Magnum Force

Directed by Ted Post and screenplay by John Milius and Michael Cimino from a story by Milius with ideas from Terrence Malick, Magnum Force is the second film in the Dirty Harry series that has Harry Callahan dealing with renegade cops who have taken the law into their own hands seeing his own ideas become distorted. The film is an exploration of vigilante justice and its fallacies as Clint Eastwood reprises his role as Dirty Harry Callahan as someone who has his own methods of justice is trying to make sure it’s done for the right reasons. Also starring Hal Holbrook, Robert Ulrich, David Soul, Mitchell Ryan, Felton Perry, and Tim Matheson. Magnum Force is a thrilling yet eerie film from Ted Post.

Following the death of a mob leader after he was acquitted for a crime he did commit, the film revolves around Harry Callahan trying to investigate these murders as he believes that it’s not in the hand of criminals but rather people in the San Francisco Police Department. Notably as they’ve taken on the idea of vigilante justice which makes Callahan uneasy though others believe the murders are in the hands of rival mobsters and such which is something Callahan doesn’t think is true. The film’s screenplay by John Milius and Michael Cimino doesn’t just explore this wave of vigilante justice that is causing trouble but also Callahan’s own reaction to it as some believe that he started it. Callahan doesn’t get involved in the investigation due to having to work another assignment as he takes a closer look at these killings where he finds himself having to spar with his new superior in Lt. Briggs (Hal Holbrook).

With his new partner Earlington “Early” Smith (Felton Perry) helping him, Callahan doesn’t just try to do his job and take down criminals but he is someone that is aware of his limitations. One of the themes in the film is limitations as the line “man’s got to know his limitations” is something Callahan would often say as it would also refer to Lt. Briggs who tries to maintain some control. The script also play into Callahan’s personal life as he does live alone while also helps out the wife of a fellow officer in Charlie McCoy (Mitchell Ryan) who is becoming unhinged through alcoholism. McCoy is initially a suspect since the script reveals that the killer is a traffic cop often riding a motorcycle but Callahan doesn’t think it’s him as he catches the eye of four new traffic cops who would compete with him in a shootout contest.

Ted Post’s direction does have some elements of style as it starts off with a sequence at San Francisco’s City Hall where a trial had just finished where he uses hand-held cameras to get through the crowd and then follow into this sequence of a mobster in his car with his attorney and two associates as they’re stopped by a traffic cop who kills them. Shot on location in San Francisco and areas nearby, Post’s direction would have him use a lot of wide shots for some of the locations but also in scenes that play into the suspense such as an attack on a pool party or a hit from a penthouse with the cops watching from a building across the street. Yet, he favors more intimate shots in close-ups and medium shots while putting in bits of style such as the low-camera angle shots or high angle shots for some scenes as it relates to the investigation.

The close-ups are a big deal for some of the violence such as the first kill and other kills as it help obscure the identity of the killers. The moments of violence are far more intense as it relate to what the killers are doing in comparison to what Callahan does when he has to deal with criminals. The third act isn’t just about the reveal of who are the vigilante cops but also their ideas of justice which doesn’t sit well with Callahan as it reveal what kind of man he is and why he will always do what is right no matter how much he can disagree with the ideas of the law. Overall, Post creates a chilling yet engaging film about a police investigator dealing with the idea of vigilante justice.

Cinematographer Frank Stanley does excellent work with the film’s colorful cinematography with the look of the daytime exterior scenes as well as the usage of low-key lights for some of the interiors in the day and night. Editor Ferris Webster does some nice work with the editing as it is quite straightforward with some rhythmic cuts for some of the suspense. Art director Jack T. Collis and set decorator John Lamphear do fantastic work with the look of the offices of the police as well as the apartment home of Callahan. The sound work of James R. Alexander is terrific for the way gunfire sounds as well as some of the intense action that is presented. The film’s music by Lalo Schifrin is amazing for its jazz-driven score that help play into the suspense as well as some of the film’s action scenes.

