INTO THE WILD (2007) B-

Recently borrowed this movie from NETFLIX. Didn't see it when it was released, because my impression at the time was that the story would be presented as an adventure epic without the psychological insights that would give the story depth.

As I expected the producers missed a big opportunity. They had the potential of telling an in-depth story about a mentally ill young man who is also a risk-taker . . . that is, a person who is driven to take great physical risks to get "highs".

Instead they just tell a tale (without any insight) about this totally self - centered guy who rejects all worldly goods and relationships to get thrills and highs by risking his life. As expected he dies because of his stupidity, immaturity and mental illness.

Why did he reject the world, why is he a risk-taker . . . no answer from this film


Another review from RottenTomatoes

In 1992, 23-year-old Christopher McCandless, disillusioned for reasons that can ultimately only be guessed at with modern life, walked into the Alaskan wilderness as the climax of a two year odyssey across America. He wasn't seen again until a pair of hunters came across him by accident a year later.

. . . writer/director Sean Penn's adaptation is heavy on mood and ambiance but sadly lacking in depth, giving up on the wider comparisons to focus fully on McCandless, who may not really be up to the scrutiny.
. . . . McCandless is a bit of a twerp who rockets off other people's wisdom and thinks himself wise. He's got a monumental chip on his shoulder of somewhat undetermined origin he's had an unhappy childhood that's he's extrapolated out to explain the vague problems of 'society' (the quotation marks are actually audible every time he says 'society') at large and the confidence of youth that has convinced him he's got all the answers and everyone else is just deluding themselves, wasting their lives in mediocrity, which he seems to think is a synonym for hypocrisy.

The film cuts back and forth from his life in Alaska and his adventures on the road . . .
How well it all goes down depends on whether you commiserate with McCandless or find him hopelessly deluded. It's very, very difficult to identify with a stupid character without a good reason to.