Student Film Reviews

Film reviews from theaters, couches, and film festivals

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1. Mark Rius 09.21.08 / 11pm

   Emile Hirsh plays Chris, a character who throws his whole life to seek happiness. This is definitely a must-see movie. It is a slow-paced indie film that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the bitter end. Many famous actors make appearances in this film, which makes it interesting. Chris decides to burn his identity and all his money to seek the journey of living. He is a kid who always wanted to be by himself, which paves the way for this coming-of-age film. The very last line in the movie is “Happiness is better shared.” This movie teaches many life lessons; I would highly recommend it.
2. Sanja Maljevic 10.04.08 / 1am

   Yes, I agree this movie is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. It should have won some Oscars! The work the put in making this movie was amazing and the cinema photography was just breathtaking. Beautifully directed by Sean Penn. Not to mention the Acting was superb! I highly recommend this movie and you can read the book.too if you like. Sean Penn was on a mission to get the rights to make this move for 10 years and it shows that he really cared about this film in the way it was produced.
3. Patrick Wiley 10.04.08 / 12pm

   Yes, the cinematography was amazing. I think it gave this film the recognition it deserved. Sean Penn was masterful and I was impressed with how much he stayed true to the book. Now, I can truly picture the travels of Chris McCandless, and because of this representation believe he was a little crazy. Emile Hirsh was awesome and this film deserved to win some Oscars. I agree that the filmmakers really cared about this man’s great adventures.
4. Matthew Boisdore 10.04.08 / 7pm

   This review did more than describe the film’s story or even viseral impact that a given movie may illicit and be reported in a film review. Given that as a film studies student I am learning about film and about the making of movies, I was able, by reading this review to “picture” aspects of the film that I would not earlier have noticed or been able to discuss. Describing the types of shots, such as, pan shots used to provide a “snapshot” of a given location or episode in the life of the character and deep focus shots to emphasize the alter-ego of the character, as well as the shot to reverse shots used to dipict the hunting scenes gave the reader clear anticipatory sets for viewing the film. It made it richer to look at the film from a more analytic point of view. Describing camera angles and use of natural sound in juxtaposition to the non-diegetic sounds of Eddie Vidder’s music gave the reader a sense of the “to be seen” isolation, beauty, and ultimate ephemeralness of life itself, given the expanse of “nature.” I think the review was astute and motivating. When I watched the movie, having read the book, I was moved by the visual beauty on screen and the ability of the actors, director, editor, cinematographer, and camera operators to capture not only the visual impact, but also to bring to life the humanity of the story. Indeed this movie is a keeper.
5. Erin Somers 10.08.08 / 4pm

   This movie was amazing in every aspect. From Emile Hirsh’s amazing performance as Chris to the beautiful pan shots. Sean Penn did an amazing job bringing this story to life. I loved how the movie was broken up, but it always would tie back to Chris’s present day. The way Sean Penn captured Chris’s alter ego, Alexander Supertramp, through different shots was done very well. The story of Chris McCandless was one of adventure. He left everything just so he could pursue happiness. This is a movie everyone should see because it reminds us that we should look at our lives and ask if we are truly happy and if that answer is no, we should take the necessary steps in search of that happiness just as Chris did. It definitely deserved the Golden Globe award and I think everyone needs to see this film.
6. Angela Plascencia 10.16.08 / 10pm

   I absolutely loved this movie. I really enjoy movies that were made from true life situations. I think that Emile Hirsh did an amazing job playing Chris. I like films that go from past to present. The opening shot is present then it jumps back to how he got to where he is. It gives his life story and everywhere he went. I really enjoyed all the characters and each scene where he did something different. I am amazed that this is a true story and that Chris went out on this crazy adventure. It makes you realize that there is more to life then just materialistic things, and how unimportant things can be if you let them. The world is so tied up with money and making it that people don’t realize that there is so much more to life. I think this movie was a great example of that.
7. shoham 10.17.08 / 11pm

   This movie had a very powerful message: to think outside of the box. To do what Chris did, to go live in the wild, was a very strong test of his abilities to survive. Sean Penn did an excellent job of recreating his life story, though some parts of the book were left out in the movie. The cinematography more than makes up for that, as the natural surroundings helped in telling his story, as did seeing the joys and difficulties that he faced.
8. KatrineVillumsen 11.08.08 / 1am

   I don’t know why, but somehow this movie really annoyed me. I agree with the original review of the movie, the cinematography by Gautier is absolutely amazing. I was blown away by the beautiful scenery and the picturesque setting. I had completely forgotten how untouched land can look like and I think this beautiful nature in the movie is combined with the “sad” and amazing story of Alexander Supertramp make a very interesting story. It just wasn’t catchy enough for me. The story is interesting, the pictures are beautiful, the acting is great, but I found myself a little restless in my seat. The movie was too long and without no overall connected storyline for me to really enjoy it. Even though this is the kind of movie which I would like to go and watch and then think about for days after, this is not what happened after I saw. I completely forgot about it. I think the movie should have been edited in a different way in order to make a more concise movie.
   I did enjoy bits of the movie. I loved the scene with the two silly backpackers. Mostly because I’m from Denmark myself and I actually went to see this movie with a friend from Denmark who was here to visit me. When the Danish couple showed up on screen, speaking awful English, acting like a couple of hillbillies, my friend and I disappeared further and further down into our seat. It was a little embarrassing. Even more funny was the fact that people started laughing every time the Danish couple would speak in Danish. I would, of course, understand what they were saying and even though they didn’t really say anything funny, it must have sounded very funny to Americans because people couldn’t stop laughing every time they said something in Danish.
   Another scene which I really enjoyed was the scene where Alexander meets the girl who is much younger than him. Despite the age gap, something sparks between them. I was sitting on the tip of my seat all through this scene. I knew it was wrong (because of the age gap), but I wanted them to be together. I knew what Alexander was about to do and I wanted her to stop him. This scene was very emotional for me and it touched something inside me. So did the scene where he actually kills himself (whether it was intended or not) and to make it even more realistic and emotional, the real photo of “Alexander Supertramp” shows up. I thought this was a great detail. However, I thought the movie was a little too long. I do realize it takes time to tell a story like this, but I just wasn’t entertained through every second of the movie. This is the kind of movie I’m glad that I’ve seen and experienced, and I’m glad that I now know about Alexander Supertramp’s story (I always enjoy movies based on real stories) even though I actually haven’t read the book (though I’m sure the book would actually be better because this story is so made for a book and not a movie), but it’s most likely not a movie I will ever see again.
9. LesetjaMohlabane 11.10.08 / 8pm

