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ITEM9.21.07
The Critics: ‘Into the Wild,’ the Movie
Turan adds:
Director of photography Eric Gautier, who also shot “The Motorcycle Diaries,” gets a nod from Turan for his “striking outdoor photography” of Alaska and the American Southwest. New York Times film critic A.O. Scott also notes the beauty of the film in a positive review. He writes “though the film’s structure may be tragic, its spirit is anything but. It is infused with an expansive, almost giddy sense of possibility, and it communicates a pure, unaffected delight in open spaces, fresh air and bright sunshine.” It is, he says, “a movie about the desire for freedom that feels, in itself, like the fulfillment of that desire.” Entertainment Weekly’s Owen Gleiberman gives the film an A-, saying it has “a darkling purity that will haunt anyone willing to take the trip.” Salon’s Stephanie Zacharek has more of a mixed take: “The story Penn has made from Krakauer’s book is sometimes absorbing and occasionally quite touching,” she writes. “And Penn is perceptive enough to see that the act of ‘finding oneself’ isn’t necessarily just a groovy, harmless quest; it can also be a profoundly manipulative act, a way of cutting deeply into the people who love you most. But it takes Penn too long to tease the really interesting (and somewhat dark) observations out of McCandless’ story.” New York magazine’s David Edelstein also offers a mixed review, but his praise is telling. “After all the nits are picked, Into the Wild has a crazy integrity—Penn believes.” Based on the reviews, I’m upgrading my expectations for a second time. I plan to see the movie next week when I’m in Los Angeles.
Related on World Hum:
COMMENTSI read a brilliant article about Christopher McCandless’ odyssey some years ago in “Outdoors” magazine. If the film is half as good as the article I would really recommend it. By Colin Maddocks on 9.25.07 at 09:30 AM
Hy! i want to say only that:
By Dan Mcadam on 2.22.08 at 09:53 AM
I enjoyed the movie, and read the article from “Outside” magazine. The article is such a “teaser” to the movie. Chris McCandles story is very inspiring. Not to go out and die, but to see the world as it is, the importance of being conscious of the truth to ones personal life. I liked how in the movie it portrayed his views on, love, and being rightfully true to yourself. Even though he learned this to late in the bus...I recommend this movie and have a copy of it in my collection. On a side note: It is so motivating[in that he just wants to be free from society] that my parents wont show it to my step-brother because they are afraid he might do the same thing. By on 3.28.08 at 01:34 AM
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After a couple months of hype, including an 
