Wild (I) (2014) User Reviews

Into the Wild with Reese Witherspoon

[evanston_dad · 8/10 · 20 May 2015]

A wonderful performance from Reese Witherspoon anchors this very good film about a troubled young woman who embarks on a miles-long hike as a sort of personal therapy to deal with the downward spiral of her life in the wake of her mother's (Laura Dern) death. Witherspoon reminds everyone what a good actress she is; I haven't been this impressed by her as an actress since "Election" way back in 1999 (and that includes her overrated Oscar-winning performance in "Walk the Line"). And it's nice to see Laura Dern again, who's popped up here and there over the past many years but has mostly been absent from the movie scene. The movie's editor deftly integrates flashbacks of Dern and Witherspoon together with the character's hike through the wild, and avoids the monotony that usually plagues films when structured this way.

One of the minor miracles of "Wild" is how subtly it explores not just the trials and dangers one would encounter in such a hike, but specifically how those trials and dangers are heightened, or at least are of a different nature, for a woman. Only once in the film is it overtly addressed, but before that scene late in the film, the director and Witherspoon have already conveyed without words how perilous such an adventure could be for a young woman, for whom every encounter with a strange man carries with it the possibility of sexual predation, even if it doesn't materialize (which, the film acknowledges, in most cases it doesn't). At the same time, the film restores one's faith a little bit in humanity, suggesting that most people are decent and kind and willing to help, no strings attached.

Witherspoon and Dern were both justly Oscar nominated for their performances, and the gorgeous Pacific West scenery deserved an award of its own.

Grade: A

I Don't Care What They Say...I Really Liked This Movie!

[regalosdelsol · 7/10 · 28 February 2015]

I am really surprised at all of the negative reviews here. But then I remember, this is IMDb. Enough said there. I enjoyed this movie very much. I don't think it was anything more than the story of one woman trying to find a way to move forward. This movie is not a political statement about feminism. This is ONE woman's story of regret, healing, and ultimately about forgiving herself so that she could move forward. Is this movie boring? Only if you need CGI and superheroes to call it "exciting." Do people do really adventurous things like taking off alone on a thousand mile trek on foot? Yeah, they do. And most of them actually survive. People have been surviving for thousands of years by striking out on their own without any previous experience or "training." Many years ago I did something very similar to what this woman did in the Sierra Nevadas. Looking back now I know I must have been crazy to do something so unplanned. But it was something I felt I had to do and was also stemmed from a tragic loss. I thought Reese was very believable in this role. The constant flashbacks that seemed to bother all the other reviewers did not bother me in the least. The flashbacks were the unfolding of her life taken in little pieces and in sync with the memories that were ignited within her on her journey. So contrary to the other reviewers, I liked this movie! The soundtrack was right on target with what was happening in each scene. The scenery was stunning, but of course it would be if you've ever been in the area. On foot. I happily gave this movie a rating of 7 out of 10.

A little gem of a movie about goals and personal growth

[Garcwrites · 7/10 · 20 May 2015]

Wild has a really intriguing premise, the idea of a solo hike does it for me but I was wary that the movie lasted over 100min. What could possibly be entertaining about a women hiking alone from the Mexican border to the Canadian Border? As it turns out quite a lot.

At first, it's hard to understand Cheryl, she definitely does not strike you as a someone who could do this. She bit off more than she can shew, it's clearly naive of her. But as Cheryl is struggling on her hike flashbacks of her life before the Pacific Crest Trails are peppered throughout the movie and like anyone you're getting to know she starts to make sense. You get to understand what she's been through, who she is, and what motivated her to do this. It's a challenge that she brought on herself for herself, something she needed.

And just like that a 115 minutes passes, during which you were taken on physical and soul searching journey with amazing landscapes, and a flawed but strong woman. Reese Witherspoon carries that film beautifully, she layered her performance with sensibility and a quiet strength that suited the character. I didn't totally relate to Cheryl but I wasn't completely impervious to her ordeal, I also have dreams and life-goals to achieve.

On a side note, it was recently pointed out to me I had never seen Wild as the female lead version of Into The Wild. I've never finished Sean Penn & Emile Hirsh's hiking movie but from what I remember Into The Wild was much more wild and raw the dude wasn't on a hiking trail but in the wilderness. These two movies only compare in the drives these two characters have to undertake their journey.

Wild is a beautiful movie about personal growth and living in one's truth. @wornoutspines

Immensely moving

[Red_Identity · 15 January 2015]

No secret that I love one-man survival films (although this wasn't that type of "survival" film). Still, despite very good reviews, there was always a severe lack of hype and passion it seemed (certainly here). Maybe that's why I was so surprised. Usually this kind of heavy-edited, heavy- flashback-intercutting-with-main-story film alienates me emotionally for that reason. Too much back and forth. I had the same problem with 2007's Into The Wild, which so often prevented me from getting too involved with it. For some reason I didn't have that problem here. The actual story, as well as the dramatic ticks in the flashbacks and even in the present, aren't anything we haven't seen before dozens of times. However, the film really managed work despite that. The editing I found to enhance the film immensely, and the specific style of the intercutting with her memories managed to make the film more powerful.

