Here we have a subject that must be close to the heart of the movie's director Sean Penn – an angry young rebel sets out alone, to do his own thing. Emile Hirsch gives a convincing performance as a fresh faced college grad who seemed a perfect candidate for Harvard Law School. Instead, he defies his parents by rejecting the money, the new car, the whole thing, and sets off on a grand adventure of going up to Alaska and living off the land. On the way he abandons his old car, literally burns what money he had, and goes on to a series of experiences that were to prepare him for the hardships of a solitary existence in Alaska. He gets there alright -- but one wonders what would drive anyone to do this. It has to be a lot more than the appreciation of the beauty of being fully within nature. It has to be more than the rejection of our materialistic society which was the motive of the old hippies he met along the way. The film does make it clear that it was largely centered on having cruel, ambitious and hypercritical parents. Even the friendship of an old guy who's seen it all, (great cameo by Hal Holbrook), could not deter him from this Alaska thing.The dominant message is that rejection of human relationships is not the answer. Though it's not much of a stretch to contemplate a future in today's world and find it wanting. It's very understandable if you really look at it. So I'm sure that most people just starting out in the working world will identify with this brave young guy and his sense of adventure. To opt-out of the system may not be any worse than becoming yet another cog in an absurd, rudderless ship. But this is just as much a waste.
Screenplay and Direction by Sean Penn, 2007 USA 8/10
