Snapshot of an Innocent

The self-portrait at left is the last picture ever taken of Christopher McCandless. In fact, it's one of the few real images of him we have. Reader's of Jon Krakauer's 1997 book Into the Wild will recognize it as the only photograph of him in that mesmerizing biography. One of the curious facts about McCandless (an ascetic, quixotic adventurer who died of starvation in the Alaska wilderness at age 24) is that he carried a camera -- one of his only modern accouterments -- with him during his Alaskan sojourn, along with a rifle, a scant amount of rice and gear, his journal, and a few high-minded books by the likes of Thoreau and Tolstoy. In the new film adaptation of Into the Wild directed by Sean Penn, this self-portrait makes a powerful appearance at the end of the movie. Unfortunately, it's arguably the most authentic and moving moment in the film.

This is not for a lack of trying. Tangentially based on Krakauer's book with a screenplay by Penn, the movie tries very hard to be both authentic and moving -- and many times it succeeds. It's those other times, when it tries too hard and comes off hokey, that drag it down.

In purely visual terms, the film is a triumph, full of stunning scenery from the wilds of Alaska to the Arizona desert to points in between, painstakingly sought out by Penn's crew and shot by cinematographer Eric Gautier. Penn's desire for geographic authenticity, in fact, is part of what convinced McCandless's family to sign on with him for the project, according to a revealing piece in Outside -- and partly why the film has been praised by many reviewers. Likewise, the acting is strong, with great performances by Emile Hirsch as an ernest (if overly charismatic) Chris, from little-known actors like Zach Glifianakis as an aging hippy, and from known actors like Hal Holbrook as a lonely widower who McCandless befriends.

But the script is problematic. McCandless left behind writings and intense encounters with people, but his actual life is mysterious, and Penn seems to fill in the gaps with hagiography. While Krakauer's book relied on a documentary-style retracing of McCandless's journey -- interspersed with passages about other adventurers, including Krakauer himself -- the film is a biopic narrative, with fictional reenactments of scenes designed to spice up what is, after all, one guy's solitary journey. In the process, Penn uses a "more is more" approach to drama that even Oliver Stone would envy. (Eddie Vedder's unctuous soundtrack doesn't help.) Particularly jarring is a concocted Love Interest (based on a very flimsy anecdotal record at best) that culminates in Hirsch and actress Kristen Stewart singing John Prine's "Angel From Montgomery" together onstage, a la Prine and Bonnie Raitt -- about as believable as the film's not-so-subtle inferences that our hero is a Christ-like figure.

Still, much of the story is rendered well and judiciously, which makes the excesses all the more disappointing. When describing the movie to friends I was asked whether it's worth seeing. "Oh, yes," I answered. "I'd give it three stars out of five. I was just bothered by the flaws." One friend said, "They're aiming at the fly-over states. Going for big bucks in the malls." She may be right. But you have to wonder what a guy like Christopher McCandless would think about that. -- Jack Crager

Comments

[Skip]

Great story, however there are so many like it. This guy needed help and should not be glorified in anyway. If it was just that simple. He had issues for sure. Tragic waste of life. Is starving in the middle of nowhere with no friends or family a good thing? Great to go after something, but to what length and what exacly was he going after?

[joe]

his story is absolutley amazing, ones journey such as his is so brillaint, and yes the way he died is what he wanted, to get away obviously from the ridiculous life he once held back home. i beleieve he was going after freedom.

because if he didnt want to die that way he would have most likely attempted to travel back home.

he was just a free man. there is not one story that is exactly like his, and if so please tell.