The casting by Nessa Hyams is superb as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Suzanne Somers as a topless pool girl killed in a massacre, Adele Yoshioka as a neighbor of Callahan who flirts with him, Richard Devon as a mob leader who is acquitted and then killed early in the film, Tony Giorgio as a mob leader who is suspected for all of the killings, Christine White as McCoy’s wife, Bob McClurg as a cab driver befriending a hooker who is later confronted by her pimp, Margaret Avery as the hooker, Albert Popwell as the pimp, John Mitchum as Callahan’s fellow inspector Frank “Fatso” DiGiorgio who would stakeout one of the mob targets who would be assassinated, and Mitchell Ryan as Callahan’s troubled traffic cop friend Charlie McCoy who is unraveling through his alcoholism as he becomes a suspect because he’s a motorcycle cop.

The quartet that consists of Kip Nevin, Robert Ulrich, Tim Matheson, and David Soul are fantastic as rookie traffic cops that intrigue Callahan as Soul’s character John Davis is the big standout as someone who is very good with a gun. Felton Perry is excellent as Callahan’s new partner Early Smith as a man who is new to the world of homicide as he is also quite resourceful in getting the job done and handle things under pressure as he is one of the few who sticks with Callahan’s views on what is really going on. Hal Holbrook is brilliant as Lt. Neil Briggs as Callahan’s new superior who tries to instill his own ideas of enforcement where he makes Callahan uneasy but is willing to listen to what Callahan is thinking about. Finally, there’s Clint Eastwood in an incredible performance as Harry Callahan as the no-nonsense investigator whose weapon is a .44 Magnum as he is aware of what is happening but also uses his instincts to know something is off as he believes that the killer or killers aren’t hitmen but rather someone in the police force as it’s Eastwood at his best.

Magnum Force is a sensational from Ted Post that features an iconic Clint Eastwood in one of his defining roles. Along with its strong ensemble cast, a gripping screenplay by John Milius and Michael Cimino, and top-notch action. It’s a film that explore the ideas of justice and how it can be distorted for some forcing Dirty Harry to set things right. In the end, Magnum Force is a remarkable film from Ted Post.

Dirty Harry Films: Dirty Harry - The Enforcer – Sudden Impact – The Dead Pool

© thevoid99 2017

The Fog (1980 film)

Directed and scored by John Carpenter and written by Carpenter and Debra Hill, The Fog is the story of a mysterious fog that surrounds a small town in California as it relates to a group of ghosts from a shipwreck that happened a hundred years ago. The film is a ghost story where a group of people in this small town deal with the phenomenon and try to survive this attack from ghosts. Starring Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Atkins, Janet Leigh, and Hal Holbrook. The Fog is an eerie yet ominous film from John Carpenter.

The film is set in a coastal small town in California where a shipwreck occurred exactly 100 years ago as its ghosts have come back from the dead through a fog to seek vengeance on the town and the descendants that had wronged them. Set entirely in the span of a day, the film begins with a man (John Houseman) telling this story about a shipwreck that occurred a hundred years ago where the town’s priest Father Malone (Hal Holbrook) discovers the shocking secret about the founding of the town and why this fog is emerging. Meanwhile, locals deal with some of the strange things occur as a radio disc-jockey witnesses the fog as she tries to protect her son who had found an old piece of wood that belonged to the ship.

The screenplay by John Carpenter and Debra Hill is told from multiple perspectives as it follows not just Father Malone and the DJ Stevie Wayne (Adrienne Barbeau) but also characters such as the town centennial organizer Kathy Williams (Janet Leigh), a resident in Nick Castle (Tom Atkins), and a hitchhiker named Elizabeth (Jamie Lee Curtis). Each of them would have their own encounters with the fog while Williams would also discover some shocking secrets about the town with Father Malone and her assistant Sandy (Nancy Kyes) which only causes a lot of dread and disillusionment from Father Malone. Nick and Elizabeth’s encounters with dead bodies and the fog has them realize something is up as they constantly listen to Stevie’s radio program as she is in danger as well as her son Andy (Ty Mitchell). Much of it would play into these people trying to survive this mysterious fog and the ghosts that would emerge from the fog.

