• 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