatically endearing in his breakout role.
When I see this movie for sale, I am overcome with the urge to buy every copy on the shelf so I can give it to everyone I know. I’ve shoved it in the faces of all my friends and family with a solid guarantee that they will either like it or love it. I’ve yet to meet someone who hasn’t.
If you see it, you will not regret it.