Carpenter’s direction starts off with this very quaint and intimate scene set in a campfire about the story of this ship as it would set the tone for what is to come. Even as it’s followed by a sequence where strange things are happening as car alarms go out, glass breaking unexpectedly, and all sorts of crazy things. Much of Carpenter’s direction involve a lot of intimate yet sublime medium shots to play into the suspense where Nick and Elizabeth try to figure out what is going on in relation to a fishing boat that went missing. There’s also some unique wide shots where Carpenter takes great stock into the look of the locations in coastal Northern California to play into something that feels like a small town but one that has a lot of history.

The direction also include some very eerie scenes where the ghosts emerging of the fog would come into play as they’re targeting whoever they encounter including the descendants of the people that had wronged them. Though the killings aren’t as gruesome as what is expected in horror films, the impact of it is still quite intense. Adding to the atmosphere of the film’s suspense is Carpenter’s score as its mixture of drone-heavy synthesizers and melancholic piano riffs play into the sense of dread and terror. Notably in its climax which involves its characters fighting off the ghosts as well as find a way to atone for the sins of their descendants. Overall, Carpenter creates a very scary yet powerful film about ghosts seeking vengeance over their deaths.

Cinematographer Dean Cundey does amazing work with the film‘s cinematography to set a mood for the much of the scenes set at night with its lighting along with photographic effects to showcase the power of the fog. Editors Charles Bornstein and Tommy Lee Wallace do excellent work with the editing to create some unique rhythmic cuts to play into the film‘s suspense and terror in the most unexpected ways. Production designer Tommy Lee Wallace and art director Craig Stearns do fantastic work with the look of the small town as well as the lighthouse radio tower that Stevie works at and the church where Father Malone stays at.

Costume designers Stephen Loomis and Bill Whitten do nice work with the costumes as it‘s mostly casual with the exception of the more refined clothing of Kathy Williams. Sound editors Gregg Barbanell and Ron Horwitz, with sound designer William L. Stevenson, do brilliant work with the film‘s sound from the way the wind carries out through the air as well as the way sounds carry in the film such as the sequence of car alarms going out early in the film.

The film’s superb cast includes some notable small roles from Charles Cyphers as the weatherman Dan, James Canning as the fishing boat captain Dick Baxter, Nancy Kyes as Williams’ assistant Sandy, Ty Mitchell as Stevie’s son Andy, and John Houseman in a terrific performance as Mr. Machen who would tell the children the ghost story in the beginning of the film. Hal Holbrook is excellent as Father Malone as a priest who would uncover the secret about his town’s birth as he becomes uneasy with his discovery. Tom Atkins is fantastic as Nick as a local resident who leads the investigation over the disappearance of a fishing boat.

Janet Leigh is amazing as Kathy Wilson as this organizer who learns about the secrets of her town’s birth as she does whatever to keep it a secret while being uneasy in letting the festival continue as she also worries about her husband’s disappearance. Jamie Lee Curtis is brilliant as Elizabeth as this young hitchhiker who believes she is bad luck as the fog arrives just as she had arrived to the town as she tries to deal with the situations. Finally, there’s Adrienne Barbeau in a remarkable performance as Stevie as this radio disc jockey who watches over the town as she sees the fog as she would report it through her radio program as her voice is crucial to the suspense and drama that occurs in the film.
  
The Fog is a tremendously terrifying and astonishing film from John Carpenter. Armed with a great cast, a chilling score, and a cool premise that is perfect for any ghost-based horror film. It is definitely one of the key films in the horror genre that manages to do more than what is often expected in horror as it has enough elements that would appeal to non-horror film audiences. In the end, The Fog is a rich yet exhilarating film from John Carpenter.