I like Witherspoon just fine in Walk The Line, but it was all mostly surface-level. She was fun, but any lasting impact? Not at all. She's truly fantastic here, and she will get a very deserved nomination tomorrow. Now, everyone knows how much I'd been rooting for Laura Dern for a nomination. I hadn't seen it, but she's one of my favorite actresses. But so many reports of her role being super small, almost a cameo. Her role technically is super small, less than 10 minutes for sure, but the relationship between her and Witherspoon is the central relationship at the core here. Dern's presence is felt throughout to an incredible degree. And she really does have a meaty role for such short screen time. It reminds me of Jessica Chastain in The tree Of Life and also to Patricia Arquette in Boyhood, perfect depiction of that feeling of compassion and motherly love that is eternal. Dern is one of those actors that can move me with so little, so I don't think this was at all anything difficult for her, but either way, she manages to become such an undeniable, powerful part of the film. The editing is part of the reason that central relationship works, but the scenes Dern gets to convey her entire character are flawlessly acted and, so beautifully ethereal. I had feared for a while there that it would be such a small role she'd make no lasting impact, but of course she'd make an impact. It's Laura Dern after all.

Cheryl's emotions are lost in a wild and desolate space

[supatube · 7/10 · 2 April 2015]

An arduous journey across America on the Pacific Crest Trail, Cheryl Strayed tests her tenacity to continue forward till the end. There's very little else to the story, which makes this film really powerful. With not much else other than a tedious walk and a vampish past the story bobs back and forth between the present and the past revealing how Cheryl finds herself in such a circumstance and why she cant stop until she is finished.

At first Cheryl seems like a woman unable to let go of her now ex-husband, beginning a journey with more baggage than is necessary. It might almost be easy to throw this story into the bin of sappy chick-flicks when that inability to get closure on a relationships end is actually fronting as more of an act of remorse and regret. She messed up. And there is no way to repair the damage without an ugly scar.

The further she goes the more she dives into the series of events that lead her to such a devastating circumstance of sex and drugs. The loss of her mother is far too much for her to feel. The depth of such pain can sometimes strip a human being from feeling anything at all. The tears flow from her face but those tears are not falling for grief, they drop from the overwhelming numbing the death has caused.

Cheryl's emotions are lost in a wild and desolate space that is pain and grief, which is so perfectly mirrored with the vast, open landscape she is now physically wondering through. And both her emotions and the land are the same: it wont change immediately and things will be tough but if one keeps going forward one will come out of it. And better for it. Cheryl just needed that physical aspect to make the connection with her emotions. The self-loathing and destructive life she was living was the equivalence of her just lying down on the sandy path and dying right there.

It's a fairly event-less film where a woman just goes through some fairly tough terrain but somehow the flashes to her past spliced in with the turmoil of her present moves the story along swimmingly.

If you're a fan of deeply emotional story lines this one might very well be worth the watch.

The long and winding road

[caseyyau · 10/10 · 23 February 2015]

I am the daughter of a mother who recently passed away from lung cancer. She never smoked, like the protagonist mother. I cried many times during this movie. It made me think a lot because like the lead character, i often ruminate over the past; i have a lot of flashbacks and memories of my mother keep replaying in my head., and the things she said to me will forever echo in my brain. In terms of the sex and the drug taking, i think Resse did very well in portraying the daughter who completely lost herself and the desire to live with the loss of her mother. I also grew up in a single household and my mother and I were always together, our identity are intertwined; it was us against the world. Losing our mother is like losing more than life itself, I am still finding myself lost and struggling to find meaning in life. It is a constant struggle to not give up and give into self destruction and I am very thankful that the protagonist captured this feeling very well.

Like the life of a lot of people, this movie is about the journey we take. Its not about the destination or achieving a particular purpose. It is deeply realistic, and i am glad it doesn't lecture or give a moral lesson on how we should be ,or a happy ending because we don't always get that in life. Life is ugly and it doesn't always end in happiness and things don't always happen for a reason good people do not always get a good ending and normal people can do bad things to themselves and to toh others due to pain brought on by unbearable grief. This movie inspires me to maybe run a marathon.

Walking, hiding and running are very meditative and its like a metaphor for life, no matter what happened, all we can do is keep walking.

If You Read The Book You Will Be Excited. If You Didn't, It May Seem Dull, Although Some Say Otherwise

[Venusvee · 7/10 · 28 September 2014]

I write this review because the first two reviews are done by Film snobs that never read the book.

The movie takes place in 1995 and the film style shows that. It seems raw and almost amateur, but in fact its true to the film style of this time. My only criticism is that the movie relies heavily on the astuteness of the audience as it moves fast and touches lightly on numerous important details. I imagine that is why the other reviewers are stuck on the sexual flash backs and the fox.

This is a true story that was turned into a novel 17 years later (Yes, it is true REI did in fact replace the boots Cheryl Strayed bought there for free. And Cheryl Strayed is eternally grateful for this fact). Less than two years later, Nick Hornby (novelist turned screen writer) turned this book into a screenplay and he did a good job. It is exciting to see a true story told so accurately. Seriously. There is so much truth translated so well into a moving picture. It is an exciting puzzle piece to watch. There are complaints of the flashbacks. But there are flashbacks for a reason. When a person walks 1,100 miles, they think. And that is what this movie does... shows you her inner thoughts, memories, plans, and her goal... to become the woman her mother raised her to be. The movie shows you the woman and girl she once was, and pulls you next to her through the middle part, before she accomplishes her goal

A note, I would think that less 'from behind' style sex flashbacks would be better because she was not being raped. She was horny, and sad, and horny, and wanted to feel good and forget terrible experiences like so many men and women out there. By using doggie style sex in so many flashbacks too many audiences will attribute that to an unneeded message in this movie.

But to the main point... will you enjoy this film? Like many tales of personal triumph, you have to be in the mood and mind. Are you lost? Do you hike? Are you a Witherspoon fan? Did you read the book? Do you aspire to any of these things that I have listed? If yes, you will love this movie. If you answered no to all these questions, skip this movie.

What is wrong with the world !!

