REELGUY'S REEL REVIEW:
"The Road" is darkly haunting, terrifying, and believable
Maine Connection: "The Road" was limited released at the end of November 2009 and made its way as far in Maine as Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville. I took a special trip with the ReelWife to this indie-heavy movie house last weekend to see what many fans of the book have been eagerly awaiting. The Weinsteins roll-out strategy on this picture does not seem to be working, as interest may be waning and there has been little award-show appreciation.
This post-apocalyptic picture is different than the standard sci-fi action piece or event film blow 'em up. "The Road" gives Hollywood a taste of what a post-apocalyptic landscape and society would really look like and it isn't a rosy picture. If you are seeking explosions, proof of humanity's capacity for good, or anything beyond mere survival, this picture is not for you. But, if you are willing to follow the intimate story of a man and his boy seeking to survive and not lose all hope, perhaps you will appreciate this picture. Almost completely faithful to the feel and plot of the novel by Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men), the difficulties of this family make for enthralling, though at times difficult, viewing.
"The Road" is miles better than the special effects heavy but plot-thin "2012" which did good business at the end of last year. There are a few other post-apocalyptic pictures coming out in January but this is likely to be the gold standard for the few people who will have seen it. The Road is a simple but well-told story that owes the tightness of its plot to its book roots.
Viggo Mortensen ("Eastern Promises") plays The Man (he's not given a name) while Kodi Smit-McPhee is his son, the Boy. Both are dirty, hungry, and exhausted for much of the picture, making their plight seem hopeless. Yet, it is the little moments of humor or affection the two share that gives the audience and the characters a brief respite from the dangerous world around them. The cause of the disaster is left purposely unclear. It doesn't matter if it is war, a biological or chemical weapon, or a virus but the result is the same; civilization is beyond repair. The meager hope the man has is to take the boy south to the coast and hope to find food, shelter, and safety there. Most of the other people left alive have turned to living in gangs and cannibalism. Every day is a daily struggle to survive, which the audience is allowed to live through these two sympathetic characters.
There are a few supporting roles beyond the main characters including the Man's wife, who is seen in flashbacks (Charlize Theron), and a nearly blind old man they find along their travels (played with spunk and easy charm by Robert Duvall). The relationship of the wife to the man is understood in their short amount of screen time together. Her choice and his are polar opposites but each side is given equal opportunity to express their viewpoints. The viewer's heart ultimately remains with the Man and his son. It is easy to see that the boy is everything to his father, including his reason to live. Both actors give terrific performances but Mortensen in particular continues to show his commitment to a role by completely embodying the struggles of the Man.
The sceneries of destruction along the characters travels are not elaborate but complete the picture of a world that has ended. The gray tone of the film further supports the end-of-society feel. So, why go on? The Man and Boy cling to the notion of being the good guys and keepers of the flame of civilization. This fuzzy notion is constantly tested when both characters morals come into conflict with their survival instinct throughout the picture. Darkly haunting, sometimes terrifying, and completely believable, "The Road" is the best post-apocalypse movie in quite some time. It will hopefully be coming to a theater near you.
Rated R for some violence, disturbing images and language.