John Carpenter Films: Dark Star - Assault on Precinct 13 - Halloween - Someone’s Watching Me! - Elvis - Escape from New York - The Thing - Christine - Starman - Big Trouble in Little China - Prince of Darkness - They Live - Memoirs of an Invisible Man - Body Bags - In the Mouth of Madness - Village of the Damned - Escape from L.A. - Vampires - Ghosts of Mars - The Ward

The Auteurs #60: John Carpenter Pt. 1 - Pt. 2

© thevoid99 2014

Promised Land

Directed by Gus Van Sant and screenplay by Matt Damon and John Krasinski from a story by Dave Eggers, Promised Land is the story of two corporate business officials who arrive at a small town in order to buy drilling rights from local residents only to deal with an environmentalist. The film is the story about the world of fracking as well as the battle between small towns and big businesses. Starring Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, John Krasinski, Rosemarie Dewitt, and Hal Holbrook. Promised Land is an interesting but lackluster film from Gus Van Sant.

Steve Butler (Matt Damon) is a consultant from a natural gas company called Global as he goes to a Pennsylvanian small town in the hopes to win over the locals so they can give them natural gas and still maintain their farmland. With the help of fellow consultant Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand), the two arrive to the town where they meet with a few locals to talk about what they do where things seemed fine at first. Even as Butler convinces a local official (Ken Strunk) about the prospects of natural gas and how it could help the town. During a town meeting, a retired schoolteacher in Frank Yates (Hal Holbrook) asks many question as he knows a lot about what Butler is doing though Butler tries to assure the locals that he has the right intentions.

After the disastrous meeting, Butler and Thomason try to figure out how to win back the town when an environmentalist named Dustin Noble (John Krasinski) arrives to reveal to the town about the dangers of fracking claiming he’s lost his family’s farm to fracking. For Butler, Noble’s arrival raises complications as they’re also competing for the affections of a local schoolteacher named Alice (Rosemarie Dewitt). Butler and Thomason continue to talk to a few people where they win over some as they want to hold a fair to win the town back. Still, Butler tries to deal with Noble’s presence as he eventually makes a discovery that would change everything including Butler’s view on the world.

The film is the story about a corporate consultant who hopes to help a small farming community in Pennsylvania by bringing natural gas in the hopes that everyone can make money and keep their farm. Yet, questions about fracking are raised as an environmentalist arrives to complicate matters forcing the corporate consultant to do whatever it takes to win over the people. While the subject of fracking is interesting since it plays to a lot of what is happening in the world of farming in America. The film also reveals the dangers where despite this interesting subject, the story starts to fall apart a bit towards the second half and its third act due to some preachy moments and a twist that causes the story to lose some steam.

The screenplay that Matt Damon and John Krasinski creates does raise a lot of interesting questions about fracking where they do their best to make the subject accessible without dumbing it down. The story eventually becomes the archetype of the little man vs. the big corporation where things do eventually become complicated. Steve Butler and Sue Thomason aren’t bad people as they’re just corporate officials with good intentions that just wants to help out farmers. They just find themselves in big trouble when questions are raised about what they do. When the Dustin Noble character arrives to the scene, he is this strange environmentalist who reveals the dangers of fracking where he would irk both Butler and Thomason for the fact that they’re confusing the people.

The subplot involving Butler and Noble trying to win the affections of the Alice character doesn’t work entire despite the fact that Alice is still a compelling character. It does reveal more about who Butler is as he came from a small farming town where he does reconnect with his roots while the people he meets know he’s just a good person. Though the script does play into conventions, it still is engaging until the third act where there’s a big twist revealed that is later followed by some heavy-handed moments that just makes the story fall apart.

Gus Van Sant’s direction is pretty good for the way he presents the world of Pennsylvanian farming and its small towns. Notably as he employs a lot of aerial shots of the locations as well as a few stylistic wide shots. Yet, the direction doesn’t really do a lot to make the story more engaging that it should be. Van Sant does put in some interesting framing in the way he presents the actors as well as few scenes that are stylized. Notably some scenes in the bar where Van Sant employs some moments of humor as well as a dramatic scene where Butler talks to a suspicious farmer (Scoot McNairy). Still, the direction doesn’t do enough to give it a more stylistic flair or to help bring the script more to life as it ends up being sort of pedestrian. Overall, Van Sant creates a film that is decent but ends up falling apart due to its third act where it becomes very preachy.

