Into The Wild Review

I have the pleasure of living in Portsmouth, NH.  That means that once a year I get to attend Telluride By the Sea, Telluride Film Festival's little seacoast cousin.  At Telluride By The Sea we get to watch 6 select movies that just recently were shown in Telluride the week before.  These movies are often some combination of provocative, moving, troubling and beautiful.

Last night was opening night and they showed Into The Wild.  My quick review:  I liked it.

It wasn't what I expected it would be, which was a relief.  Most movies of this kind (as I remember) are focused on the painful path that is discovery.  Every step you know the ending, but have to endure the pain and trials the whole way through.  Not with this film.  Instead we get to enjoy the trip, its characters and locations.  A significant, and important difference for me.

Stop reading now if you don't want any spoilers at all.

I did not read the book, but talked to several people who did read the book at the after party.  They all agreed that the book was good and the movie felt true to what they remember.  However the movie shows the main character in a much friendlier light.  In other words, in the book you really think he is an asshole and in the movie while you still think he is beeing an ass at times, you also get a lot of charm and character from him as well.

There were lots of unanswered questions in the movie.  I suspect because there was a lot left unknown.  Why did he never contact his sister?  Did he not know there were towns just a few miles away the entire time? One thing we don't see in the movie, but is apparently in the book is that the old man  takes his advice in the end.  It could have been a moving part of the movie, and I kind of wish they touched on it in the credits some how.

At any rate, I enjoyed it and recommend others see it.  The locations are quite beautiful and kudos to director Sean Penn for doing a great job, as well as Emile Hirsch playing the main character.  Lots of other smaller parts such as Hal Holbrook were quite good.  I think he cried real tears.

Side note:  We were told this movie actually opened officially last night in only three places.  New York, LA, and Portsmouth NH.  We don't get that often if at all.  Made the movie feel just a bit more special.