Cheryl Strayed (played by Reese Witherspoon) just needs to get away … she needs to leave her life and all its drama behind her. Her life actually started out pretty positively, but after a couple of set backs and bad experiences things have just got out of control. She decides to get herself some brain space and walk the Pacific Crest Trail – a track of over 1,000 miles of rough terrain, desert and wilderness on the Pacific West Coast of USA. We travel along the epic solo walk with her ….
Everybody will relate to something in this true story, based on the memoir of Cheryl Strayed. Whether it’s just the need to get away, the solitude of walking, the wilderness environment, the endurance and determination needed in some long, hard hikes … or the value in self-reflection that Sheryl manages when she’s on her journey. When she first starts out, she depicts the experiences of a hiker very well and her reaction to her harsh environment is almost palpable. Her gestures and behaviour are illustrative of her thoughts too, which is well done. The frustrations of hiking are really well described. The drama is told well, it unfolds through her memories, so is well timed and compelling. For her work here, Reese Witherspoon has been nominated as Best Actress in the 2015 Academy Awards (Oscars), Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA Awards. Laura Dern has also been nominated for her performance. Overall it’s good. Cheryl Strayed worked with Nick Hornby on this screenplay – her memoir is “”Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail”.
Made in 2014. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee
Ruby at the movies 