Based on the best-selling book of the same name by Jon Krakauer, Into The Wild tells the true story of Christopher McCandless, a 23-year old college graduate who turns his back on family, friends and a potential law career to fulfill an ill-conceived dream to live among the wilds of Alaska.

McCandless, played sympathetically by Emile Hirsch (Lords of Dogtown), forsakes his material possessions, adopts the alias of Alex Supertramp, and embarks on a grand adventure around North America, surviving on his wits and living closely with nature.

Along the way he meets a succession of characters whose lives he touches - hippies Jan and Rainey (Catherine Keener and Brian Dierker), farmer-entrepreneur Wayne (Vince Vaughn), teen songstress Tracy (Kristen Stewart), and lonely ex-serviceman Ron (Hal Holbrook) - however Alex's eyes are firmly on the wilds of Alaska, and he is reluctant to let relationships interfere with his broader plans.

Directed by Sean Penn, the film starts with Alex's journey into Alaska, and makes use of flashbacks to gradually fill in his back story. Alex's motivation eventually becomes clearer, however his obvious ill-preparedness for living in the wilds of Alaska raises the question of whether he was truly embarking on an adventure or rather had some darker motive driving him. While the movie suggests the former, the book version certainly hints at the latter.

Hirsch is mesmerising as the enigmatic Alex, while William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden also put in strong performances as Alex's overbearing and eventually guilt-ridden parents.

The highlight of the film is the breathtaking scenery, not only of Alaska, but also the other places Alex visits in his travels, including the Colorado River (which he traverses by kayak) and the deserts of Arizona. There are some great wildlife shots, including a frightening encounter with a black bear (played by Hollywood junkie, Bart the Bear).

The soundtrack features an acoustic selection of songs by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, not usually one of my favourites, but in this case a perfect accompaniment to the depictions of life on the road in America.

In The Wild is an inspiring and thought-provoking film that may make you question the way you choose to live your life.