[paintedsolace · 9/10 · 6 April 2015]

This was a great movie and exactly what I needed! I know from now on to not listen to most of the reviews on here at all. They are the opposite of good!? This was along the lines of Into The Wild, not as good but not bad at all and worth watching. Well done! This could be called a chick flick for real women who want substance, Strength and encouragement from the female in the role. When the world gets to much and is sucking your life away- Get the heck out and walk, climb a mountain , ride a horse ! Push the boundaries of what you think you are capable of and learn! I cried , it was good. I didn't know anything about it until I watched it. I have been coming to IMDb to pick movies with good ratings and people giving good reviews. Only to be disappointed time and again. If you like the Idea of the film , you will likely enjoy it as much as I did.

#Reese Witherspoon stripped bare & exposed on a journey to find a reason to live

[TheSquiss · 7/10 · 14 January 2015]

When Cheryl Strayed's (Reese Witherspoon) life has a good go at crashing and burning, largely due to her own poor decisions, she packs a rucksack and takes a 1,000 mile walk along the Pacific Crest Trail to, as she puts it, "find out how to become the girl my mother loved." Alone and woefully ill prepared for the trek, both physically and emotionally, hers is a journey through an unforgiving landscape of discovery, pain and hope.

Adapted by Nick Hornby from Cheryl Strayed's own biographical account of her journey, Wild: From Lost to Found On the Pacific Crest Trail, and directed my Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers Club), Wild is the darker sibling of 2010's The Way. But whereas The Way was a gentle, almost spiritual journey of a man making a conscious decision to complete his son's failed trek, Wild is a desperate attempt by a floundering woman to claw back something resembling life and peace.

Though Reese Witherspoon won her Oscar for Walk the Line, I don't believe she has ever been better than here, stripped bare, exposed and raw. And, no, I'm not talking about the nudity or sex scenes. If you find those remotely titillating you have a serious issue with emotional connection. She has wiped off the make up, torn off the happy-go-lucky girl-next door persona that has carried her through countless rom-coms and hammered us with a performance that makes us want to shake her fiercely one moment and hug her the next.

Vallée has crafted a touching film that doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of heroin, promiscuity and a twitching finger that frequently hits the self-destruct button. But whilst Vallée implies the level of unpleasantness in in Cheryl's life, he avoids laboring the point, largely through the use of quickly edited flashbacks and segues from present to various pasts. It is a device that keeps us onside but is also the biggest failing with Wild.

There are too many hints that are not fully explained, too many avenues glanced at but not fully explored. Occasionally there are scenes, particularly the frogs on the seeping bag, that were presumably significant in Strayed's book but are left dangling so as to be almost irrelevant. Cheryl's relationship with her brother is left as an unexplored afterthought and there is altogether too much unfinished business. The conclusion, which should give hope or at least a sense of satisfaction, is rattled though and lost as if Vallée is anxious to attain a sub-two-hour film at all costs.

But despite the niggles, Wild is a film of starkness and beauty with vistas that are breathtaking and pander to the wanderlust that bubbles fiercely just below the surface of this particular viewer.

I need a copy of the soundtrack and I need to walk for a very long time.

For more reviews from The Squiss, subscribe to my blog and like the Facebook page.

Finding your strength within

[lastliberal-853-253708 · 9/10 · 22 July 2015]

Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern got well deserved Oscar nominations for their roles in this film. In fact, I cannot fathom how Witherspoon was denied a win.

I won't fall into the trap of comparing this film to the book. The book was the best one I read last year, and I thought it unfilmable. I was surprised at how well the film managed to capture the essential elements of the book.

The key was not the Pacific Coast Trail, but Cheryl Strayed's journey into self-discovery. The point where she fell to her knees in tears was the culmination of pain in her life, and the realization of her love for her mother.

This is definitely a film to watch more than once.

Darkness of self-redemption

[CharlieGreenCG · 7/10 · 23 October 2014]

When The Proclaimers sang about walking 1000 miles, it was meant metaphorically. In Wild, Reese Witherspoon's character does it quite literally and walks an incredible 1,100 miles...

With its screenplay adapted by Nick Hornby, and under the direction of Jean-Marc Vallee (Dallas Buyers Club), Wild collates the account of author Cheryl Strayed's true-life, played by Witherspoon. The title of which shares two meanings. One, that she is out walking in the wild, and two, that she had quite wild behaviour. On her journey, it is not just a heavy 'monster' bag that she carries, but also her damaged past of sex, drugs and death. The hike, or the reasoning behind it, is to 'walk herself back to the woman she once was' and get her life back in the right direction.

Set in 1995 and walking from the Mexican Border to Canada (via the large wilderness) the hike should take an estimated three months. But we catch up with her at different points as the narratives travels through past and present explaining the hardships of how she got into the situation.

For Reese Witherspoon, this is her definitive role and by 1,100 miles a career best. It is far emotional, physical and sexually explicit she has ever been before. All in the name of her new image and production company (Pacific Standard), in which aims to create stronger female orientated films. With Gone Girl and Wild now on their filmography it is fair to say that they succeeding.

What we get as we are taken on this journey with Cheryl, is a darkness of self-redemption. It bares similarities to 127 Hours and Mitty' in terms of character cycle and travel - but more similarly Sean Penn's Into The Wild. At times, Wild hooks you emotionally during flashbacks, more often about her relationship with her mother, played by Laura Dern. But at other points you do not feel as connected and physically tired of taking the journey.

