Reese Witherspoon’s brief respite from the spotlight is now a thing of the past, and the Oscar-winner is back to delivering grounded performances as evidenced by her turn in Wild. Taking its inspiration from the true story of Cheryl Strayed, Witherspoon’s portrayal of a woman at a crossroads in her life has already been linked to awards chatter.
As mentioned, the film is loosely based on actual events from Strayed’s life as depicted in her book. After the death of her mother and demise of her marriage, she sets out on a quest to not simply “find herself” but to discover the intrinsic beauty of life that’s easily forgotten in this harried modern age. In this stream of new clips which have made their way online, each brief vignette offers a look in on her journey at various stages. If you weren’t transfixed by Witherspoon’s grounded, raw performance showcased in the trailers, you might be now.
While so far, reviews of the pic have varied from mixed to incredibly positive, the We Got This Covered verdict was on the latter end of the scale. In his four-star review, our very own Matt Donato applauded the film for its inspirational grit, concluding the following:
Thanks to a showstopping performance by Reese Witherspoon, Wild takes audiences on a beautiful journey full of strength, independence, and the reassurance that no matter how dark life may get, there’s a glowing light if you’re willing to reach for it.
Need we say more?
Wild is currently showing in selected theatres.
With the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed has lost all hope. After years of reckless, destructive behavior, she makes a rash decision. With absolutely no experience, driven only by sheer determination, Cheryl hikes more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. WILD powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddens, strengthens, and ultimately heals her.