ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

SEAN PENN’S bad boy reputation has long been eclipsed by his Oscar-winning performances and fearless commitment to a string of political causes.

Now, he also establishes himself as one of the front rank American directors with Into The Wild. This haunting true story is slow-moving and over long, but really sneaks under the skin as it turns into a love letter to the vast open spaces of America and the generous spirit of its people.

In 1990, Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) rejected a life of privilege and wealth. He abandoned plans to study law, donated all his savings to Oxfam, destroyed any form of personal identification and took to the road.

Inspired by writers like Tolstoy and Jack London, he set his sights on the remote wilds of Alaska. The film charts the long and winding road to his final journey and the people he met along the way, including the elderly Ron Franz (Hal Holbrook) who became a surrogate father to him.

Anyone who knows the McCandless story will know that it ended in grim tragedy but the film is surprisingly life-affirming and effortlessly touching.

Reminiscent of the 1970 classic Five Easy Pieces, Into The Wild offers a lyrical vision of the American heartland and is brilliantly acted by Emile Hirsch who commits himself body and soul to the role of McCandless.

Into The Wild was a labour of love for Sean Penn. It is one of the best American films of 2007 and a strong contender for Oscar recognition.

Director: Sean Penn
Stars: Emil Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Catherine Keener, Hal Holbrook
Screenwriter: Sean Penn based on the book by Jon Krakauer
Certificate: 15
Running time: 148 mins
Country: USA
Year: 2007