Who is Christopher McCandless
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Making Sense of Christopher McCandless
Like many people, I first heard of Christopher McCandless after stumbling across the book, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer. I remember finding it in the travel narrative section of the bookstore when I was searching specifically for "road" novels - which happen to be an addiction of mine.
Into the Wild was unlike any such narrative I'd read before -- no wacky hijinks of Tim Cahill or Bill Bryson or the glib storytelling of Kerouac or Steinbeck. Into the Wild is about a life lost.
Even now I have mixed feelings about Christopher McCandless, the book, my reaction to the book. It feels very weird to disagree with virtually every decision that a person chooses to make and yet admire his adventurous spirit. Sometimes I wonder how much my reaction is to Christopher himself and his story, his death and how much of it is my reaction to Krakauer's empathetic treatment of his subject. He is certainly a great writer.
Note: For those of you coming to visit my lens as a result of my being on Lens of the Day, a hearty thank you! I appreciate all the wonderful comments that people have left and all the ratings. You guys are awesome!
Into the Wild was unlike any such narrative I'd read before -- no wacky hijinks of Tim Cahill or Bill Bryson or the glib storytelling of Kerouac or Steinbeck. Into the Wild is about a life lost.
Even now I have mixed feelings about Christopher McCandless, the book, my reaction to the book. It feels very weird to disagree with virtually every decision that a person chooses to make and yet admire his adventurous spirit. Sometimes I wonder how much my reaction is to Christopher himself and his story, his death and how much of it is my reaction to Krakauer's empathetic treatment of his subject. He is certainly a great writer.
Note: For those of you coming to visit my lens as a result of my being on Lens of the Day, a hearty thank you! I appreciate all the wonderful comments that people have left and all the ratings. You guys are awesome!
My thoughts on the film, Into the Wild
I went to see Into the Wild on opening weekend and I thought I would share my immediate reaction to seeing the film.
It is a very good movie, and by far the best (and most accessible!) film that Sean Penn has directed. Some really interesting framing too. It's interesting to me too, because many of the reviews commented that Penn is even more besotted by McCandless than Krakauer and yet I actually found him personally less sympathetic in the movie than in the book. I guess it is hearing some of the lines voiced instead of hearing them in my head that makes a difference.
The performances are all wonderful -- Emile Hirsch gives an incredibly nuanced physical performance that really makes you forget you are watching an actor play a part. The supporting cast is awesome. It's the best performance Vince Vaughn has given in awhile and it is nice to see him remember that he's also a serious dramatic actor and not just a comic buffoon.
The performance that really got to me was Catherine Keener. She's truly amazing in this movie and her reaction to Christopher and the emotions he stirs up about her relationship with her own son is heartbreaking. In many ways, she is a stand-in for both the reader and the viewer. Extremely well done and I'm surprised she wasn't nominated for Best Supporting Actress come Oscar time.
It is a very good movie, and by far the best (and most accessible!) film that Sean Penn has directed. Some really interesting framing too. It's interesting to me too, because many of the reviews commented that Penn is even more besotted by McCandless than Krakauer and yet I actually found him personally less sympathetic in the movie than in the book. I guess it is hearing some of the lines voiced instead of hearing them in my head that makes a difference.
The performances are all wonderful -- Emile Hirsch gives an incredibly nuanced physical performance that really makes you forget you are watching an actor play a part. The supporting cast is awesome. It's the best performance Vince Vaughn has given in awhile and it is nice to see him remember that he's also a serious dramatic actor and not just a comic buffoon.
The performance that really got to me was Catherine Keener. She's truly amazing in this movie and her reaction to Christopher and the emotions he stirs up about her relationship with her own son is heartbreaking. In many ways, she is a stand-in for both the reader and the viewer. Extremely well done and I'm surprised she wasn't nominated for Best Supporting Actress come Oscar time.
Into the Wild - The Book & Film
How Christopher McCandless lost his way in the wilds
- Death of an Innocent | Outside Online
- Jon Krakauer's book, Into the Wild, is based on this article that he wrote for Outside magazine in 1993.
- Outside Online Guests: Jon Krakauer: Into the Wild | Outside Online
- Outside magazine's original coverage of the book, Into the Wild, when it was first published.
- Google Earth Community: Christopher McCandless
- This Google Earth community page shows a satellite photo of the bus where Chris McCandless's body was found.
Reviews of the Book, "Into the Wild"
- Metroactive Books | Jon Krakauer
- North to Alaska - Why did Chris McCandless turn his back on society and disappear into the wild?
- Adventures of Alexander Supertramp
- The New York Times Book Review - The strangely fascinating hero of Jon Krakauer's strangely fascinating book ''Into the Wild'' is a young man who starved to death in the Alaskan wilderness in the summer of 1992. That is the starting point of a narrative that seeks to find out why we should care.
Into the Wild - The movie
Movie Coverage from Outside magazine
I Want This Movie to Grip People in the HeartEleven years after the publication of Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild, Sean Penn brings the unforgettable tragedy of Chris McCandless to theaters with conviction and obsession. CHRISTOPHER KEYES goes on location in California.
Visionary or Fool?
An Opposing View from Men's Journal
The Cult of Chris McCandlessFifteen years after an enigmatic 24-year-old walked Into the Wild, the site of his death has become a shrine. As Hollywood weighs in with a portrait of the young man as a saintlike visionary, has the truth been lost? Inside the strange life and tragic death of "Alexander Supertramp."
