Film No.82 (2014) Wild. December 9th.

Film No. 82 (2014) December 9th. 6:30 PM VMAX Innaloo.

Wild

"Honestly, I'm lonelier in my real life than I am out here", are the words spoken by Cheryl Strayed in a scene part way through Wild. While the scene is typical in look to what we've become used to as we've accompanied this woman along the famous Pacific Crest Trail, the words best sum up our key character's predicament. For me it is why the film succeeds. Barring the sudden and convenient ending, Wild is inspiring and entertaining.    

Wild is based loosely on the Cheryl Strayed memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. I say loosely because much of the heartfelt drama we view on screen via flashbacks have been embellished for purposes of more convenient story telling. The key to the journey however is the fact Strayed (nee Nyland) walked the PCT and documented her 3 month journey. The real life walk was possibly underwhelming but Strayed's ability to write made the story worth telling. 

So why does the film gel with such a narrow premise? Part of the reason for its success is due to the clever scripting provided by Nick Hornby. The reason Strayed is walking a trail we give her no chance of finishing, is because she is damaged. The clever method Hornby uses to narrate her story using light moments on the walk to juxtapose the heartfelt scenes told in flashback from her prior life builds a magic balance. We soon believe she has the strength to succeed. 

More importantly Reece Witherspoon is entirely convincing. Like most films that surprise, they are often films where the expectations were never high. Ms Witherspoon bought the rights to Strayed's story just prior to publication 3 years ago. Hornby was employed immediately to write the narrative, so her vision was real. The word is Witherspoon is in line for an Academy nomination and to my mind she probably deserves it.  9GUMS