Into the Wild (2007)

The life of Christopher McCandless is forever immortalized by John Krakauer's powerful book, Into the Wild. After Sean Penn optioned it for a motion picture, McCandless might forever be known as the most self-destructive man ever.

Into the Wild is the story of the fortuned, young McCandless who inexplicably gives his trust fund to charity to transform himself into Alexander Supertramp and follow fate into Alaska. It's his disgust with society that drives him from humanity.

In both mediums, what strikes me is McCandless' self-destruction. I can related to him on different levels, but at some point his passion becomes almost hysteria. Here is the smart, promising trust-fund baby that has the world at his feet and yet, to him, it is all a farce. Within his family life lies an undercurrent of deceit. Writer/director Sean Penn rightly examines this because it shapes Chris so much. the family life and I think therein lies much of Chris' disgust. Still, there were so many other people who loved him as himself.

His journey to Alaska actually takes him first to the Midwest and then to Mexico. In all these little towns in between, Chris meets people of all kinds. Some transient, others not. It's these people that try to save Chris from himself. These are relationships to cherish and he can't even see it!! To use the cliche, Chris can't see the forest for the trees. To this viewer, it is madly frustrating and sad at the same time.

The casting is brilliant. Emile Hirsch plays McCandless and he channels the person I've read about. It's a beautiful character study. Christ is driven, industrious, athletic, cocky, naive, and smitten by the works of Tolstoy, Byron, and Thoreau. Hirsh makes the descent slowly. Kudos to him for embodying such a multi-faceted character.

Supporting Hirsch is a line-up of amazing character. Catherine Keener, Hal Holbrook, Vince Vaughn, Jena Malone, William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden are equally remarkable as they ebb and flow from McCandless' life. Keener is perfect as a hippie transient. Vaughn's turn as a Midwest farmer, Wayne Westerberg, is perfect as well. The book expands more on their relationship. Wayne influenced this clueless kid more than anyone, I think.

Wow. I suppose death is inevitable when one takes off to the wilderness unprepared. Still, I had hope the movie would end different. The grandfatherly Ron Franz (Holbrook) truly loved this boy--even wanted to adopt Chris, but acquiesced as Chris goes, 'when I get back from Alaska, we'll see.' I wanted Chris to come back for him alone.

Penn unfolds the story of McCandless with heart and principle--much like McCandless. The film feels like a travel documentary with a lead weight. Beautiful montages of endless mountains, roads, earth and skies belie the weightiness of McCandless' choices. Penn uses the scenery and Chris' own words to further the story within its time frame. The setting gives way to McCandless' slowly emaciating body and Penn turns to his words convey the weight of the world.

Into the Wild is an overwhelming story that pierces the heart. Weeping as Chris meets his demise, out of sheer foolishness, I was overwhelmed. How do you stop a man seemingly hellbent on self-destruction? This film is an arduous journey, but one all the better for making.

I think Chris was right. Happiness is only real when shared.

Titans Win!

In the ten years the Titans have been a part of Tennessee, I've yet to see a game. Until tonight. Excuse me for being a wee bit giddy, but you haven't experienced a game until you see it like this.

2008 Preseason Game 2 against the Oakland Raiders--from the skybox, no less. Can you imagine? I don't have to; I've been there.

Arriving shortly before kick-off allowed me to take in the world of NFL sports. The walk across the pedestrian bridge--I've done numerous times--with hundreds of Titans fans in tow. The short walk across the west concourse to the elevators. The air was electric. The elevator up was quiet. Another short walk followed.

Stepping into the box was like entering another world. Taking in my surroundings, I was overwhelmed. There was so much to see. The view of LP Field was break-taking even with grass as dry and the field lines pale. Playing it cool, professional, I nodded greeting to my associates, grabbed a drink and mingled.

As kick-off approached, I settled in. The coin toss. Raiders lose. Tennessee receives and runs back for 22 yards. So it begins.

The first and second quarters were tame. Six plays, I think. Numerous incompletes, but Oakland gets on the board in the first quarter. Tennessee answers in the second.

Back to the box, food and alcohol continue to flow. It's rather low-key. Some of us have turned to watch Michael Phelps continue his dominance in Beijing.

There is so much to see from up here. My eyes leave to came to watch Fisher and the bench. The kickers are working it out, lineman are on ellipticals, a couple more are joshing. The dynamics are interesting. Turn to the Refs and you see a further dynamic.

Entranced by the rhythm of the field, it's difficult not to get caught up in the pulse. I don't follow professional sports, per se. I even half-heartedly play in the fantasy leagues. I just don't find it interesting. This, however, has my undivided attention.

The company inside the box was lacking, unfortunately. I haven't meshed with my fellow associates yet. Sometimes, I think, I don't care to. A few begin to bail early in the third quarter. Their loss.

The games comes down to the last two minutes. The Titans push down the field. Martin's pass deep left is incomplete. Short right, incomplete. With 1:15 left on the clock, Martin is sacked. Timeout. One last push to the goal gives Tennessee 26 yards. With :02 left on the clock, Vaughn steps out for a 33 yard field goal. It's good.

The remaining crowd erupts. Cue fireworks.

