The Road (The Weinstein Company)
Rated R for some violence, disturbing images and language.
Starring Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce, Molly Parker, Michael K. Williams, Garret Dillahunt, Bob Jennings, Agnes Herrmann, Buddy Sosthand.
Written by Joe Penhall, based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy.
Directed by John Hillcoat.
GRADE: B+
REVIEW:The Apocalypse is soooo depressing. At least I'm sure it would be. Cormac McCarthy would concur, and wrote a book called The Road, the story of a father trying to find a better life for his young son after some sort of apocalyptic event that kills most life on earth. McCarthy's book is the source for the movie version of
The Road.
Viggo Mortensen stars as the father trying to survive the environmentally-dead world by traveling south with his son from the northern east coast of the United States, where he hopes to find a world of sustainable life, or at least a warmer climate.
Through flashbacks, we learn that the man's wife (Charlize Theron) gave birth right after the unknown apocalypse to their son (Kodi Smit-McPhee), and that she couldn't handle waiting to die and decided to fade away rather than watch her family suffer.
During the man and boy's journey south, they encounter marauding gangs, desperate individuals, and a cannibalistic group with a shocking basement surprise.
The duo's prized possession is a handgun that has only two bullets in it, which the man keeps handy at all times, either to use on anyone who would harm his son or for other drastic measures.
The man and boy eventually discover an underground bunker full of food and other creature comforts, but the father decides it's too dangerous to stay and wait for the inevitability of having to defend their new-found stash. Besides, things are better down south, so why wait?
The father and son also encounter an old desperate man named Ely (Robert Duvall) who they help along their way.
As their journey continues, the man becomes ill, and the boy must contemplate life on his own.
I won't ruin the ending, but it is a post apocalyptic movie, so the prospects aren't too good for the fellas.
The Road is a powerful movie with some great performances and disturbing things to say about humanity, stripped of the technology and conveniences of the day. Some of the moments shared between the father and son are also very touching as they both sacrifice to keep each other alive with their own humanity intact.
Viggo Mortensen is outstanding as the father who never stops parenting despite the desperate circumstances, and Kodi Smit-McPhee gives a great performance as the boy who never knew what life was like before the Apocalypse.
Still,
The Road is dark, depressing and not exactly your garden variety holiday movie, so I wouldn't recommend it for everyone.
