The Road (2009)

The Road
2009
Adventure
Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron

The Road is the film version of the Cormac McCarthy book of the same name. In the mood of full disclosure I must add that The Road is probably my all time favorite book (if not first, then its second), so I was very excited to see the movie version of it. This was actually the movie I was most hyped to see in 2008 but they couldn't finish the editing and soundtrack in time for Oscar season, so they delayed it almost an entire year. Then for God knows what reason, when it finally did come out it was in super limited release, like only 100 theatres in the whole US (compared to big movies that open are in about 3,000). It wasn't showing anywhere in Ohio when it first opened. And like I said, that doesn't make any sense. It was starring Viggo Mortensen who is a popular and respected actor. The book it was based on was also a huge success with a huge fanbase, I mean it was an Oprah Book of the Month selection and won a Pulitzer. I guess after a few weeks they wised up because it eventually started showing here in Columbus on one screen, which thankfully was down the street from my house. So after a year of waiting I finally got to see The Road.

The Road is a tale of what really happens after the "end of the world." A disaster, what kind is never actually said, hits the Earth killing almost every living thing in existence. What is left is a few humans fighting for survival by any means necessary. Some scavenge for the limited supplies still available while others have turned to cannibalism and eat anybody who crosses their path. I have read a ton of post apocalyptic fiction and The Road is in my opinion one of the most realistic versions of that scenario. Because if something like this did come to pass, it would be very ugly, and people would go to extremes to survive. The plot of the movie follows a man and a son walking down a long deserted highway. They are walking to the coast. What will be there? Probably nothing, but I suppose in a situation like this you need some kind of goal to keep going. The movie follows them as they make their way to coast dodging robbers, cannibals and death from the remaing humans they come across. There is very little dialogue, just like in the novel. The most striking thing about the movie really is the setting. Everything is grey and dead. There are no green plants, no birds flying around, nothing. Just ash and rubble. I was actually surprised they could film it and make it as bleek as the novel described but they succeeded in doing it. If you are curious as to where in the world could pass for such a setting, was filmed around abandoned coal mines in Pennsylvania, around Mount St. Helens, and in the remains of Katrina outside New Orleans.

It is well known by now that Viggo Mortensen is a very good actor, and he puts it fully on display here. You can see the pain in his eyes, and you believe that he is ready to kill his son if that is what will protect him the most. The boy is played by first time actor, Kodi Smith-McPhee. For someone with no professional acting experience he holds his own. The boy in the story was born after the disaster hit so he knows nothing of the world beforehand. So every remnant of society they find, whether it be a stuffed animal, or a can of pop, he views it with pure amazement. It is not easy being a kid when your dad constantly reminds you how to kill yourelf if you are going to be captured. One change made from the book to the movie is they added more flashbacks featuring the mother. In the book there are only a few pages worth, but in the movie there was about 10 minute spread through about 5 flashbacks. In the flashbacks the mother is played by Charlize Theron who is also very accomplished, and who also does a great job, even with her limited screen time. You believe her as a beautiful woman before the disaster hits, and as a suicidal depressed woman who just can't take it anymore as the after effects of the disaster being to become clear. Some people are suggesting that Robert Duvall should get nominated for an Oscar for his brief appearance and I would have no problem with that.

After thinking about it for a few days the movie and book seem to be affecting me almost the same. I liked both when I first took them in, but it was the fact that I kept thinking about both of them a lot long after they were finished, which made me appreciate how much I really loved them. If you want a heart gripping tale of a man who will do anything to protect the only thing in the world that still matters, his son, please watch The Road. I would only caution that if you are depressed, this probably won't make you feel any better, but it wasn't sad enough in my opinion to drive you to suicide or something. If you just want to watch a great movie with spectacular visuals and great performances, please watch The Road. I personaly suggest reading the novel first, but doing them in either order would be fine.

5 out of 5 Stars
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