Life as it is

[wdiegogarcia · 8/10 · 23 April 2015]

Realistic performance of Reese Witherspoon. An history about the life as it is. A movie to watch and review in your mind later. I like drama movies that you suffer as you are watching but give you things to think later, this is this type of movie. Wild is a one-character movie but the little pieces of the secondary characters are so well introduced that allows to introduce drama, fear, suspense and romanticism to the history. If I need to say something wrong about the movie is that in some passages there is lack of continuity and feels as if the movie was longer at the beginning and the director need to cut it to do it shorter.

A great mix of beauty, pain, courage, fear and something all of us struggle with, forgiveness.

[jaclyn-144-759583 · 7/10 · 3 December 2014]

I'll admit … this movie is much better than expected. The trailer turned me off a bit — it seemed like a long, boring movie that would bring me back to 127 Hours again. No thank you.

I was pleasantly surprised. Yes… this is a story about one woman's journey across our amazing country. It is also a story about the people around her — the people she interacts with for minutes, months and milestones. It's not merely a woman walking for two hours on the screen … it's a great mix of beauty, pain, courage, fear and something all of us struggle with, forgiveness.

While I was suspect of the movie, I was not worried about Reese Witherspoon giving us a great performance. First of all — how it is possible this woman looks great in EVERYTHING!?!? As Elle Woods in Legally Blonde she wore pink to perfection. In Walk the Line she pulled off classic country in a way that even Dolly would have to say is pretty fabulous. And as Cheryl Strayed I left the theatre feeling like I needed to run to REI and pick up a pair of hiking boots and gray socks! Folks are debating online if she is one of America's sweethearts … in my opinion … she defines it. You can't help but like her. And if you aren't a Reese fan, check out Wild just to see her in this anti-Elle Woods role. I believe you will gain some respect for her.

Over the last 24 hours I was wondering if I would recommend this as a movie for you to pick when it's your turn. Yes. It's a great movie. Yes. Men can handle it (though I'm sure they will whine as you drag them there). Yes. You'll walk away with your heart tugged and perhaps a tear or two. So yes … I do recommend Wild if it is your turn to pick. If you love someone, lost someone, are searching for someone — there is a strong chance this movie will unexpectedly strike that chord. Why? Because Wild does a wonderful job sharing a life story all of us can relate to in someway. This isn't a Hollywood blockbuster script — it's a script about everyday life that always isn't pretty. The guy doesn't always get the girl. The dreams don't always come true. Answers aren't just straight ahead. All of us have a Wild story in our life … spending two hours watching Cheryl share hers is well worth your time and money.

Unrealistic, unmoving and uninspiring......

[HpyCmpr155 · 5/10 · 29 December 2014]

As a woman who has solo hiked many parts of the AT I went to this movie with great hopes of being uplifted and inspired but I left unfulfilled, disappointed and bored. The portrayal of what a long distance hike takes was unrealistic and oversimplified. You do not go out unprepared and you do not just scamper over three boulders or teeter over 4 feet of slippery logs crossing a creek. The trails are fraught with many dangers from man, beast and nature. This made it look like a long hot afternoon walk. Perhaps the real woman's experience was better accounted for in her journals and subsequent book but the movie did nothing to convey her personal struggle to complete a thousand mile trek...

But what left me MOST disappointed and shaking my head....was when they managed to insert a blatant plug for REI right in the middle of the movie woven right into the dialog...("You mean they'll send me a brand new pair of boots?? No charge??? Thanks REI! You're my new favorite company!")

I went through much of the emotional turmoil this woman did (minus the drugs and promiscuity) and hoped for an emotional connection. Sadly...the movie just did NOT deliver.

A disappointment

[Gordon-11 · 16 January 2015]

This film tells the story of a woman who goes onto a one thousand mile hike along the mountain trails, in order to find herself after being hurt by major life events.

I had high hopes for "Wild" because it was directed by the same person who directed "Dallas Buyers Club", which I thought was brilliant. After reading the plot summary of "Wild", I thought there would be much soul searching, honest introspection and many tears.

"Wild" tells the plain story of Cheryl hiking for three months. The very first scene of her dropping her boots off a cliff is already the most captivating scene in the whole film. Like the boots, the film goes downhill from there. Cheryl's hike is poorly prepared, but she does not really endure much life threatening hardships. I find the hike rather uneventful. The most exciting adventure she has is so see a snake on her path. The transient connections with the other hikers are so superficial and non consequential, that they could have been edited from the plot. Even when she is running out of water, I felt no captivation by the plot, or any sympathy for her.

The flashbacks into her past give a glimpse of her life before the hike, but this subplot feels disjointed because viewers are at a complete lost as to why she ended up the way she was. Fortunately, the subplot about the sick mother is better, but it is not enough to carry the whole film.

I think the main problem with the film is that the aim of it is unclear. There is no clear reason as to why she hiked, and there is no clear objective as to what she wants to achieve from it. The portrayal of the mental state during the hike does not really tie in into her past, so the hike and the flashbacks have a wide disconnect.

In contrast to "Into the Wild" which was a captivating and profoundly moving film, "Wild" fails to achieve anything. It is a literal meandering through the wild, with no emotional roller-coaster. Even the ending monologue is a stale, meaningless mumble. I was disappointed by "Wild".

Film Review: Wild/www.nightfilmreviews.com

[lucasnochez · 6/10 · 7 December 2014]

It seems like there is no better way of finding yourself, than by losing yourself completely.

Such is the case with Reese Witherspoon's newest feature Wild, based on the widely popular New York Times Best Seller and Oprah's Book Club 2.0 favourite "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail" written by Cheryl Strayed.

Wild is based on a memoir, and Strayed did in fact trek the whole 1,100 mile Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail all by herself, and tells a compelling story of survival, wit and true courage, but never is her story original enough for us to really care. Overplayed images of crossing bridges, promises of clean slates and new life, as well as images of iconic natural beauty and wildlife, are some of the reasons Wild never quite settles in with audiences, as it should.

