Wild

Director Jean-Marc Vallée’s Wild cannot escape being compared to John Curran’s Tracks (reviewed in September) because it’s virtually the same story.

Both are based on true-life stories.  Wild based on Co-Writer Cheryl Strayed’s 1,100 mile trek on the West Coast north to Canada after the death of her mother (Laura Dern) and Tracks based on book writer Robyn Davidson’s 1,700 mile trek across Western Australia after the suicide of her mother.

Both Reese Witherspoon in Wild andMia Wasikowska in Tracks play their parts, superbly.

Cinematographer Mandy Walker created a filmic/poetic look in Tracks and Yves Bélanger took a more digital look to Wild.

The scenes in Tracks were best when Mia was on her own without other actors. The scenes in Wild were best when Laura Dern was present.  She made them sing. 

Wild is a very good fim, but Tracks was even better.

It’s interesting that in French revues, the women who bare their breasts are paid less than those who perform without doing so.  In American films, the women who bare their breasts get nominated for awards, while those, who perform the same parts without doing so, do not. 

Nevertheless, I give Wild a 4 out of 5.  (FYI, Tracks got a 4+)