Another American movie adapted from a work of non-fiction about a young man escaping from civilization, Sean Penn's Into the Wild is an altogether more expansive film than 127 Hours, taking in a whole host of American vistas as it follows Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) on his journey to Alaska. It's not uncommon for people who graduate to take a year out before getting stuck in the daily grind of adult life - McCandless decided to take things a little further than most: after symbolically destroying his credit cards, he hitchhikes across the States, picking up work along the way before leaving civilization behind completely and heading into the wilds of Alaska. Here, he realises that nature can be just as harsh and unforgiving as people, but when he sets out to return he discovers that the gentle stream he passed has become a raging river, trapping him in the wilderness. Sean Penn has already proven himself to be a director with a keen eye for beautiful compositions, and his acting background seems to guarantee his directorial efforts are populated with rounded characters delivered with fine performances. Into the Wild is no exception - it's a moving, insightful meditation on hope and disillusionment which is both engaging and poignant.