Witherspoon, who dropped out of Tim Burton's Big Eyes (a role that eventually went to Amy Adams) may have found another passion project and Oscar-caliber character as Strayed. Embodying a troubled young woman who struggled with heroin, constant adultery and the tragic death of her loving and inspiration mother Bobbi (played saintly by the radiant Laura Dern), Witherspoon easily transcends through the screen and into our hearts as a highly empathetic character. Is Strayed a drug addict? Sex addict? Rehabilitating feminist? Many of these questions aren't really answered by the film's end or in the countless flashbacks (that easily takes up an alarming amount the film's runtime) of Strayed highly traumatizing and delicate life, which poses some of the many problems of the film as a whole.

Quebecois filmmaker and go-to Oscar caliber actors-director Jean Marc-Vallée, who helped Matthew McConaughey complete his A-List status as Ronald Woodruff in the highly appreciated Dallas Buyers Club, helms Witherspoon in a highly clichéd and simple narrative where a woman's only choice and answer for change, is nature. Cue scenes of Strayed connecting with the wildlife by howling with the nearby wolves, numerous shots of her looking up and talking to herself as well as some of the most over-quoted identity passages ever written by Emily Dickenson, Ralph Waldo Emerson and of course Robert Frost, and Wild sinks in the footsteps of other memorable identity finding nature films.

One film in particular that comes to mind, released just last year, is John Curran's Tracks starring Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver. Not only does the film tell the story of Robyn Davidson, an author and true living bohemian who conquered the 1,700 mile journey along the west Australian deserts with four camels and a trusty sidekick canine, but Curran offers audiences an audacious and highly inspiring symbolic film filled with deep purpose, meaning and thought. Absent of all the highly Americanized gloss, including; narration, heavy-drama flashbacks and distracting pop culture references found in Wild, Tracks tells the story of a woman who suffered harsher condition, during a lengthier hike with less help from the outside world. By watching both films, it becomes clear that Wild is a film that reaffirms America's obsession with keeping stories of Americans more relevant than individuals internationally, sadly.

Witherspoon may have delivered the performance of her life as Strayed, a woman who seems to overly dramatize the tragedies in her life by taking drastic measures. Strayed, whose life could have easily been made into a soap-opera miniseries, had the huge privilege of having her book connect with many housewives and identity-riddled middle aged women who found hope and purpose through the pages of her memoir, giving the film adaptation traction and leverage. Witherspoon, who in addition to starring in the film, acts as the films producer as well, transforms herself to a thin Strayed whose conquests from California to Oregon push the bodily limits of a highly tormented and dumbfounded character whose purpose of the quest is questioned repeatedly and given no due sympathy based on her lack of commitment to really anything at all in her life.

Thankfully, the film isn't all that bad. One of the many strengths of Wild that isn't ever understood or put into perspective in other films is its ability to relate to many of the average audience members who would ever think of doing such a journey. Vallée sets-up perfect scenes of hiking preparation that blend perfectly with Witherspoon's mix of humour and daft seriousness, such as her first encounter with a backpack that is twice her height and triple the size of our protagonist. At some points in the beginning of Strayed's journey, we can't help but notice Witherspoon resemble a white-washed, patriotic version of Dora the Explorer with her handy-dandy backpack and all the useful things inside it (condoms included, if you could believe it), making someone who is just undeniable to relate to.

Contrary to its title, Wild is a very tame coming-to-terms adventure narrative when the camera is placed on Witherspoon alone. Throughout Strayed personal discoveries, audiences are able to capture the essence of her struggles best with the many characters that come along her path. At times, the film plays with our expectations of the genre, sometimes veering into stylistic thriller/horror territory when she meets a land worker and burley American man Frank (W.Earl Brown), or buddy road film when she meets fellow hitchhiker Greg (Kevin Rankin), or romantic wilderness film when Cheryl meets the gorgeous bearded musician that is easily the hipster equivalent to Christian Grey for hikers in Jonathan (Michael Huisman). Vallée does a fantastic job of toying with different genre expectations, as well as the many stereotypes that come within the road film and the many different characters one comes to expect and know.

honest, deep, dramatic and beautiful

[xmarinka-34186 · 9/10 · 28 March 2015]

I loved this movie.

My favorite part about this movie is the idea - being true to ones feelings, being destroyed by pain to the point of loosing oneself and having the strength to finding it again; having the strength and incredible will to let go and move on. I find it deep and insightful.

I also like the presentation of this idea - in a simple, very honest way. That's why I think, the symbolism they used fits in so well, even though it's a bit obvious - the heavy bag she carries at the beginning of the journey, bleeding feet, getting new shoes that fit, throwing up (as letting all the bad things out) and coming to the gods bridge. All of these are classic, obvious symbols, which are in tune with the simpleness of the presentation of the idea.

This brings me to another point I like about this movie, how it contrasts this very simple plot and very simple presentation to very complicated 'things' inside the main character. I also have to mention the script, because its loooong time since I have seen/heard such a good script - communicating the drama of one's life without overdoing it.

And OK, there are some factual errors in this movie, but they are not so important and Witherspoon did a great job as an actress and a producer. For me it's her best movie so far.

So to sum it up - strong drama, in simple, honest presentation, inspiring to return to your good self, no matter what may happen. The way we deal with our feelings, is the way we leave.

A star vehicle for Witherspoon, but it is not tailor-made.

