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 ... Read allAfter 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.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.
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 23 wins & 106 nominations total
Brian H. Dierker
- Rainey
- (as Brian Dierker)
James O'Neill
- Graduation Reader
- (as James J. O'Neill)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJim Gallien, the Alaskan who gave Chris the rubber boots in the opening scene, plays himself.
- GoofsAt one point, Chris burns his Social Security card, just like he burned paper money previously.
In real life, Chris didn't burn his Social Security Card. When his sister Carine flew to Alaska to pick up his remains and some of the possessions that were found with him, she did not receive his backpack. Years later, when she returned to Alaska to finally see the bus where Chris died, she met a man who had removed Chris's backpack from the bus shortly after he had died. The man kept the backpack at his home for years, and when he finally gave it back to Carine, she found that it still contained many of Chris's possessions, including his wallet and Social Security card.
- Quotes
Christopher McCandless: [written into book] Happiness only real when shared.
- Crazy creditsThe opening title is shown as part of Chris's journal's writings.
- SoundtracksHard Sun
Written by Gordon Peterson
Performed by Eddie Vedder & Corin Tucker
Courtesy of Monkeywrench, Inc./J Records
Featured review
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...
... 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.
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.
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Camino salvaje
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $15,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $18,354,356
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $212,440
- Sep 23, 2007
- Gross worldwide
- $56,676,733
- Runtime2 hours 28 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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