This is an amazing film that has left me feeling strange inside.
The journey that this young man has taken is a dozen lifetimes compared to my own. it makes me reflect on a lot of different things:
1. Am I living to my potential?
2. Am I taking any chances with my life (am I living or am I playing it too safe)?
3. Am I making the world a better place or am I being too selfish?
4. Am I taking the time to really appreciate all that I am blessed with… family, friends, health, artistic abilities?
5. Do I let “ego” interfere in my own happiness?
6. Do I truly accept “who I am” and “where I come from”?
I guess we try to answers these questions everyday of our lives. And, I believe, we feel the need to answer them more as we get older and reflect on our lives, our past, and that which has made us who we are… good and bad.
The main character, Chris McCandless sets out on a journey to escape the shackles of society, but it really seems he is trying to escape the pain of his childhood. And he makes his ultimate goal, Alaska. And as Hal Holbrook’s character asks him simply, “What are you running from”? The answer, of course, is himself.
He discovers the ultimate truth is, that we all need each other to get through this world.
“You can’t make it on your own”
And I couldn’t help but think about what an amazing job Sean Penn did as a director and a filmmaker. But, it also begged the bigger question… Why do most genius artists seem to be such tragic assholes in their personal lives. And Sean Penn confuses me. He seems to do a lot of good, but I’ve heard enough stories about him that lead me to believe that he believes “his own hype”.
He seems to be working on his image and legacy with every puff of his cigarette.
If you shot him with the “honesty raygun”, he would probably admit to wanting to just play golf, get fat and watch a lot of cable TV.
But he can’t, he has his legacy to think of. James Dean and Jack Kerouac didn’t play golf and they definitely didn’t play by the rules…. because that wouldn’t be “cool”.
Those who pursue “cool”, will never be cool. I’ve tried and failed many times.
So, can a great artist be a nice guy? Not in the dramatic sense… that’s boring, that doesn’t sell books or make for good films.
So, are there are great artists that are also very good people?
Absolutely, and some of them are right here on Pretty Frank.
And I’m glad to call them friends…
Because you can’t make it on your own.
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I’m glad you finally watched “Into the Wild.” It was a monumental journey for me, too, on many levels. It made me reflect on my own life, as well. I was in tears at the end — absolutely wailing, but not in a sad way. It was just profoundly moving.
I also loved many, many things about the craft of the film, too. There were such layered, thoughtful performances. Hal Holbrook is mesmerizing. A superb example of acting that every actor should watch, analyze and admire. It’s all in his eyes, with a subtle, yearning world-weariness that words simply cannot convey.
Absolutely beautiful experience.
You should do a post about this…