[lasttimeisaw · 6/10 · 29 May 2015]

After consummating "McConaissance" in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (2013), Jean-Marc Vallée's next step is another star-vehicle biography, Reese Witherspoon plays Cheryl Strayed, a young woman embarked on a 2,650-mile hike of Pacific Crest Trail from Minneapolis, Minnesota to the Bridge of the Gods connecting Oregon and Washington in 1995. The aim of her journey is to detoxicate herself from her past bad habits of promiscuity and heroin addiction which had encroached her entire life after the untimely death of her mother Bobbi (Dern) and had already destroyed her marriage with Paul (Sadoski).

Opening with a cringing-inducing toenail-plucking gambit, as if the film is promising us an unpromising depiction of the mission-impossible trek for a novice hiker, then incessantly throws back spasmodic flashbacks to proffer backgrounds of our heroine in order to wheedle us into awe-inspiring admiration. The approach is recommendable, but there is a problem at hand (at least for me), my admiration is already in full default mode for anyone who has the willpower and actually accomplishes the formidable undertaking, so to progressively know her back-story can only amass my cynical suspicions of either a victorious bandwagon out of vainglory or a navel-gazing inspection to find an excuse for her self-destructive conducts, or both. Fortunately, the film opts for a safer route, neither blatantly beautifies her ritual of reborn, nor goes digging deep into her most vulnerable part in her memories. Generically, it maintains her long haul in a tepid temperature apart from the overhanging threat of being raped in the wilderness, as the ethical yardstick for Cheryl's before/after metamorphosis.

Witherspoon finally proves that it is not just a fluke for her (undeserving) Oscar triumph in WALK THE LINE (2005, 9/10), which takes her almost a decade. Granted that the physical endeavour of a petite Witherspoon shouldering on her ginormous backpack for the first time before her hiking already pre-empts audience's respect, she is still unable to fuel her role with a consistent intensity to make viewers wow for her through and through, check her scenes with Dern, where she conspicuously fades into background or looks rather wooden in comparison, the but when she is on her own, she is fine, sometimes even great, for her daring nudes scenes and (spoiler alert) making out with drop-dead gorgeous Michiel Huisman.

Laura Dern is the dark horse in the BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS race this year, since her screen time is not only brief, but exclusively in flashbacks as well, not to mention most of those scenes are edited into transitory fragments as if she is just a symbolistic prop to burden Cheryl's mental state. In fact Dern has only one Oscar-bait scene when she tells Cheryl the reason of being cheerful and optimistic in their not-so-perfect life, she nails it impeccably, and de facto she is the one who really deserves a renaissance!

On a whole, I'm a bit underwhelmed by the movie, the performances is its strongest suit, but the empty nature of its material restrains it from being a resounding feminist opus, and Vallée's execution doesn't enhance the film to match the caliber of his best offering, aka. C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005, 8/10).

Very Personal Movie

[dreamrider · 8/10 · 20 December 2014]

Your life will most likely determine whether or not you like this film, whether or not it moves you.

I read the book and was not sure how they were going to make such an introspective novel into a movie but they did a pretty good job. My group of friends had mixed reactions, some of us were deeply moved (myself included) some where wondering why we were...

I felt the way her story was portrayed in flashbacks was very effective and about the only way to tell this story. It can never be as deep as the emotions in the book and it had to skim over a lot but still, for me and others I was with it was very powerful.

On a superficial side note... I wish she had looked dirtier. Her hair and clothes always looked too clean for what she was doing with very minimal hygiene.

Wild is One Of Reese Witherspoon's Career Defining Roles. A Very Strong Performance.

[Matt-144-792009 · 7/10 · 3 December 2014]

In the movie Wild (2014), Reese Witherspoon plays the real life Cheryl Strayed, a woman tortured by personal demons who makes a 1,100 mile hike from Mexico to Canada. Along with the evils of nature and evil nature of man she encounters, Cheryl is on a deep journey of self discovery. The movie is based on the real Cheryl Strayed's book of the same name. (I didn't read it) The real Cheryl has a cameo as the first person to pick up Reese's Cheryl hitchhiking. This is director Jean-Marc Vallee's follow up to last years critical success, Dallas Buyers Club (2013).

Wild is a great showcase for Reese Witherspoon's acting talent. From the first seen, the movie sets you up for how painful the journey will be with a do-it-yourself podiatry work scene on a broken toenail. From there on out the pacing is deliberately slow yet methodical. Self discovery requires much time spent pondering life and flash backs. Laura Dern gives a heart breaking performance as Cheryl's dying mother. Reese has reached a new level in here career with Wild. Cheryl is not a glamorous singer like June Carter, in Walk the Line (2005). One can't help but be reminded of Emile Hirsch's role in Into the Wild (2007), or James Franco's 127 Hours (2010). To call Wild the female version of these is not to do it justice, Reese's performance is on the same level. No need to account for gender. I have always been a big Reese Witherspoon fan. Only not the Rom-Com, mainstream Reese; not a fan of the Legally Blonde (2001) series or movies like Sweet Home Alabama (2002). I first fell in love with Reese with Mark Wahlberg in Fear (1996). Then it was Freeway (1996) and Election (1999) that solidified her as a very eclectic, fun actress. If you haven't seen either of those movies, check them out if you are a Reese fan. I think its interesting this role in Wild is also directed by the same director as Dallas Buyers Club. I think Reese has a very similar career path as Matthew McCaunehey. Both with southern twang and charm who built strong box office credibility with romantic comedies. Now in the second half of their career they are pushing with more challenging roles. Reese's performance in Wild should earn her a nomination for best actress this year.

