by Joseph Rossi
Wild is Jean Marc Valle’s follow up to his Oscar winning Dallas Buyers Club. This hometown dynamo is on a roll.
Reese Witherspoon stars in this adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s memoir that details the author’s 1000 mile hike from the Mojave Desert to Washington State. It’s the story of a woman who’s life has taken a turn for the worse. After a bad marriage and the death of her mother, she descends into a world of drugs and sex. In order to cleanse herself she packs a bag and sets off into the wilderness on her own, battling it out with the elements. She proves that the Oscar she won for Walk the Line was no fluke. The film allows her an opportunity to portray a character that isn’t at first likeable but is completely relatable.
As strong as Witherspoon is, the scene-stealer is Laura Dern as Strayed’s mother. In a royal performance that is both funny and tragic, Dern is the heart of the movie while Witherspoon is the soul. Expect hearing Dern’s name coupled with the the word “awards” during the next few months. She gives her finest performance since Citizen Ruth.
The film has this neo-realistic quality to it that I find refreshing. No make up for its star, real locations, natural light. Valle is proving himself to be a director with a knack for getting the best out of nothing. In a time of bloated budgets and countless special effects it’s comforting that we have a filmmaker that advocates the human condition.
Well done.
