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Into the Wild, Movie Review

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Into the Wild, Movie Review
Into the Wild
*Spoiler Alert*

Most people dream at one time or another of leaving everything behind and starting over, searching for inner strengths. When Into the Wild was released on September 21st, 2007, based on the nonfiction book written by Jon Krakauer. Directed by Sean Penn, this movie shows us the gripping true story of Chris McCandless, played by Emile Hirsch, as he leaves his privileged life behind to embark on a quest for adventure and truth. The film is set in the early 1990’s and follows Chris as he graduates from Emory University, travels across the country, and reaches his dream destination in the Alaskan wilderness. In this drama, Chris meets many different people whom enrich and impact Chris’ life more than money or success ever could.
I believe that this is an incredible dramatic film. All of the characters are very realistic and being that it is a true story, you are able to connect more with Chris and his struggles. Throughout the movie you are questioning Chris like you would a friend. You are wondering why he is choosing to make certain decisions and follow the paths that he is choosing to follow, but you can’t help but connect to him because everyone has been lost at one point in their life. James Berardinelli from Reelviews says, “By the end of the movie, I don't know that I liked Chris, but I understood him and sympathized with him, and sometimes that's more important”(1).
When it comes to the characters in the movie, In the words of Jan Stuart, “Sean Penn's sprawling, lovingly crafted film is crowded with the sort of big-hearted, life-toughened characters one would hope to run into while tramping across America” (1). As Chris travels across the country he befriends many different individuals who impact his life as he impacts theirs. There is Rainy and Jan (Brian H. Dierker and Catherine Keener) a hippie couple who are traveling around the United States in their bus. Chris reminds them of their lost son and helps them spark their
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