Cinematographer Linus Sandgren does excellent work with the photography to display the beauty of the Pennsylvanian farmland in its daytime exteriors while utilizing more low-key lighting schemes for the scenes at night in its exterior and interior settings. Editor Billy Rich does nice work with the editing where a lot of the cutting is straightforward though there‘s a few stylistic moments such as a split-screen conversation between Butler and Thomason as well a other stylized cuts. Production designer Daniel B. Clancy, along with set decorator Rebecca Brown and art director Gregory A. Weimerskirch, does terrific work with the set pieces from the look of the bar Butler attends to the motel he and Thomason stay at.

Costume designer Juliet Polcsa does good work with the costumes as a lot of it is very casual to maintain that world of small-town life. Sound editor Robert Jackson, along with mixers Leslie Shatz and Felix Andrews, does wonderful work with the sound to capture the atmosphere of the bars and town meetings along with the intimacy of farm life. The film’s music by Danny Elfman is superb as the music is very low-key in its orchestral setting where there‘s not bombast but serene while music supervisor Brian Reitzell provides a soundtrack that is mostly filled with country music including a few cuts by Emmylou Harris.

The casting by Francine Maisler is great as it features some notable small appearances from Lucas Black as an eager young farmer, Scoot McNairy as a suspicious young farmer, Terry Kinney as Butler‘s boss, and Ken Strunk as local town official Gerry Richards. Hal Holbrook is brilliant in a small yet effective supporting role as a retired teacher/farmer who raises questions about fracking while knowing that Butler means well. Rosemarie DeWitt is wonderful as Alice as this teacher who is charmed by both Butler and Noble as she reveals to Butler about her own farm life.

John Krasinski is terrific as the very eager Dustin Noble as he is this environmentalist who is very likeable and charming in the way he presents his case while being the great sore eye to Butler. Frances McDormand is excellent as the no-nonsense Sue Thomason who helps Butler out while embracing the world of small town life as she tries to deal with Noble. Finally, there’s Matt Damon in a superb performance as Steve Butler as this corporate official who tries to win over the town only to deal with this young environmentalist as he tries to do whatever to assure the town that he’s just trying to help them.

Promised Land is a fine but lackluster film from Gus Van Sant. Despite an interesting subject matter and a stellar cast, it’s a film that falls apart due to some of its preachiness as well as a messy third act that includes a ludicrous twist. For fans of Gus Van Sant, this film is definitely one of his weakest though it does have moments that does show his unique visual flair. In the end, Promised Land is a very underwhelming film from Gus Van Sant.

Gus Van Sant Films: Mala Noche - Drugstore Cowboy - My Own Private Idaho - Even Cowgirls Get the Blues - To Die For - Good Will Hunting - Psycho (1998 film) - Finding Forrester - Gerry - Elephant - Last Days - Paranoid Park - Milk - Restless

The Videos & Shorts of Gus Van Sant - The Auteurs #4: Gus Van Sant

© thevoid99 2013

Into the Wild

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 10/6/07 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.

Jon Krakauer's 1996 novel Into the Wild about the late Christopher McCandless and his exploration into the Alaskan wilderness. The story of a young man who came from a wealthy suburb in West Virginia and to rebel against his upbringing by taking a life-changing journey proved to be inspirational. One of those readers was actor Sean Penn whose work as a director such films as The Indian Runner, The Crossing Guard, and The Pledge has given him critical acclaim for his unique take on films. For his fourth feature in the directing front, Penn tells the inspirational tale of late, young life of Christopher McCandless.

Adapted into a script by Penn and the book's novelist Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild is a film about Christopher McCandless who leaves his tumultuous family life in West Virginia to take a road trip of sorts towards his destination in Alaska. During his trip, he encounters various people and such while dealing with his troubled family life that included his bickering parents and his loving sister.

