Into the Wild, Again

I finally got around to Netflixing "Into the Wild". I was curious when I heard a movie was being made how many people would be up for watching someone slowly starve to death (that was once I was assured that the filmmakers weren't going to 'Hollywoodize' the ending-a helicopter comes down and saves the day kinda thing). The answer was some but not enough to make a hit.


Into the Wild started as a 1994 article in Outside magazine that was then expanded into a book by its author, Jon Krakauer. When the book came out Krakauer did a signing in Anchorage at the store where I was working which was lightly attended (and not just because Krakauer hadn't yet had his Everest misadventure) because Alaskans were very critical of Into the Wild's protaganist, Christopher. Not because he felt the call of the wild, every non native Alaskan I ever met all had their own personal version of that story including myself, but because he got himself killed in his answering it. I found Alaskans can be that way sometimes, it was one of the things that made them interesting people but difficult customers. But maybe that's more than just Alaskans-too often people seem quick to condemn when the subject is other person's freedom.


I thought "Into the Wild" a good adaptation of Christopher's story. Obviously it really spoke to Sean Penn since he showed such sensitivity in telling it. (Also fabulous fabulous casting) He also gave it emotional heft which is key to answering the viewers' internal question "Why should I care about this person feeling stifled when he seemed to have it all?" The quest-for freedom, for a life to actually live-is universal, it's just the players who change.