Wild

Plot: Cheryl(Reese Witherspoon) is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to clear her head after her mom (Laura Dern) died, her divorce, and recovery from drug use. She meets people along the way, and the people help her process her previous trauma. [imdb]    [photos]

Review: Wild is a road movie with episodes happening all along the journey, and each one advances the interior journey inside Cheryl. The plot moves slowly, but occasionally the incident is intercut with multiple flashbacks--so the incident is happening in real life and in her mental live. 

Because of Cheryl's journey is more mental than physical, her pace down the path is lathargic -- this makes the visuals sleepier than they could have been. 

Cheryl encounters a fox regularly who is her spirit guide, and perhaps also the shade of her mother. 

The best parts of the flashbacks where we make the connections between her past life and the current crisis on the trail. There wasn't enough of this for me. 

I saw this movie because of the Oscar buzz around Reese's performance, and it is excellent -- a lot of range. I can see why she'd be nominated. 

Music and photography: The music  is all pop songs -- mostly 70's pop. I liked hearing Glory Box by Portishead, and I'd rather be a Sparrow than a Snail by Simon and Garfunkel. There is some good landscape photography especially of moss covered trees -- not as much as you'd expect.

Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern

Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallee

Based on the book:  Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, by Cheryl Strayed

Rating: 2.5 stars:.Worthwhile. More interesting than fun. 

More: Here is the real Cheryl Strayed: 

Even More.

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