Reese's Finest Hour!
Reese Witherspoon's finest hour as a dramatic actress.
Jean-Marc Vallee's indie drama Wild (2014) is a realistic character study of Cheryl Strayed, who undertook an incredible hike to forget her past and move on with her life. Wild's drama comes from the tense survival passages and emotional familial disputes. I loved this thoughtful film about appreciating life.
Wild is an honest look at a woman trying to cope with her life's trauma and tragedies, all while discovering herself. It is both harrowing and inspiring. Strayed's problems are numerous as she is an unlikable hero, but all the more real for her issues. I found myself admiring her more and more as Wild went on for she overcomes a lot. Wild may turn off some viewers for the gratuitous sexual encounters and explicit drug usage, but I found Cheryl's low points a poignant marker for her higher achievements.
Wild is wondrous to look at for Valle captures the natural beauty of the outside world. Wild's cinematography is mesmerizing with each shot bringing the trail to life anew. Every shot could be a phone wallpaper.
Vallee hypnotizes with stunning imagery and clever visual metaphors. The editing is so neat, splicing together Strayed's journey with her past experiences. The flawless editing gives you Reese crushing some herbs then lifting them up to her nose to smell them just as it cuts to Laura Dern doing this same action. Vallee utilizes this clever trick several to great effect as you are constantly shown Strayed's life instead of being told about it.
I loved Vallee's dedication to keeping you in suspense about Strayed's life, while keeping you nervous for her present safety traveling alone. Vallee fakes you out time and again, each time getting more nerve wracking. Wild feels like a nightmare when Strayed encounters someone new, but turns into a breezy dream as she takes in her natural surroundings.
Alongside Vallee's stunning direction is Reese Witherspoon's inspired performance as Cheryl Strayed. Witherspoon gives perhaps her finest performance as an actress. She is rough and fragile as a person, yet strong of character. Reese embodies a difficult, complex, female character that feels so authentic to real life. Her faults are displayed up front with Reese carrying on despite all Strayed's setbacks. I found Reese just captures your imagination and attention with every second of Wild.
Similarly, Laura Dern is excellent as Strayed's mother. Dern is kindly and sophisticated as she displays a powerful and formative figure in Strayed's life. Dern is perfectly cast as Strayed's optimist mother as she is just delightful to watch. You want to give Laura Dern a warm hug as her affectionate character undergoes terrible pain.
Lastly, Wild keeps your interest with Valle's direction, Reese's acting, and a lovely indie soundtrack. The music is ambient enough to place itself as a mood setting backdrop, but it often sets the tone for the harder sequences. Vallee chose a nice variety of pleasant indie rock to accompany Reese throughout Wild. I appreciate how eclectic his musical selections always end up being in his films.
In all, Wild is a beautiful film with difficult moments. You will feel uplifted by the end, I promise!
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