Into The Wild

Saw it, loved it. Thought it was going to be depressing watching people eat popcorn and Milkduds in the theater while someone was starving to death onscreen, but there were lots of funny scenes.

Sorry if there's a thread already -- looked and couldn't find one. I don't love everything Sean Penn's done with films, but I think this one was brilliant on many levels.

 

agreed. loved every little bit of it.

 

I'm hoping to see it this week. Just haven't had time since it finally came to town after waiting weeks for the national release.

I've read the book at least 10 times in the past decade and I'm always wary of film adaptations of books I love, especially on a subject like this, but I've heard nothing but raves for the job Penn did.

 

I thought this was a hockey thread.

I am so clueless when it comes to today's pop culture.

 

Into the Wild was also 1996's pop culture. It's based on a book that spent two years on the NYT bestseller's list.

And the movie is fantastic and I believe a darkhorse Oscar contender.

 

Movie looks good. Sean Penn directing is a big, BIG red flag for me.

Hate, hate hate, hate, Hate, Hate, HATE, HATE, many of Penn's other directing jobs.
"The Pledge" and "The Crossing Guard" were both painful to watch.
After seeing "The Pledge" I swore off Sean Penn-directed movies.

 

The original Krakauer article:

http://outside.away.com/magazine/0193/9301fdea.html

 

There was mention of it on one of the generic movie threads. I saw it and really, really liked it. Emile Hirsch was great and the supporting performance by Hal Holbrook was amazing. I read the book when it first came out and want to read it again now.

 

Like John, I've read that book many times. I haven't seen the movie, because I'm worried about the romantic idealization of McCandless. He died because he was foolish, and I hope the movie drives that point home like the book did.

 

Krakauer is on another level. I know there's a lot of Gary Smith worship here, and rightfully so, but Krakauer is every bit the writer/reporter/storyteller that Smith is.

 

Foolish and selfish, yes. I think the movie delivered those points without preaching.

Worth it for the scenery alone.