Also not to go unmentioned in this film is its solid soundtrack. Simon and Garfunkle's El Condor Pasa/ If I Could, will haunt you well after the movie is over. The songs play out in echoes, like music from memory in a long time spent reflecting. Songs you just can't get out of your head in the soundtrack of life. I love the use of Portis Head's Glory Box in the more ominous drug and sex scenes. That song is a great mood setter. I was excited to recognize Everclear front man Art Alexakis in a small cameo as a tattoo artist. The closing credits has one of my new favorites, Swedish Band First Aid Kit doing a cover of R.E.M's Walk Unafraid.

In reflecting on this movie, I feel inspired to go on a similar journey. In our modern lives, with all the chaos of technology it becomes a fantasy to "go off the grid". I think in contrast this could be a very comforting story during the crazy holiday season. Similar to 127 Hours or Into The Wild, yet with far less dire outcomes, this movie is about the triumph of the human spirit. The lesson being that its the ups and downs of life that make the journey all worth it.

If you enjoyed this review please check out my blog at yourturntopick.com

A Rewarding Struggle

[billygoat1071 · 9/10 · 6 February 2015]

Wild is based on the memoir of Cheryl Strayed about her lone hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. This journey is meant to be an escape from her personal problems and possibly rehabilitating herself from a troubling past. It expresses these feelings thoroughly; at every turn, there has to be a reminder of what she's been through, but also deals with a potential danger in this hike. The movie lives up to its sentiment, the pain and obstacles that the story goes through feel genuine and it leaves us such a rewarding experience. There are some parts that can feel a little uneven, but its spirit stays intact, enduring what the movie is meant to be.

There are several conflicts in this hike. Firstly is how inexperienced Strayed is in the wilderness, trying to reach her destination with a heavy backpack, tight shoes, raw meals, and even faces anything that could possibly harm her, including wild animals and strangers that appears to her as a threat. The other is basically remembering the past of losing her mother and her addiction out of depression. The main point here is how she deals with these problems; the flashbacks may be just any other drama, but it helps clearing out her motivations and fleshing out who she is. Though, the emotions are more genuine when she is simply isolated, helpless from any conflict until she learns lifting herself back up, literally and metaphorically.

It carefully lingers at how difficult to proceed this walk which makes her seemingly small actions look like a truly serious risk. The camera just lets the audience experience the same feeling of pain and exhaustion on what she is doing. Reese Witherspoon naturally pictures the vital parts of Strayed's emotional and physical struggles, while building a full character along the trek. But the movie doesn't always have to be tough, whenever it stops into places with people, there is a real pleasant feeling around, especially when she is just expressing her thoughts to whoever she just met.

There are a some flaws that are worth mentioning, specifically when it occasionally takes turn to a far different direction later on, somewhat abandoning the consistent emotion it accomplished. The very last part also ended up verbalizing the entire theme, kind of dropping the poetic intentions. But they didn't outweigh much of its merits. Because no matter what happened there, Wild is still a journey that earned something satisfyingly heartfelt. Most of the credit may go to Reese Witherspoon as she thoughtfully carries the whole film. Even when it sort of stumbles in some parts, the movie still delivers the story with sincerity and real emotions that made it this great.

Lacking emotional engagement, Witherspoon is the star here

[eddie_baggins · 6/10 · 28 June 2015]

It's a movie that screams "Oscar" for its female lead and a film based around a redemptive true story but for all the good Wild does (which is largely in its use of its natural scenery) it never threatens to become something truly special that its very much like minded and similarly titled Into the Wild did back in 2007.

Directed by Dallas Buyers Club's Jean-Marc Vallee, Wild is a step up in cinematic posturing from that solid drama in many aspects yet where Buyers Club found a soul in amongst all of the larger than life events Wild never hits high notes on its emotional payoffs due to a strange flashback structure, some unengaging inner monologues and sense we never really get to know Reese Witherspoon's Cheryl Strayed despite the fact we've spent the time with her on her months long journey walking the Pacific Crest Trail. Blame for this lack of real emotionally punch falls largely on famed writer Nick Hornby's script that doesn't ring enough out of Cheryl's troubled tales before her life affirming quest despite Witherspoon giving it her all in a deservedly noted turn as the troubled soul.

Clearly committed to the role it's great to see Witherspoon invest her time into something noteworthy in front of the camera and she elevates Wild to a higher level thanks to her warts and all turn. It would've taken a huge toll on the actress both emotionally and physically in such a demanding turn and this is arguably Witherspoon's finest moment, narrowly beating out her memorable performance from Walk the Line. However good Witherspoon is here it's a travesty that the film's most emotionally charged scenes are mostly ruined due to a decision to use Witherspoon as a young Sheryl. Believability is often entirely ruined when we flash back from a middle aged Cheryl walking the trail to her days as a student and no amount of makeup can hide the fact we are witnessing a 40 plus year old actress play dress ups as a teenager. It would've also had been nice to get more of a feel for Cheryl and her relationship with estranged ex-husband Paul played by Thomas Sadoski and also her time with the undeservedly Oscar nominated Laura Dern as her caring mother Bobbi but Vallee marks his intention often that the trail is where his focus is on.

With some great cinematography and a committed turn by the Oscar nominated Witherspoon, Wild is worthy of your time, yet one can't help but feel deep down there was a more emotionally resonate drama to be explored in the tale of lost soul finding redemption out in the great wilds of the American landscape that makes Wild feel like somewhat of a missed opportunity when it had the story, the actress and the lands to make something truly special. As a film for all us anti-camping flag-wavers however, this could just become our quintessential showcase for our cause.

3 delicious oat's dinners out of 5

Bravo, Reese Witherspoon !

[briandmiddleton · 9/10 · 6 February 2015]

We loved this film...and this is NOT a "chick flick"...it's for ALL of us and it's about our search for our individual and authentic selves - male or female... so don't miss it!