In the role of Christopher McCandless is Emile Hirsch, who is known for his unique performances from mainstream films like The Girl Next Door and The Lords of Dogtown to more independent fare like The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys and Imaginary Heroes. Also starring William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden, Catherine Keener, Kristen Stewart, Zach Galifianakis, Hal Holbrook, Vince Vaughn, and Hirsch's Dangerous Lives co-star Jena Malone as his sister Carine. Into the Wild is a poignant, complex, and eerie film from Sean Penn.

After graduating from Emory College in Georgia in 1990, Christopher Johnson McCandless meets his parents Walt (William Hurt) and Billie (Marcia Gay Harden) and his younger sister Carine for dinner as they offer to buy him a new car to replace his old one. Though he politely declines, he bids them farewell as he decides to disappear for two years to go on a trip to the Alaskan wilderness under his new alias Alexander Supertramp. Getting rid of his ID card and giving his grant money to charity, Christopher goes on his journey where he later rids of his car and finances. After meeting a hippie couple in Rainey (Brian Dierker) and Jan Burres (Catherine Keener), he finds common ground over his disdain towards the material world that he felt trapped by from his life with his parents.

Continuing on his journey towards north, he stops at South Dakota where he works for a harvester named Wayne (Vince Vaughn) who gives him advice on what to do before arriving into Alaska. After a stop in Washington as he leaves his books under the bridge, he goes kayak rafting on the Colorado River without a permit as he meets a Danish couple (Thure Lindhardt and Signe Egholm Olsen) on the way to Mexico. Sneaking back to the U.S. via train, he arrives at Los Angeles only wanting to go further away as he returns to Washington to meet up with Jan and Rainey where he meets a young teenage girl named Tracy. After some time with Tracy, Jan, and Rainey, Christopher goes on another trip before arriving into Alaska where he meets an old man named Ron Franz (Hal Holbrook).

Ron befriends Christopher as he gives him some wisdom about what to do before going to Alaska as Christopher finally arrives in mid-1992 for a life of adventure. Living in an abandoned bus that he calls the "Magic Bus", he finds himself confronting his own past as well as the harsh world of nature itself.

While the story of Christopher McCandless is a tragic one, that doesn't mean his story is one that is both inspiration and cautious. It's really about a young man who tries to find himself in a world that he doesn't know only to reflect on the things he fears from. While a few changes were made in the adaptation, Penn's script that includes narration written by Susan Olds along with contribution from the real-life Carine McCandless and Jena Malone. The narrative style is more straight forward as it moves back-and-forth into McCandless' experience in the Alaskan wilderness and his journey. A third narrative is also told, this is from the perspective of Carine McCandless about the family's struggles and how Christopher had been angry at them that included some harsh, family secrets.

Penn's approach to the script and its multi-layered narrative is definitely wonderful as it doesn't lag or feel rushed. Rather in making a film that's conventional and in a Hollywood style. Penn definitely draws from the inspiration of Terrence Malick in terms of its voice-over narration as well as his naturalistic-imagery that often includes wonderful shots of nature. While a lot of the visual and storytelling ideas are definitely Malick-esque, by the time McCandless struggles with nature's harsh realities, the film becomes darker in a way that would be from the viewpoint of Werner Herzog.

Still, Penn chooses to focus on Christopher McCandless. Despite some of his ideas and excitement for adventure, here's a man that's also very flawed. Penn doesn't portray him as a hero nor as a tragic figure but rather a human being who doesn't truly understand the world and how he ends up struggling with nature's harsh realities. While Penn's direction is solid throughout the entire film. Shooting on location in Alaska as well as all of the places McCandless went where the camera is in the river and kayaking through the rapids. It does have a few flaws, notably the ending. It's not the content or what is shown. Rather the approach to what happens yet, some might like it, some won't. Still, the enchanting approach to the film and all of its imagery shows that Sean Penn is getting better as a director.

