Nominated for two Academy Awards, Into the Wild is a film based on the true story of student athlete Christopher McCandless, who gives up all his possessions, donates his life savings of almost twenty five thousand dollars to charity, and hitch-hikes to Alaska in order to life in the wilderness. During his journey he meets people who seem to have been placed in his path for a reason, and who change his life in some way. The film is a feature-length rebellion against Western society and its values, something that the film's director, Sean Penn, has become well known, and also infamous, for. Penn also co-wrote the screenplay for the movie.
Although Shia Le Boeuf was first choice for the role of Chris McCandless, Emile Hirsch was ultimately cast as the Emory graduate who is both character, and narrator, in the movie. Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt came on board as his wealthy, driven parents who are portrayed somewhat unfairly thanks to Penn's own personal agenda that colors most of the screenplay and the way in which the characters involved in the story are presented. The film is also interesting because of its early sightings of some of Hollywood's up and coming stars, including a pre-Hangover Zach Galifianiks. The real-life Carine McCandless, played in the film by Jaena Malone, also makes an appearance as an additional narrator.
Filmed predominantly on location in Alaska, the film had a budget of an estimated fifteen million dollars, and it grossed just over eighteen million - not a huge commercial success, but a fairly well-received critical one. As well as its two Academy Award nominations, the film garnered another hundred plus nominations, winning Movie of the Year at the American Film Awards, and pulling in a slew of Best Supporting Actor nominations for Hal Holbrook. Faring moderately well at international film festivals and awards, director/writer Penn garnered no major nominations of his own.