A few pictures are snapped before leaving. It's like there is an need to validate our time there. It was an awesome experience. Some lessons learned:

1. The Titans have a potent running game.
2. It's infinately more fun to watch people drink.
3. Chicken tenders give grown-ups a reason to act like kids.

Preseason Game 2 against the Oakland Raiders. Yeah, it was wicked cool.

Unknown (2006)

Five men wake up in locked chemical warehouse. Battered, bruised, shot and shocked, the five known by their respective apparel or bodily injury, Jean Jacket, Broken Nose, Bound Man, Rancher Shirt and Handcuffed Man are forced to determine who's good and who's bad in order to survive.

The ensemble cast of Unknown should have been enough to build on the above premise. Try as they might, Jim Caviezel, Greg Kinnear, Barry Pepper, Peter Stormare, and Joe Pantoliano can't do anything with this mess. Director Simon Brand tries for Memento with a touch of Saw only to come up with nothing.

The screenplay is the demise. On paper, I can imagine a taunt thriller that twists and turns, creating an engaging whodunnit. Unknown is dim and dirty, but doesn't contain any bite. Through flashbacks our characters try to develop. There is no group dynamic or palatable tension. There is nothing for the audience to build on, no clues to collect or story to surmise. It's just plot holes glaring back at us. This movie is clumsy at best.

As I see it, Unknown is better left unknown.

P.S. I Love You (2007)

I just finished crying my eyeballs out. Whew!! Now, my eyes are all puffy and I feel like I've been punched in the chest.

P.S. I Love You has got to be THE gut-wrencher of 2007. Wow. Hillary Swank stars as Holly--a young widow coping with the loss of her husband Gerry (Gerard Butler). In death, as in life, Gerry reaches out to care for Holly as she learns to live and love again.

The cast is a hodge-podge of names. Joining Swank and Butler is Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon, Kathy Bates and Harry Connick Jr. Swank has never been a favorite of mine. Even in Million Dollar Baby she's askew. Here she is no different. She's wooden in her delivery. It's the supporting cast that really works. Gerard Butler is exceptional; he gets to use his accent to create a wonderful husband who dies in his prime. Bates is solid as Holly's mom. Adventure ensues once you involve best friends played by Kudrow and Gershon. Harry Connick Jr plays Daniel for laughs and so well, too. His performance is fun and surprisingly he and Swank have good onscreen chemistry.

P.S. I Love You is more than a romantic comedy. Love isn't all rainbows and sunshine, but when you love someone, you do what it takes. Although it's all wrapped up, complete with a little bow, in 120 minutes, P.S. I Love You still manages to be real and engaging. Thankfully, Gerry's letters and 'touches' never get creepy. Even as the subject matter turns dramatic, the film never loses it's heart.

The New York setting is beautiful as is the foray into Ireland. The mix of setting furthers the personalities of our leads. Subplots do get a little muddied, but writer/director Richard LaGravenese (The Horse Whisperer, The Bridges of Madison County) stays the course and keeps from creating melodramatic nonsense.

Examining love, loss and living, P.S. I Love You celebrates the very things that make us human.

Watching it in mixed company, I was surprised by the masculine POV. "This is more enjoyable than your typical chick flick."

Bonus Feature: CD

Months later and I'm still enamored of the Coldplay's latest Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.

With Viva la Vida, Chris Martin stretches beyond the piano and simple lyrics to create an expansive sound complete with orchestral arrangements. V la V is a focused effort that plays like a book, each chapter building on the next.

The instrumental opening track Life in Technicolor sets the pace with an ethereal, nouveau quality. At first listen, V la V doesn't sound like Coldplay at all, but continued exposure leads you to believe this album was the obvious next step for a band that dissects the normal to exposure the abnormal that makes it up. {Did I just blow your mind or what?}

Much has been said on the symbolism and Martin's fascination with painter and Frenchman Delacroix {?}. Regardless, people, just listen. Your ears haven't heard beauty like this.

Martin's vocals are perfect and fit well with the album's lusty approach to sound. Every note is treated as an element to blend in creating this new picture. Lovers In Japan/Reign of Love has a comforting feel that fans will appreciate. Yes allows Martin to expand his range solidly.

Viva La Vida is the first single from the album and how wonderful it is. Exploring the lyrics brings to light Martin's fascinations with symbolism. Across the Internet, fans are projecting all types of imagery. If you get a change, check out the original video for it--not the one that the suits wanted released--the other one--found only on http://www.coldplay.com/. That solves it for me. Viva La Vida is deserves its praise. Champion gets to shine here, too.

My personal favorite {and new theme song} is the decidedly darkest track. It was a long and dark December... The band rocks out on this song of heartbreak and hope. Violet Hill is both sad and hopeful. Champion, Berryman and Buckland all provide supporting vocals. Breathtaking. As the song breaks into the bridge... WOW!! The sheer simplicity is amazing.

I like to think that Strawberry Swing is a direct result of the kick-ass concert Coldplay had here in Tennessee. Perhaps the group had an epiphany amongst the ghost of Music City. The country-tinged track is strangely not out of place.

Ending where it began is Death And All His Friends.

Viva La Vida is everything I wanted it to be. You just wouldn't understand.