Cinematographer Eric Gautier brings some wonderful camera work to the film and most of all, it's exterior sequences that includes wonderful evening, nighttime shots of the outside world. Including some amazing shots of the city from afar. Gautier also uses some grainy camera work to convey the emotions of Christopher's mind in relating to his parents in the flashback sequences. Longtime Penn collaborator in editor Jay Cassidy brings some wonderful cuts to convey the sense of emotion as well as humor of Christopher McCandless that works in every level to give the film some relief from its heavy-drama. Sound designer Martin Hernandez does some wonderful work in the sound to convey the atmosphere and location of where Christopher is that includes the noise of winds, animals, and cars as Hernandez' work is amazing.

Production designer Derek Hill and art director Domenic Silvestri do some wonderful work in re-creating the beaten bus as well as the hippie-commune that Jan and Rainey live in. Costume designer Mary Claire Hannan also does great work with the hippie clothing in those scenes along with the realistic clothing of Christopher McCandless. The film’s music and score by Michael Brook is mostly acoustic tracks with contributions from Khaki King. The music plays to the sense of poignancy and adventure while the rest of the soundtrack includes songs by Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder. Vedder's songs are wonderful with its mix of acoustic and rock-like ballads that are almost reminiscent of work of Cat Stevens. Vedder's music is also poignant for its emotion and how it captures the mind of Christopher McCandless.

The film's cast is very unique with notable small appearances from Zach Galifianakis, Steven Wiig, Thure Lindhardt, Signe Egholm Olsen, Cheryl Francis Harrington as a social worker, and Bryce Walters and Haley Ramm in their respective roles as the young Christopher and Carine McCandless. Hal Holbrook's appearance is very memorable as a grandfather-like figure who bonds with Christopher while telling him about ideas of the world and the opportunities he's wasting. The last shot of Holbrook in the film is really one of the most emotional. Brian Dieker and Catherine Keener are wonderful as this old hippie couple who, like Christopher, try to live without society's rules with Keener giving the stronger performance as a woman dealing with the past life she's left behind.

Kristen Stewart is wonderful as the charming young girl who falls for Christopher while proving her talents as a singer where she has this wonderfully sexy yet ragged look. Vince Vaughn strays from his typical, comedic persona for a very memorable, wild performance as Wayne. A man who gives Christopher a job while giving him more pointers on adventure and the world as Vaughn is just amazing. William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden are wonderfully portrayed as Christopher's parents whose life takes a turn after his appearance. The despair as well as the fact that despite their problems, they're not portrayed as bad people but rather loving parents despite Christopher's point-of-view early in the film.

While Jena Malone's appearance is minimal, her contribution in her performance as Carine is just brilliant in being the film’s lone observant. With little dialogue Malone gives in her performance, it's her voice-over narration that is really striking as she plays the observer and how she is the one trying to deal with his disappearance and being the only one to understand why. Her voice-over work and contributions is more reason into why she remains overlooked among her 20-something acting peers.

The film's real star is Emile Hirsch in what is definitely a career performance for the young actor. Hirsch brings the kind of innocence, humor, energy, and excitement into the character that is a joy to watch. The scene where he talks to an apple he’s eating is fun to watch while he brings a lot of life to the film and character. When he is forced to engage into more darker territory, Hirsch really shows his depth as an actor as the scenes where he's really struggling shows his complexity. This is no doubt a performance that will be very memorable and hopefully, Emile Hirsch won't be overlooked come Oscar time.

While not a perfect film, Into the Wild is still an enchanting yet harrowing film from Sean Penn and probably his best work to date as a director. With a great cast that is led by Emile Hirsch in a superb performance. Fans of films about nature will no doubt love the inspiring world that is Alaska while seeing the wonders of the American wilderness in all of beauty and ugliness. While it's a long film with a running time of almost two-and-a-half hours, it's one that is worth seeing on the big screen. In the end, Into the Wild is an amazingly, sprawling film from Sean Penn.

Sean Penn Films: (The Indian Runner) - (The Crossing Guard) - (The Pledge) - 11'9"01-September 11 (USA)

Eddie Vedder-Into the Wild OST

(C) thevoid99 2011