Into the Wild

The joy of life is celebrated in Into the Wild. Sean Penn's version of the adventures of Chris McCandless is joyful, intense and astounding. The story of a young man's trek from Georgia to Alaska is the story of goals and relationships. The film is made up of scenes of Chris' time in Alaska, interspersed with scenes of his journey. The people he meets along the way, and decisions he makes, show just what kind of person he is. The spirit of this young man is portrayed by Emile Hirsch, as much in his expressions and body language, as his words. A fantastic performance. The soundtrack features original songs from Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) that really capture the essence of the time and space. Penn's film style shows, not only the beauty of the wilderness, but the beauty of Chris McCandless.