Movie - Wild
Director - Jean - Marc Vallee
Cast - Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Michiel Huisman
Produced by - Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea, Bill Pohlad
Whenever a book or a novel is translated on screen, there are huge speculations on various fronts; is it as good as the book, is the story exactly like the book or fictionalized even more and son one. Reese Witherspoon's "Wild" too was not alien to these speculations, but the movie has managed to surpass expectations and all speculations which is a great start.
The movie is based on a novel which goes by the same name written by Cheryl Strayed who also happens to be the story writer for the movie.
The book is an written account of the author's life journey which imbibes various events like a heart breaking divorce, drug abuse & it's after effects and death of her mother.
Wild has a pretty straight approach as far as the storytelling is concerned. Her Pacific Crest Trail journey of 2663 miles gives her insight about her life and the deeper meanings hidden in it. While the journey stretches from the border of Mexico to British Columbia, the locations include Ashland & Bend making it a visual treat.
Right from the time she loses her mother at a very young age to the painful divorce, the story showcases the protagonist's journey through varied emotional turmoil's and how hiking becomes a outlet for all the frustration and a source to ponder on life's happenings.
While the story is good and the length of the Film is not stretched longer than required, the brand placements scream a place for themselves more than expected. You will see Snapple integration and not to forget REI boots integration scene which makes it looks like an unwanted branding commercial popping up rather than a movie scene.
In this journey of soul searching she encounters many strangers, some help her see the good side of humanity & life while others teach her lessons in a different manner altogether.
All in all its a one-time watch, again as it happens with all the motion pictures emerging from a book or a novel; chances are the readers will find the original memoir more appealing.
