Getting Lost and Getting Found

Each week I check iTunes to download their free song of the week and see what their $.99 rental is. Most of the time this is a great way to discover an up and coming band or see a movie I've never heard of. This week, the movie was The Way.

Don't choose a life, live one.

The Way is a film about a doctor (Martin Sheen) who gets a call that his son (Emilio Estevez) has died while traveling in Spain. Through a series of flashbacks, we see that they were slightly estranged, choosing to live their lives in different ways. Sheen's character goes to Spain to collect the body of his son, only to find out that he was on a pilgrimage called El Camino de Santiago, (The Way of St. James). Sheen decides that he will finish this journey in honor of his son. The story goes on from there as Sheen starts the walk and meets up with some interesting people along The Way. It's a very simple plot, great characters, and I really enjoyed it. 

Of course, I always enjoy a good journey story. You know, one that not only takes a character from Point A to Point B physically, but also emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Maybe it's my love for travel and maps, my growing wanderlust, or my need to discover new things within myself. Here are a few of my favorite movies (with brief and possibly vague notes) that cover quite a bit of distance in more ways than one.

Happiness is only real when shared.

Into the Wild- Eddie Vedder does most of the soundtrack which is great for immersing you into the scenery from the movie. Catherine Keener is awesome. Beautifully tragic movie that teaches, no matter how far you go, no matter how much you want to get away, you really do need people.

Super Freak.

Little Miss Sunshine- Has a family ever loved a little girl this much? One can only hope. This family is wrought with dysfunction but for the sake of Olive and her dream of being in a pageant, they set it all aside and do what they can to support her.

Flying solo.

Up In The Air- "Make no mistake, your relationships are the heaviest components in your life." Considering that Clooney's character starts with a monologue including the that quote, in this movie he covers a lot more emotional distance than air miles.

He's off the map!

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind- It's hard for me to talk about this one in sport spurts because it's my very favorite movie. But it is about a journey that Joel (Jim Carrey) takes through Joel's mind as he to try to forget his ex, Clementine (Kate Winslet). Of course it's hard to tell how much the characters actually change in this movie in light of where it begins and ends, but I think it's safe to say, it's definitely about a journey.

As I'm typing this I am thinking of so many more that could be included. Here are a few I am conflicted about:

I will not die today!

The Beach has so much potential, showing beautiful scenery, and perpetuating the dream of truly going off the grid, living simply. But it always loses me in the last 30 minutes of the movie by going into video game mode...?

Probably the first piece of pizza she's had in years.

Eat, Pray Love is one of those that seems like the greatest formula. And what a great title with words and countries like that it could have been such a wonderful approach to a soul-searching journey. But it becomes so obvious that soul searching is not her goal, she just wants to find a "better" man. Yes, I've read the book, I know about Committed. I get it. I'm just not impressed. And honestly, as hard as this is to admit about my dear Julia Roberts, the movie was a little boring.

Best. Gift. Ever.

Elizabethtown was practically a Garden State rip-off in most ways, but at the end there's a great little road trip that Orlando Bloom takes. It's really sweet and meaningful and I would like to design a trip like that for someone some day. You think I could get paid for that?

What are some of your favorite movies that revolve around a Journey? A road trip? Travel and Searching?