Into the heart Into the soul

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Brian H. Dierker, Kristen Stewart, Hal Holbrook, Zach Galifianakis, Vince Vaughn

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"The core of man's spirit comes from new experiences." – Christopher McCandless (aka "Alexander Supertramp")

Why watch this? The tale of this deep-thinking young man has lessons for all of us.

Plot Summary: There are those who are drawn to living life on the free edge, as close to nature as possible. Beautiful mountains. Scenic deserts. Raging rivers. One such person is Christoper McCandless, a man in his early twenties, disenchanted with modern America, and determined to experience life "off the grid". After graduating from Emory University, he burns his credit cards and embarks to see the wild, leaving behind no trail to follow. This devastates all those who love him, but he MUST do this to be honest with himself. He is a cheerful, intelligent kid who enamors the wayward folks he encounters, yet breaks their hearts when he moves on. His destination is Alaska.

Dad's Preview:  This film's brilliance is that it's not selling an agenda. It simply, and quite beautifully, documents the evolution of a free spirit. We witness the romantic harmony of nature's beauty contrasted against the brutality of life as a vagabond, always hungry and overwhelmed by nature's power. As we also encounter Christopher's free lifestyle, we have to be prepared to feel heartbreak as well. Sadly, the lessons learned are painful, but in a way, worth the cost.

River Road Ent., Square One C.I.H., Linson Films; Paramount Vantage