Wild

The Gist: After her recent divorce, Cheryl decides to walk the Pacific Crest Trail on her own, in order to rediscover herself.

Wild is a fairly straightforward movie, very linear in its construction, aside from the many flashbacks, but it is one of those movies that make me want to drop everything and go on an adventure like the one depicted here.

Another such movie was Into the Wild, although that one is much darker.

Here, Reese Witherspoon delivers the performance of a lifetime by carrying the film's entire weight, not unlike that backpack, all on her own. She's utterly believable as the doggedly determined woman on a journey of self-rediscovery.

Needless to say, the landscapes and the cinematography are spectacular.

The Bottom Line: I started watching this movie without expecting too much and was rewarded with a refreshing tale with a great performance. Watch it!

Grade: 8