The Men's Journal article is an interesting perspective on the story of Chris McCandless and how his story has been told. The mainstream Alaskan press has long had a dim eye on McCandless and Krakauer's book about him and that's primarily the perspective shared in this story.
I do find it interesting that the author of the story chose to travel up to the Stampede Trail in Alaska to see the bus where Chris lived his final days. That tells me that regardless of where people tend to come down on his story, the reaction is strong and never neutral.
My own personal opinion is that McCandless was both a visionary and a fool. I think that's probably the position of many other fan's of Krakauer's book. In fact, I think it is nearly impossible to not have conflicting feelings about him. In the words of a traveller who left an entry in one of the notebooks inside Chris's bus: Chris may have fucked up, but he fucked up brilliantly.
Into the Wild - The Movie
Links about the Motion Picture, Into the Wild
- Into the Wild Movie - Official Website
- Into The Wild Movie from Paramount Vantage. Sean Penns Film tells the story of Christopher McCandless as he traveled through the US. Based on the biography by Jon Krakauer
- Telluride Review: Into the Wild - Cinematical
- One of the most polarizing films playing at Telluride this year was Into the Wild. Even as we feel anger at Chris for hurting his family, or frustration at his choices, or fear for what will happen to him, a part of us has to admire his courage in taking a leap that most of us would never be able to take.
- Screen Daily -Into the Wild Review
- Sean Penn's fourth feature as a director is as exhilarating as it is unwieldy, a sprawling hymn to nature, humanity and personal freedom which firmly establishes the much-feted actor as a film-maker of vision.
- The Canadian Press: Into the Wild
- Into the Wild movie debut draws packed house outside Fairbanks
- Into the Wild (2007) - IMDB
- Into the Wild on IMDb: complete credits
Visit my Other SquidWho Lenses
If you like my Christopher McCandless profile on Squidoo, be sure to visit some of the profiles I've put up for other folks. You can find my SquidWho lenses listed right here.
Outside Magazine
Other books by Jon Krakauer
P.S. If you buy something from this page...
... you'll automatically be making a donation to Oxfam America, an affiliate of Oxfam International, the charity that Christopher donated his trust fund too. Thoughts on Christopher McCandless and Into the Wild
Share your thoughts
Please do share your thoughts about Christopher and the movie and book. But also, be respectful. I will not approve comments that I find offensive.
Due to this page's page rank and lensrank, it gets a lot of spam comments so all comments are moderated. Rest assured, if you have something to contribute your comment will be approved. It just may take me a day or so to get to it.
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sandyspider
May 28, 2011 @ 1:52 pm | delete
- I wasn't sure who he was until I came here. Blessed by an angel.
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LizMac60 Dec 24, 2010 @ 12:36 pm | delete
- This is a very moving story of someone looking for more in life than just the economic. Blessed by a squid angel.
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Nov 22, 2010 @ 12:27 am | delete
- He did not die in vain. He has touched many.
Saddening and inspiring.
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kimmanleyort
Nov 11, 2010 @ 3:32 pm | delete
- A very thoughtful presentation. You certainly have made me want to read the book or watch the movie. It is clear that Chris McCandless had an impact on you. Even flawed characters can be inspirational. ** Blessed by a Squid Angel **
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theconditionpodcast
Oct 27, 2010 @ 8:34 pm | delete
- Great lens, thank you. I, like yourself, have long held a fascination with McCandless, not least because I can see a lot of myself in him. I think many people in some way identify with his spirit at least, it is his unfortunate demise as a result of that which is most unsettling.
I think Hal Holbrook also deserves a big mention for the way he portrayed Ron Franz, very moving, very sad. Brilliant.
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theraggededge
May 12, 2010 @ 4:55 pm | delete
- Loved the film and found it very thought-provoking and moving. His life was short but he maxed it. Great lens. Angel blessed :-)
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Ashley
Jun 14, 2009 @ 11:07 pm | delete
- I am so inspired and moved by Chris McCandless. I have always felt the way he did about life, but everyone around me never understood it. I have always hated money and what it does to people. I have never wanted material things, and always had a desire for adventure and solitude. To get away from society, modern standards and way of life. Having to worry about having enough money and paying bills. I have always felt so alone because when people knew I felt that way they would tell me "that's life" and i'm supposed to live this mainstream way that everyone else is. I felt so limited to working a dead end job and living a life of medeocrity. When I seen the movie it really made me re-evaluate my life and what I really want. So although it might take me some time, I'm gonna "reach out and grab" what I want. Thanks Chris, I really feel like I can do what I want now that I know you did it. Movie was beautiful. Amazing cast and acting. LOVE IT. Most meaningful story I will ever know.
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sam Friedberg
Dec 9, 2010 @ 6:33 pm | delete
- he is also my inspiration ive read his book like ten times
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tim
Jan 13, 2011 @ 7:47 am | delete
- don't conform to nthe norm! live life the way you want!
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Sam
Apr 15, 2009 @ 12:27 am | delete
- This was a good book and movie, but it bothers me that the death scene was totally fabricated. There is no evidence whatsoever that any kind of plant poisoning contributed to Chris's death in any way.
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