I finally got to see ‘The Road’ last night, and I have to tell you I came away from the movie with some real mixed emotions about this promising 2009 Drama.
The Truth
The Road is a post-apocalyptic tale of a man and his son trying to survive by any means possible. As the two journey
across the devastated landscape, they discover many horrors and urban decay, while they try and live in the new world.
Sounds cool enough, but I have to tell you the story falls apart shortly after it starts. While there are a few survivors, it appears most have taken to cannibalism and the raping of women and children for some reason, or so it is portrayed in the film. We aren’t sure why the need for humanity to indulge in the abuse of children, you just have to take it at face value.
What you expect from The Road, is a little more adventure and drama. Viggo Mortensen is certainly a wonderful actor, and portrays the role of the protective father perfectly. His only goal is to take his son south, hopefully to a safer place, perhaps to a civilized place where a community has formed. They encounter groups of savage hillbillies, danger and plenty of drama along the way, but none of it is particularily engaging.
Kodi Smit-McPhee really steals the movie, he is a wonderful young actor and very moving in his role. Charlize Theron is credited in the movie, but really only has a few scenes, as the mother who unwillingly gives birth to ‘the boy’. Unwilling because she finds it unthinkable to release him unto a post-nuclear world with little future.
The Road is often slow and confusing. Viggo Mortensen narrates the film, and along the way describes how all the forests are dead, there are no animals around to eat, and how double suicide is always right around the corner. I would assume that since all vegetation is gone, and so are the earth’s creatures, death would be imminent for all human survivors within 6 months.
In the end, the message is ‘hope’. Without ruining the movie, we witness tragedy and love, in a place there is no business for either.
The Action
Very little, which is why I was a little disappointed.
The Laughs
Dude in the house takes a flare gun right in the tits, cooked to medium in a matter of minutes.
Why should I watch it?
Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee are wickedly brilliant and the Robert Duvall cameo was memorable.
What’s bad about it?
Depressing from start to finish, The Road isn’t for those already battling depression. We leave the film with far too many questions about what happened, why it happened and when this all happened.
You’ll Like It If
Fans of Viggo Mortensen will love his acting The Road, his character is memorable.
What I learned
I wouldn’t survive 2 weeks if I had to fend for myself, I suck as a hunter gatherer.
The Verdict
‘The Road’ is a depressing, but well acted, Drama that is best saved for a night you are in the mood for a well acted out drama, with no real answers. If you can deal with that, and the depressing atmosphere surrounding the film, you’ll enjoy it. If not, you’ll walk away disappointed like I was.