   This movie is definitely one of my favorite movies of all time. Partially because it shows how Sean Penn has grown from his slacker role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High to become extremely engulfed in film, directing a movie with so much depth and thoughtfulness. What makes this movie so moving is it shows us that life shouldn’t just be based off the society’s norms, especially when there is so much natural beauty to be curious about. Emile Hirsche plays an impeccable role as “Alexander Supertramp,” pen name of main character, Chris McCandless. The transcendentalist feel throughout the entire movie makes for a fun, and real diegetic world which keeps your suspension of disbelief at a constant. Overall this is a must see, and a movie you will never forget.
10. Brandon Molder 11.21.08 / 6pm

    i thought this movie was amazing. everything about this film made me amazed. the story of a kid that has everything going for him, and just drops it because he does not believe in money, and for his enjoyment of the wild. i felt that the director Sean Penn really cared about this movie and to stay true to the book. i also thought that the cinematography was amazing. i would recommend everyone to see this film because of the meaning it has to it. i also think that the film makers deserved the Oscar awards. i think this is one of the best films of the year
11. Alexah Hart 11.12.13 / 8pm

    This review did a wonderful job in describing the cinematography that made this film so incredible. The nature and wildlife in this film is unbelievable and this film really showed the beauty of nature and how Christopher McCandless explored it. Everyone loves a film that has a character they can really relate to. In Into the Wild I felt that I, along with many other youth, connected to Chris. Travelling the world and connecting with people from different regions is a dream of many youth. This film tells the story of an adventurous young man who searches for himself as he travels across the United States. However, this story has an unfortunate ending because Chris dies in the end by eating a poisonous plant. This film shows the beauty of nature, but it also shows that these wonderful journeys have the potential to be dangerous. This is an inspiring film for those who want to adventure into the world; life is short so enjoy it to the fullest in the time being.
12. Isabel Rossovich 10.28.14 / 8pm

    Even though this movie is pretty old now, I wanted to comment on a review of it because it is one of my all time favorite movies.
    I agree with basically all of the points that the review makes. Eric Gautier created a beautiful and mesmerizing film with his cinematography, and Eddie Vedders music is amazing and adds such a dimension to this film.
    Every time I watch it I cry my eyes out, but at the same time I love his sense for adventure and his yearning to be different and be his own person. It just breaks my heart that when he finally found peace in his travels and felt he was ready to return home, back to civilization, he was trapped and his curiously and eagerness to be self sufficient ended up being his downfall when he ate the poisonous berries..
    Conclusion; I love this movie.
13. iago Bastos 03.12.18 / 9pm

    This is a movie that will tinker with our integrity. It deals with human existence on Earth, always with nature in the foreground. It is able to influence and well, many personalities. That was the high point of Sean Penn as the director of this work. It has the ability to make the viewer rethink their values. Whether it be the celebrated phrases or the constant resistance we witness through Christopher McCandless’s travels.
    Freedom, the savage, the purest away from all capitalism, are the key foci of Into the Wild. We have the beginning of everything, we see the unfolding of the intrigue, with a huge physical and psychological transformation of the character and we have the outcome.
    And the choice of each song, for each scene, is perfect. Not only do they fit in perfectly, but they add to the dramatic charge.
14. Vegard Gansmoe 03.13.18 / 12pm

    I watched this movie when it first came out and I remember the first thing that struck me was the directors incredible panoramic shots. By using different camera angles he was able to convey McCandless love for the wild and beautiful nature. As you mention, Eddie Vedder’s songs and voice is simply amazing and adds to the theme of the movie. In the opening scene where we see Mccandless surrounded by nature and we get the sense this movie will explore the setting he is in. The music here, Eddie Vedder’s song “Long Nights” has a somewhat melancholy feeling to it and sets the mood for the movie.
15. Rachel Davis 08.30.21 / 4pm

    The first thing that strikes me about this film, as the above reviewer mentioned, was the incredible panoramic cinematography. Because the angle is so wide and covers a vast landscape, we connect feelings of loneliness and isolation to Chris’ character in the film. In addition to the eery sense of being that one experiences while watching, the director did a great job of showing that Chris Mccandless does possess feelings similar to all humans, which is amplified by the line “Happiness only real when shared”. It is heartbreaking to watch the ending, and through Eddie Vedder’s amazing album, the movie takes on a haunting persona. “Long nights” in particular showcases how Chris might have felt towards the end.

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