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If you’re
looking for one of those one of the mill
comedy ‘road’ movies…
“The Road” is most definitely
not it. I know Viggo Mortensen like to pick
films with very heady subjects, and he pretty
much got his Mount Everest with this one.
Based on author Cormac McCarthy’s
popular apocalyptic novel, “The Road”
finds Mortensen travelling across a barren
wasteland with his ‘son’ (Kodi
Smit-McPhee) in tow. The whole barren wasteland
thing might not be so bad, but the world
is now infested with cannibalistic survivors,
which our protagonists must thwart at nearly
every turn.
As the pair travel, we learn very little
about what finally brought about the ‘end
of the world’ as it were. It is made
quite clear that the how is not even remotely
important, only the ‘what next’
is. We catch glimpses of the early parts
of their struggle, a time when they the
boy’s ‘mother’ (Charlize
Theron) is with them. We understand early
on that her fate is not a good one, but
through these flashbacks, we witness her
descent into the despair that eventually
causes her to simply give up.
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“The Road” is a difficult film to
watch, there is little to smile about. To say
it is a downer is an understatement, though not
an insult. The film does what it sets out to do,
and does so admirably.
Mortensen is phenomenal, much as he is in any
role he takes on. His utter determination to survive,
to move on, to live is burned into his eyes. Even
knowing there may not be anything left to live
for does not matter. He keeps going. I wish I
could say the same for Kodi –Smit-McPhee.
His role really should have gone to a stronger
child actor. You really want to feel for the boy,
but the character is left to whine more than anything
else. This in itself might not have been so bad
left in the hands of a stronger actor, but here
it does little to cause you to root for the boy.
Theron, with the time she is given takes every
scene and uses it to fully enhance the telling
of the tale. Throw in Robert Duvall and the now
very familiar Garrett Dillahunt and the casting
becomes a lot more solid.
The look of the film is every bit as bleak as
the story, and the cinematography captures every
desolate shot with extreme clarity. This is evident
on the DVD release, which offers a stunning transfer.
I understand the Bluray looks even better (so
I may have to grab a copy!!), but what you get
with the DVD stands strong. The sound mix is also
terrific, as the sounds… or the lack of
sound in an empty world are as thunderous as any
explosion.
The DVD offers up a commentary by director John
Hillcoat, in which he speaks generally about the
choices that were made during the writing of the
screenplay and the actual filming. A few deleted
scenes and a brief making of documentary round
out the features.
“The Road” comes highly recommended,
but it is not for the faint of heart. If you get
too emotionally attached to a film, this one might
make you depressed for a week.
Directed by: John Hillcoat
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert
Duvall, Charlize Theron
Extras: Commentary by Director John Hillcoat;
Deleted and Extended Scenes; Making of The Road
Specification: Widescreen (2.35:1); Dolby Digital
5.1
Studio: Sony
Release Date: 5/25/2010
MPAA Rating: R
http://www.sonypictures.com
We'll give The Road a B.
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