I think Reese Witherspoon has created an incredible film with her team. Kudos ...one of your best ever films and we are looking for more from your production company in the future. An Oscar nomination is so well deserved and we will be looking for you on TV that night.

I Love how you portrayed the essence of a silent retreat and all the riches and gifts and stresses of doing one. WILD does an amazing job of illustrating this worthwhile experience in an individual's life.

Personal growth and wild nature

[MarcoParzivalRocha · 7/10 · 22 August 2020]

Cheryl embarks alone on an adventure, on one of the most famous (and dangerous) trails in the world, in an attempt to overcome a trauma in her life. It's a film about personal overcoming and growth, connecting with nature and starting over. It is one of those films in which the interpretations are much better than the story itself. The writing is not extraordinary, the (adapted) script itself has already been seen in other films of the same genre, but what makes this film good is the role of Reese Whiterspoon, with incredible dedication and commitment. The cinematography has good moments, and the way that some scenes are cuted and the way that the film plays with the flashbacks, gives a good depth to the narrative. The viewer can relate with the story really easily.

Boring and upsetting at best

[alwaysdewright · 1/10 · 15 April 2015]

Fans of Cheryl Strayed likely come away from this movie feeling reasonably content with the outcome. There's no challenge to the end product or hope for anything more. Reese Witherspoon is a pretty personification that many can put their hopes and dreams and selves into and flutter away to the pretty pictures of mountains for a few fleeting moments in their day. For the rest of us, however, the movie is quite unmemorable and intangible. If anything, we simply watch Strayed (Witherspoon) walk around like an entitled, annoyed bitch for two hours, getting into trouble, doing stupid things, hurting anyone close to her, and then crying over spill milk again and again. And all along there's this audacious overtone telling us we should be feeling sorry for Strayed and her struggles… give me a break.

It's clear Jean-Marc Vallee wanted to produce an Oscar-season prospect, not an accurate or truly vulnerable adaptation. Coming off his success with Dallas Buyers Club, Vallee wanted to shift momentum to a prettier landscape and fill in the rest with exhausting flashbacks for back story. I can visualize what he was aiming for, and it could have been a shoe-in for best picture or certainly best actress. Unfortunately the end product missed the target by thousands of miles. Wild is tiresome, disjointed and certainly not Oscar-worthy material. The big difference between the two films is that Dallas was based on a tremendous story, one of transformation and growth, which is why it resonated so well with audiences. Wild is not a tremendous story, not even a good one, and simply takes the same approach as another vain diatribe, "Eat Pray Love." Essentially, a struggling female writer feels trapped in her life and decides to try something extreme, get herself out of this rut and find purpose (then shockingly decides to write a book about it and capitalize off all the people who want to do the same. CRAZY!). I won't argue that Strayed didn't have a rough go at it. With the death of her mother, her rotten coping mechanisms through anonymous sex and heroin use, the consequent failure of her marriage and the downward spiral of her life, Strayed was headed nowhere before she found the path of the PCT. But that does not excuse how ego-driven and basic Wild is (and is told).

Strayed is the ugliest character in the story. Aside from a terrible voice-over at the end (seriously, WTF was that?), Strayed truly does not change physically, emotionally or in her relationships from beginning to end. Yet somehow the film goes out of its way to make her a hero, innocent and a victim in this crazy world around her. We see this when all the rangers, hikers, townsfolk, even customers at the diner she's waiting at all want to rape her or take advantage. Apparently every man in the 90s was absolutely horrible (even the husband she was cheating on who drove across the country to fetch her out of a drug den and save her life. Hrm…). The most ironic part is how Strayed described in the book that she wanted to sleep with nearly every man that crossed her path (including most men on the trail), and at times she said she had to hold herself back. And that's the worst part of Wild, the blatant, phony feminist propaganda. Feminism is so trendy in pop culture right now that everyone is claiming they're a part of the cause. But it's a word that is completely misappropriated and misused, especially by quite terrible role models such as Cheryl Strayed. She is a woman who wants to desperately be considered a feminist that she adjusts her story to justify her mistakes, even throwing in the line, "I am a feminist," into the movie to frantically convince us. But she's not. Being a selfish, inconsiderate asshole doesn't make you a feminist or a martyr. It makes you a selfish, inconsiderate asshole, and not a person the viewer should want to feel compassion for.

To be honest, one of the best parts of the book was the relationships and perspectives of others who Strayed came across on the trail. We got to hear what they were going through, not just getting hit over the head by a whiny Witherspoon. Yet the theatrical version (again) only focuses on Cheryl and her theoretical struggle with life (i.e. herself). We totally skip over all the other people who in my opinion were the 'therapists' and friends who helped Cheryl to grow and guide her change into a new woman and move beyond her horrible past.

If the story is intended to be one about personal growth and finding oneself, then there is none of that here in this adaptation. For a 15-minute montage Reese is bitching and moaning about hiking and her life, then suddenly we're at the end of the trek and she's telling us about how happy-ever-after things are going to be in the future. It was like Vallee just said, "I'm over it," and decided to end the terrible experiment. By the end of this movie I find myself really caring less about Strayed (even distrusting her more since she signed off on this thing), and I'm insulted by her story and embarrassed that so many embrace her and what she did as some sort of feminist martyrdom. I think Strayed was a stupid girl who did stupid things, and out of sheer blonde luck was able to survive a trek on her own. Even more luck, she was able to turn that mediocre story into millions of dollars in her pocket. So good for her. It's not a terrible movie, just a terrible story about a terrible person who wants us all to believe she's a saint. I don't buy it, and unfortunately I rented the movie… and bought the book.