The rapturous outdoor travelogue photography and soundtrack songs (much of it original stuff by Eddie Vedder) is a lethal combination—it has a 73 on mc but if anyone else besides Penn’s name is on the directed by credit line I think the credits give it an 88
EP is Eric Gautier—go-to for Assayas (Irma vep)- but also did motorcycle diaries and pola x
Heavily stylized captions and graphics on letters written- I like it—chapter breaks—they mix the actual letters (I think) with liberties taken and Jena Malone (sister) with her narration as well—it works
From Keener to Vince Vaughn to Hal Holbrook the people Emile Hirsch (it’s the biggest triumph for him after Penn) meets along his travels are all fascinating and well-acted. The entire cast (Kristen Stewart, Bill Hurt) is loaded
Odd stylized choices that don’t carry through like the freeze frame work in LA when he’s actually in a city (which in itself is disorienting)
Has a bit of an Alice quality or a Apocalypse Now with the rich characters
Physical weight loss for Hirsch—40 lbs
It’s a top 10 of the year level film for sure– Highly Recommend
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