sean penn is not a prolific director of films
but he seems to know what he wants when he takes control
in the same manner in which he delivers mesmerising performances on the screen
this film has had little publicity that i had been aware of
a 5 star review from margaret pomeranz and almost the same from david stratton
was all i needed to put it at the top of the to-see film list
chris is a 23 year-old university graduate from west virginia
has done a fine job all his life living up to his parents expectations
but some undisclosed dirty linen in the family's past
and a realisation of a now-or-never moment
means he walks in an opposite direction
leaving behind an understanding but distraught sister
and parents who then have to discover that life is not always controllable
the ultimate destination for chris is 'not city alaska but alaska alaska'
the film opens as he is deposited there from his last hitch
from where he walks most assuredly through the snow into the wild
we then backtrack in time to his university graduation
to understand why he has felt compelled to make this journey
but he seems to know what he wants when he takes control
in the same manner in which he delivers mesmerising performances on the screen
this film has had little publicity that i had been aware of
a 5 star review from margaret pomeranz and almost the same from david stratton
was all i needed to put it at the top of the to-see film list
chris is a 23 year-old university graduate from west virginia
has done a fine job all his life living up to his parents expectations
but some undisclosed dirty linen in the family's past
and a realisation of a now-or-never moment
means he walks in an opposite direction
leaving behind an understanding but distraught sister
and parents who then have to discover that life is not always controllable
the ultimate destination for chris is 'not city alaska but alaska alaska'
the film opens as he is deposited there from his last hitch
from where he walks most assuredly through the snow into the wild
we then backtrack in time to his university graduation
to understand why he has felt compelled to make this journey
leading to his final destination inhabiting a abandoned bus in deep alaska
between start and finish the film moves constantly back and forward in time
he meets and befriends men and women of all ages along the way
each wanting to pass on wisdom and experience
but it is each of them in a very subtle way that becomes the student of life
meanwhile the underbelly of american outback culture is well and truly exposed
as is the beauty and harshness of the nature of southern america and alaska
many times i thought during the film how it may have been better told chronologically
each wanting to pass on wisdom and experience
but it is each of them in a very subtle way that becomes the student of life
meanwhile the underbelly of american outback culture is well and truly exposed
as is the beauty and harshness of the nature of southern america and alaska
many times i thought during the film how it may have been better told chronologically
the jumping around, the on-screen text and the occasional technical trick
all i thought detracted a bit from the overall feel of the film
but there's a great soundtrack built in featuring some new tunes from eddie vedder
and the acting is first rate - william hurt again excellently playing the man you love to hate
but there's a great soundtrack built in featuring some new tunes from eddie vedder
and the acting is first rate - william hurt again excellently playing the man you love to hate
marcia gay harden once again playing a sad mother with a lost child
and katherine keenan excelling as a middle-aged hippy
emile hirsch who plays chris looks like a leonardo dicaprio with sincerity
this film is based on a book about a true story of a young man striking out
emile hirsch who plays chris looks like a leonardo dicaprio with sincerity
this film is based on a book about a true story of a young man striking out
there are any number of mostly subtle messages planted in the film
not the least being the last entry seen written by chris
happiness is not a reality until shared
resonating stuff
