Not a happy ending...

Tonight I went to see Into the Wild. I had free tickets from work. I own, the book the movie was based on, but as of yet have not read it. Therefore, I didn't really know much about the story, except that it was a true adventure. As the movie neared the end I started to tense realizing it wasn't going to turn out how I wanted. My mind watched the story and then added it's own between the lines narrative trying to make everything work out: Okay, he's weak right now, but he's going to find food, he's going to be able to kill a squirrel or something. The river will go down and he'll be able to cross. The belt he keeps putting new holes in is going to be a souvenir when he gets back to people. Now, Now, Now someone is surely going to come. The final scene was heightened with a beating heart reverberating through the silent scenes on the screen. I felt the beating almost like it was my own heart. A heavyness swept over me at the conclusion of the film. I wanted to cry for the wasted life of a young man. He set out to discover something, and he did, but there was no one to share it with. I won't spoil the whole movie if you're inclined to see it. And don't let me persuade you that it's not worth seeing, it was a good movie, a little hard to watch. I often find myself expected the Hollywood happy endings. Tonight I didn't get that.