Into the Wild (2007)
Adventure, Biography, Drama |
Into the Wild is a American biographical adventure drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Sean Penn. It is an adaptation of the 1996 non-fiction book of the same name written by Jon Krakauer and tells the story of Christopher McCandless, a man who hiked across North America into the Alaskan wilderness in the early 1990s. The film stars Emile Hirsch as McCandless and Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt as his parents; it also features Jena Malone, Catherine Keener, Brian Dierker, Vince Vaughn, Kristen Stewart, and Hal Holbrook.
The film premiered during the 2007 Rome Film Fest and later opened outside Fairbanks, Alaska on September 21, 2007. The film received critical acclaim and grossed $56 million worldwide. It was nominated for two Golden Globes and won the award for Best Original Song: “Guaranteed” by Eddie Vedder. It was also nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Editing and Best Supporting Actor for Holbrook.
In April 1992, Christopher McCandless arrives in a remote area just north of the Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Noting McCandless’ unpreparedness, the stranger who drops him off gives him a pair of gumboots. McCandless travels into the wilderness and sets up a campsite in an abandoned city bus, which he calls “The Magic Bus.” At first, McCandless is content with the isolation, the beauty of nature around him, and the thrill of living off the land. He hunts with a .22 caliber rifle, reads books, and keeps a diary of his thoughts as he prepares himself for a new life in the wild.
Two years earlier, in May 1990, McCandless graduates with high honors from Emory University. Shortly afterwards, he rejects his conventional life by destroying all of his credit cards and identification documents. He donates nearly all of his savings to Oxfam and sets out on a cross-country drive in his Datsun 210 to experience life in the wilderness.
Director: Sean Penn
Writers: Sean Penn (screenplay), Jon Krakauer (book)
Stars: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Brian H. Dierker, Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn
Cast:
| 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 | … | Jim Gallien |
| 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 |
| Jim Beidler | … | Wayne’s Crew #2 |
| John Decker | … | Hutterite #1 |
| John Hofer | … | Hutterite #2 |
| Jerry Hofer | … | Hutterite #3 |
| Terry Waldner | … | Hutterite #4 |
| Robin Mathews | … | Gail Borah |
| Candice Campos | … | Bar Girl |
| Steven Wiig | … | Lee’s Ferry Ranger |
| Thure Lindhardt | … | Mads |
| Signe Egholm Olsen | … | Sonja |
| Floyd Wall | … | Man in Phone Booth |
| Bryce Walters | … | Chris McCandless – age 4 |
| Jim Davis | … | Immigration Officer |
| Cheryl Francis Harrington | … | Social Worker |
| R.D. Call | … | Bull |
| Haley Ramm | … | Carine McCandless – age 11 |
| Merritt Wever | … | Lori |
| Everett ‘Insane Wayne’ Smith | … | Insane Cain |
| John Jabaley | … | Announcer |
| Leonard Knight | … | Leonard Knight |
| Matt Contreras | … | Book Shopper #1 |
| Denise Sitton | … | Book Shopper #2 |
| Bart the Bear | … | Bear |
| Sharon Olds | … | Additional Narrator (voice) |
| Carine McCandless | … | Additional Narrator (voice) |
| Dan Burch | … | Passerby (uncredited) |
| Joe Dustin | … | The Beast (uncredited) |
| Golbon Eghtedari | … | Graduate (uncredited) |
| Alvin Ellie | … | Homeless Patron (uncredited) |
| Caroline Gelabert | … | Graduating Billie McCandless (uncredited) |
| Geri Gilmore | … | Old Lady Tourist (uncredited) |
| Paul Haasch | … | Trail Guide (uncredited) |
| Aaron Wayne Hill | … | Big Wheel Boy (uncredited) |
| Timothy Levine | … | Atlanta Braves fan (uncredited) |
| Mad Martian | … | Guy At Bar (uncredited) |
| Parris Mosteller | … | Young Boy (voice) (uncredited) |
| Jenna Romero | … | Prom Date (uncredited) |
| Rocky Self | … | Punk Rocker (uncredited) |
| J. Nathan Simmons | … | Tourist (uncredited) |
| Susan Spencer | … | Parent (uncredited) |
| Haley Sweet | … | Bank Teller (uncredited) |
| Edward Tubbs | … | Brown Bronco Driver (uncredited) |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia