Wild Review

RYAN: It’s the most wonderful time of the year – for movies too!  All the awards-buzzworthy movies are just flowing into theaters and this is one of the buzziest – directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, who directed Matt McConaughey to gold last year in Dallas Buyers Club. Could he have done it this year for Resse Witherspoon?

CAROLINE: That’s the big question.  She is one of the most popular names thrown around already this awards season.  I really like her story with this film.  She read the true-life novel on a plane and was immediately obsessed with it, so she optioned it and produced and stars in it.  There’s real passion there.

RYAN: And it translates to the screen.  This story truly spoke to her.  It’s a transformative piece not only for the original author, Cheryl Strayed, but you can see for Reese and maybe for audiences as well.  I really like Reese in this.  It is one of the performances of the year. Perhaps not my favorite but it’s up there.

CAROLINE: SHe is getting great accolades for it.

RYAN: She basically goes makeup free in this film but she still looks like Reese and she’s still very pretty, even when she gets all dirty on this hike.  She hikes in the extremes of the desert for 100 days.  I worried it would be a boring movie just watching her struggle in the dements, but it’s like 127 Hours in that there are many flashbacks and she interacts with other hikers and there is a lot of life story woven throughout.  The editing and pace is really outstanding.

CAROLINE: Sounds so good.  I’ve been wanting to see this.

RYAN: It’s amazing how this woman really went for it.  I could never have done, for a day, what she endured, self-imposed, for that length of time.  It’s a literal journey of self discovery. It’s mind boggling that anyone would want to do it but it makes me maybe want to at least try camping for a night, which is something that never appealed to me before.

CAROLINE: (laughs) So you’d go camping for a night?

RYAN: Yeah not more than that (laughs).

CAROLINE: I don’t think that’s the point of this movie.

RYAN: Of course not.  It’s a deeply emotional story and like I said, it’s transformative.  The open ing scene is great and very attention grabbing.  And Reese really got into it – all of her breathing and commitment was terrific.  Even that bag she carried.  I probably would not have been able to carry if for 3 blocks but she walks with it for three months.  Cray.

CAROLINE: That’s some strength of will and endurance to be sure.

RYAN: Laura Dern as her mom is fabulous and it’s amazing how young Reese looks just in a wig with bangs.

CAROLINE: That’s hair acting.

RYAN: The movie is really about our experiences and choices – good and bad – and how they affect us.  The power they have to transform or destroy us.  But there is always the option and the hope of making a choice to change yourself for the better.  Reese has some odds with this one. It’s good.

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