Into the Wild

[wesfau2]

Anyone see this?

I went into it skeptical, was converted and ended up cheering for the kid.

Plot summary: Idealistic kid graduates from Emory, has become disillusioned by his comfy suburban life and abusive family life so he donates his Harvard grad school money to charity and strikes out across the country without telling anyone where he's going.  His plan is to travel with no means except that which he earns himself and eventually end up in the Denali region of Alaska living on his own.  I won't give away the ending.

I started out hating the kid.  He seemed like a smug upper class kid with the luxury of undertaking some post-modern walkabout.  I came to see him as sincere in his efforts to throw off the societal expectations placed upon him.  He just wanders around, works and meets people.  It's not beer and skittles, though, as he has some rough times.

Outstanding cast: Hal Holbrook, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener, William Hurt, Jena Malone. 

Bonus: The entire soundtrack was done by Eddie Vedder and is very, very good.  Pearl Jam has lost me in recent years, but this is strong work.

[AWK]

Anyone see this?

I went into it skeptical, was converted and ended up cheering for the kid.

Plot summary: Idealistic kid graduates from Emory, has become disillusioned by his comfy suburban life and abusive family life so he donates his Harvard grad school money to charity and strikes out across the country without telling anyone where he's going.  His plan is to travel with no means except that which he earns himself and eventually end up in the Denali region of Alaska living on his own.  I won't give away the ending.

I started out hating the kid.  He seemed like a smug upper class kid with the luxury of undertaking some post-modern walkabout.  I came to see him as sincere in his efforts to throw off the societal expectations placed upon him.  He just wanders around, works and meets people.  It's not beer and skittles, though, as he has some rough times.

Outstanding cast: Hal Holbrook, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener, William Hurt, Jena Malone. 

Bonus: The entire soundtrack was done by Eddie Vedder and is very, very good.  Pearl Jam has lost me in recent years, but this is strong work.

Sean Penn sucks donkey ass.  I'm glad at what happened at the end of the movie.

[wesfau2]

Sean Penn sucks donkey ass.  I'm glad at what happened at the end of the movie.

Hate his politics if you want, but the man makes a great movie.  It doesn't matter if he's in front of or behind the camera.

Plus he gave us the greatness that is Jeff Spicoli.

[Saniflush]

Hate his politics if you want, but the man makes a great movie.  It doesn't matter if he's in front of or behind the camera.

Plus he gave us the greatness that is Jeff Spicoli.

Jeff Spicoli aside.....


"Sean Penn.  F.A.G. (film actors guild)"

[wesfau2]

Jeff Spicoli aside.....


"Sean Penn.  F.A.G. (film actors guild)"

Here are the highlights from his resume:

As an actor:
21 Grams
Mystic River
I am Sam
Sweet and Lowdown
The Thin Red Line
Hurlyburly
The Game
U Turn
Dead Man Walking
Carlito's Way
Casualties of War
Colors
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Taps

As a Director:
Into the Wild
The Crossing Guard


Pretty strong.

[Saniflush]

Here are the highlights from his resume:

As an actor:
21 Grams
Mystic River
I am Sam
Sweet and Lowdown
The Thin Red Line
Hurlyburly
The Game
U Turn
Dead Man Walking
Carlito's Way
Casualties of War
Colors
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Taps

As a Director:
Into the Wild
The Crossing Guard


Pretty strong.

[wesfau2]

Give me some narrative, I can't run youtube here at the office.

[AWK]

1 good movie out of 20 something.  Fast Times.

[wesfau2]

1 good movie out of 20 something.  Fast Times.

You didn't like Carlito's Way?  Mystic River? 21 Grams?  Dead Man Walking?  Colors?  Freakin' Colors???

Those were all very good films, in my opinion.

[Tiger Six]

He's just like The Dixie Chicks, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, and many others who shall remain nameless. 

Entertain me.  I don't give a rat's ass who you support for President.

[wesfau2]

He's just like The Dixie Chicks, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, and many others who shall remain nameless. 

Entertain me.  I don't give a rat's ass who you support for President.

I choose to separate the art from the politics. 

[Tiger Six]

I choose to separate the art from the politics. 

As do I.  I have no problem watching a film with a bunch of pinkie, commie bastards starring in it as long as it elicits some sort of chuckle, shock or other useless emotion from me.

[Saniflush]

Give me some narrative, I can't run youtube here at the office.

"America.  Fuck Yea!"

[Tiger Wench]

Howard, you should read the book, written by Jon Krakaur, the guy who wrote the book Into Thin Air abt the 1996 Everest disaster.  The kid was an idealistic idiot, who truly believed he could just walk into Denali and be okay, just "live off the land" without so much as a pocket knife.  I can appreciate wanting to get away from it all, but to do so totally unprepared smacks of insanity.  I am sure, however, that Penn et al tried to make the kid out a hero - the movie would not have been as good if the true nature of the story was what went on film.  There's reality and then there's Hollywood - and in this case, the reality was pretty stupid.

[Saniflush]

Howard, you should read the book, written by Jon Krakaur,

Interesting.  I may do that.  Thanks for the truth of the story.  I think Wes is starting to lose his gruff exterior and become a Hollywood man.

[Thrilla]

"America.  Fuck Yea!"

Lick my butt and suck on my balls?

[Saniflush]

Lick my butt and suck on my balls?

It's not about sex Gary.  It's about trust.

[wesfau2]

Howard, you should read the book, written by Jon Krakaur, the guy who wrote the book Into Thin Air abt the 1996 Everest disaster.  The kid was an idealistic idiot, who truly believed he could just walk into Denali and be okay, just "live off the land" without so much as a pocket knife.  I can appreciate wanting to get away from it all, but to do so totally unprepared smacks of insanity.  I am sure, however, that Penn et al tried to make the kid out a hero - the movie would not have been as good if the true nature of the story was what went on film.  There's reality and then there's Hollywood - and in this case, the reality was pretty stupid.

I'm under no illusion that the movie wasn't romanticized.  The kid wasn't prepared for the undertaking, no doubt.

I simply enjoyed the story and the character.  The scenery, of course, was fantastic as well.

[Saniflush]

I simply enjoyed the story and the character.  The scenery, of course, was fantastic as well.

I heard it was good in Brokeback Mountain as well.  What are your thoughts?

[wesfau2]

I heard it was good in Brokeback Mountain as well.  What are your thoughts?

I enjoyed that movie and have caught shit for admitting so.

It was a good story, good acting, and stunning cinematography.  The gay sex was hot, too.