excess vs. necessity at the multiplex (or your netflix qeue)

excess...

Into the Wild: Good not great. Very obvious (eye-rollingly, at time) with unnecessary narration and back-story, manipulative close-ups, over-the-top acting, and cheesy dialogue.







necessity...

Wendy and Lucy: A better take on a similar story and theme (though with a very different message). A grade-A example of what some are calling Neo-Neo Realism (more on that at later time), this is Sean Penn's indulgent film from two years ago without the self-serving beginning or end; it plops you down in the middle of this woman's predicament, doesn't sugar coat it or glorify it, and trusts you to put together the pieces.