I haven’t done a review of a movie in a while, but after watching Wild, I had to jot down a few words.
Based on a true story, we follow Cheryl Strayed, played by the brilliant Reese Witherspoon, as she embarks on a lone 1,100 mile hike along America’s Pacific Crest Trail. If you’re thinking that this is an adventure movie, think again. It’s a visceral look into Cheryl’s internal struggles as she faces the demons of her past,
As the story unfolds, we see raw glimpses of Cheryl’s memories in flashback form – her infidelities, her descent into drugs and her deep grief after the death of her mother. As Cheryl starts each day alone, and is surrounded by the immense beauty of nature, she finally allows herself to face who she really is and to accept the path that has lead her to this point in her life. Reese Witherspoon brought a realism and heart to this character and carried the movie with ease. She was brilliant.
This was one of my favourite quotes…
“What if I forgave myself? I thought. What if I forgave myself even though I’d done something I shouldn’t have? What if I was a liar and a cheat and there was no excuse for what I’d done other than because it was what I wanted and needed to do? What if I was sorry, but if I could go back in time I wouldn’t do anything differently than I had done? What if I’d actually wanted to fuck every one of those men? What if heroin taught me something? What if yes was the right answer instead of no? What if what made me do all those things everyone thought I shouldn’t have done was what also had got me here? What if I was never redeemed? What if I already was?”