Into the Wild (2007)

After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.

Director:

Sean Penn

Writers:

Sean Penn (screenplay), Jon Krakauer (book)

Stars:

Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, Catherine Keener

Top 250 #162 | Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 43 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emile Hirsch	...	Chris McCandless
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Billie McCandless
William Hurt	...	Walt McCandless
Jena Malone	...	Carine McCandless / Additional Narrator
Brian H. Dierker	...	Rainey (as Brian Dierker)
Catherine Keener	...	Jan Burres
Vince Vaughn	...	Wayne Westerberg
Kristen Stewart	...	Tracy Tatro
Hal Holbrook	...	Ron Franz
Jim Gallien	...	Himself
James O'Neill	...	Graduation Reader (as James J. O'Neill)
Malinda McCollum	...	Waitress
Paul Knauls	...	Building Manager
Zach Galifianakis	...	Kevin
Craig Mutsch	...	Wayne's Crew #1

Storyline

Based on a true story. After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters who shape his life.

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Plot Keywords:

wilderness | alaska | charity | emory university | river rapids | 

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Taglines:

Into the heart Into the soul

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Genres:

Adventure | Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [jp]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Danish

Release Date:

21 September 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hacia rutas salvajes

Filming Locations:

Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£196,994 (UK) (9 November 2007)

Gross:

$18,352,454 (USA) (21 March 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Vantage, Art Linson Productions, Into the Wild

Technical Specs

Runtime:

148 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sean Penn needed wolves during production, and even rented some from an agency. Penn played "kissy face" with several of the wolves before, during, and after production. He spent hours feeding, playing with, and petting them. Several of the wolves are still alive, and on display at Wolf Country USA in Palmer, AK.

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Goofs

Multiple vehicles in the highway and city scenes were models that were unavailable in the early '90's.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Christopher McCandless: Mom! Mom! Help me.

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Crazy Credits

The opening title is shown as part of Chris's journal's writings.

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Connections

Referenced in Tosh.0: Double Rainbow Guy (Retreat) (2010)

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Soundtracks

"U Can't Touch This"
Written by M.C. Hammer (as Kirk Burrell), Rick James (as James Johnson), and Alonzo Miller
Performed by M.C. Hammer
Courtesy of Capitol Records, Inc.
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

Real American Beauty - an exceptional movie

I've never posted a comment regarding a movie but feel compelled to after attending a screening of Into The Wild at the Toronto Film Festival last night. I won't speak to story here as it's covered in the other comments.

This is a movie of real beauty. It made me cry. I felt moved in a way that happens very rarely. It was an inspiration.

The feelings it evoked were all based on the power of the acting and the writing. The words were real and human. The relationships seemed real and human. This may not seem like a great feat - but I consider it a true rarity. It didn't feel calculated and artificial, like so many movies (read: Crash - but I'm not here to bash that...). It was very organic, natural and (I can't say it enough) just beautiful. Cripes, it's making me sound like a hippie, for heaven's sake. This for me was Penn's best work since Indian Runner.

What it reminded me of...

• Terence Malik - Herzog? - in a strange way Cassavettes? - Hal Ashby

(more Coming Home than Harold & Maude...) - even a bit of Ken Loach

• Ruby in Paradise - Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore - Five Easy Pieces
• Easy Rider

... but when I list those it's not because of plot similarities (though there are some) or style (although I think you can definitely see the influence of some great films) - it's again because of the heart of it. I heard a few people at the screening comment that the film was "too long" but I don't agree. I think exploring a journey of this magnitude required visiting all of the people he touched and taking the time to see the land.

Hal Holbrook was just perfect, as was the cast as a whole, and I think Emile Hirsch is really going places - he was fantastic and he owned the role. Eddie Vedder's music worked perfectly as well - not distracting or quirky - just a part of the whole.

The film received a standing ovation and quite a few tears were shed. Magic.