A chronicle of one woman's 1,100-mile solo hike undertaken as a way to recover from a recent catastrophe.
Unashamedly gunning for life-affirming territory, this showcase for producer-director Witherspoon finds an engaging, steady rhythm.
An honest and insightful work.
Wild isn’t able to achieve the profundity that it aims for.
Driven by a committed turn from Witherspoon, Jean-Marc Vallée confirms himself as the go-to director for triumph-over-adversity character studies.
A quietly moving coming of age story that resists formula or easy redemption, driven by a strong, unvarnished performance from Witherspoon, who deserves huge credit as both star and producer.
Everyone’s trying so hard, but the whole approach is synthetic beyond salvation.
It’s not Witherspoon’s personal masterpiece: that is still her high-school careerist in Election (1999). But it’s still good.
A film about someone going on a very long walk doesn't sound especially dramatic but Nick Hornby's screenplay (adapted from Strayed's book) brings out Cheryl's yearning as well as the epic quality of her mini-Odyssey.
It sounds harrowing and desperately depressing but the opposite is true: every step along the trail is part of an uplifting journey towards self–discovery.
It's just a simple story, then, but it is beautifully told and its wisdom seems hard-earned.
Strayed’s journey is one that could easily have been rendered as a narcissistic enterprise on film. Instead it’s life affirming in the best way.
Scripted by Nick Hornby from Strayed’s memoir this is raw and deeply personal but interrupted by too many flashbacks to properly find its feet.
While the external scenery is spectacular, it’s the internal landscapes that capture and hold our attention.
Reese Witherspoon in 'Wild': An all too rare story of a woman on a solo adventure
General release. Check local listings for show times.