"Into the Wild" is a beautiful and inspiring depiction of the true life story of a "driven" and "adventurous" young man named Christopher Johnson McCandless. After graduating from college at the age of 21, Chris renounces his family, all material possessions and identifying documents to become Alexander Supertramp, to travel the world and live off of the land. This courageous young "king of the road" learns to hunt his own food, build his own shelters and keep himself out of danger while making friends and impacting the lives of everyone he meets along his personal journey in search of the simple beauty, love and the absolute freedom that only the most isolated natural surroundings can offer. During the course of his travels Alex declares that joy is not only found in human relationships, but that it can be found all around us. He believes that every man, woman and child must remove themselves from the made up institutions and obligations enforced upon us by society; such as relationships, friendships, education, careers and family to experience the true beauty and joy that life has to offer. The breathtaking mountain top views that Alex witnesses, the wildlife he is able to exist in harmony with, the boundaries and limits he is able to surpass in the wild, convince him that he is right about getting back to nature and as his journey continues he finds himself searching for more and more isolated areas to inhabit. So begins the great Alaskan adventure, as he comes to call it. Every job he takes, every friendship he makes, every penny he earns, every skill he learns is a means to an end, which for Alexander Supertramp is his ultimate goal of living by himself in Alaska for one full winter; a goal which he lives to accomplish. But even the strength of this huge personal victory is not enough to bring Alex home. When he tries to leave his Alaskan landscape in the spring, this brave wanderer soon discovers just how cruel and controlling Mother Nature can be. Trapped in the wilderness with no food, no means of communicating with the outside world and ultimately no strength, Christopher McCandless discovers that true happiness can only be experienced when it is shared with another human being. What Christopher McCandless experienced is something that most of us will never even come close to achieving in our own life times. He lived without money, without possessions, without institutions, without obligations. He followed his dreams and he lived in absolute freedom. He depended on nothing but his books and he found the ultimate truth, the only problem was that when he found it he had no one to share it with.

"Into the Wild" is a touching film. Sean Penn directs an immensely talented all star cast and captures some of the most breathtaking and remote landscapes ever visited by man. As the saying goes, "there are many small parts but no small actors." No truer words could be used to describe the talent in this film. Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt are cruel, controlling and heart breaking, as Billie and Walt McCandless (Chris' parents). And all of the folks that Chris encounters during his travels are amazing and captivating actors as well. However there were three performances that stood out amongst the crowd. Vince Vaughn plays an unusually serious character as Wayne Westerberg. He gets the usual laughs, of course, but there is something so sweet and sincere about him in this role, a genuine kindness and concern for others that makes him exceptionally real. Similarly, Catherine Keener is equally genuine as Jan, the single mom and hippie who Chris runs into twice during his journey. She is honest and compassionate and terribly worried about her new friend, and as a parent herself, she desperately tries to urge Chris to contact his family. Ms. Keener is always fabulous in any role she plays and she too can extract a few laughs or tears on command. But without question the "best performance" award goes to Mr. Hal Holbrook as Ron Franz, "the stubborn old man sittin' on his butt." Though his role may be small, his presence on the screen is huge. He can adopt me and be my grandfather any day. I definitely would not be able to walk away from him with those tears rolling delicately over the creases in his cheeks. Awwww, Hal...what a show my good man! And last, but of course, not least, Emile Hirsch as Christopher. I think Chris would have been honoured to be portrayed by such a fine young actor. Emile is funny and free. He does an outstanding job weathering the elements and even managing to loss a frightening amount of weight to emulate and pay proper respect to the true experiences of Christopher Johnson McCandless.

An amazing story, gorgeous backdrops, fabulous actors, and an entire soundtrack performed by Eddie Vedder. Sean Penn definitely put together the makings of an excellent biographical film that everyone should see at least once.