Wild

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski, Keene McRae
Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallee
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
2014

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: After the death of her mother (Laura Dern), a troubled woman (Reese Witherspoon) decides to hike 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Review:

Tim: Wild might not be great, but it's a very compelling film based on an impressive true story. The fact that a woman with no training hiked the PCT completely alone is quite a feat. This movie tells that story, but even more powerfully, it does a great job of illustrating what the endeavor meant to her- it wasn't just about completing a hike, it was about rediscovering yourself. That was my favorite part of the film. This is a powerful story about determination and courage. It's a very, very good film.

I have to give Reese Witherspoon immense credit. There's not a lot of makeup on the PCT, so she really gives a stripped down performance. This was a difficult role, no doubt about it- it required some very physical scenes on the trail, a lot of hiking, nudity, a wide range of emotions, and much more. Witherspoon overcomes all these challenges in giving a truly impressive, memorable performance. I often forget what a great actor Witherspoon is- maybe it's her stature, but it's somewhat easy to overlook her. This is a reminder that she's one of the best actresses working today. I was very glad she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. I actually wouldn't have minded had she won- she's remarkable in this role.

Laura Dern gives a good supporting performance. She doesn't have a ton of screen time, but she makes the most of it. I was a little surprised she got an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, but she does shine in her limited time on screen. She worked very well with Witherspoon. While there's a lot of supporting players here, they all have very brief screen times. This movie is really about Witherspoon, and that's a good thing.

This was a great story to bring to the screen as there's wonderful visuals throughout. Hiking the PCT is obviously an unforgettable experience, and we get to watch as this character goes through it. From the frustration at trying to figure out your gear to the jaw-dropping landscapes, to the inspiring and frightening animal encounters- we get to see it all. We see Witherspoon boiling in the desert, we see her bundled up against the cold. We see her face dangerous animals and dangerous people. I love stories about the underdog, about ordinary people pulling off extraordinary feats. This is one of those stories. I loved the frequent use of flashbacks to show what brought this character to the dangerous feat. As pieces of her life flash up on screen, we know she's reflecting on her successes and failures as she tries to come to grips with her life- past, present, and future.

If I had one complaint, the ending could have been more powerful. We watch this character as she treks 1,100 miles. I wanted to have an unforgettable conclusion that matched the strengths of the journey. The ending we got was fine, but it's not especially exciting.

While Wild doesn't quite do enough for me to consider it one of the 10 best movies of the year, it's still a very effective film and one I would highly recommend.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Into the Wild, Walk the Line