Directed by Terrence Malick After seeing Kelly Reichardt's Meek's Cutoff (2010) I suddenly wished to see what her version of Into the Wild might've looked like. It's her stark, unromantic approach to her characters and worldview that I wanted to see layered onto other movies that I felt perhaps watered down or otherwise distorted the essence of … Continue reading A Hidden Life (2019)
into the wild
Free Solo (2018)
Directed by Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi There's a lot in common between Alex Honnold and Christopher McCandless (Into the Wild). They both lived by a certain code that could (and for McCandless did) kill them, and these two films in part celebrate their drive and accomplishment as well as suggest how such will could … Continue reading Free Solo (2018)
Into the Wild (2007)
Directed by Sean Penn I've had a hard time getting Christopher McCandless out of my head this week. While in a Wisconsin cabin I picked up Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild, learning in more detail about McCandless' journey which I had first come to know about upon the film's release over a decade ago. Armed with … Continue reading Into the Wild (2007)
Faults (2014)
Directed by Riley Stearns A sad, sad man attempts to deprogram a cult member in Faults, a film that accomplishes a lot over the course of a few nights in a small motel room. He is Ansel Roth (Leland Orser), and the subject of his interrogation is Claire (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). Pretty quickly the power dynamics … Continue reading Faults (2014)
Lean on Pete (2018)
Directed by Andrew Haigh Lean On Pete sets up a certain sentimentality only to tear it down in abrupt, stark ways. You think you know where the movie is headed, but then it takes a sudden detour that feels surprising at first but overall in line with the movie's unexpected tone. It's like watching a Disney … Continue reading Lean on Pete (2018)