Ryan McNeil
A little more than a year ago, I read Cormac McCarthy’s novel The Road for the first time. I loved it, but as I got through the last few pages, I felt a measure of relief. Specifically, I was happy about the fact that I’d chosen to read such a downer of a story in the summertime, since I had the warmth of the sun to turn to after leafing through such sadness.
Upon the arrival of the film, I must advise one thing. Much like I did with the book – try to see a matinee of this movie. That way, when you’re done sitting through the sadness, you can leave the theatre and walk into the warmth of the sun.
An apocalyptical event has occurred. We aren’t told anything specific, but it would seem a safe bet that it’s a man-made disaster. In an effort for survival, a father (Viggo Mortensen) and his son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) take to the road, heading for the west coast. We’re not entirely sure what they hope to find there, but through flashbacks we understand that the idea came from the wife and mother (Charlize Theron) before she fell into despair. To say their journey is putting it lightly, since mankind has turned on itself quite viciously. Theft, rape and murder are rampant. Sadly, so too is cannibalism, as food rations run frighteningly low. The relative warmth and possibility of the west coast seems to be their only hope.
The two words that continually came to mind as I watched this movie were “bleak” and “grim”. The world of THE ROAD has almost no happiness, and to emphasize that, the colour palate is mostly greys and browns…further punctuated with the occasional appearance of blood red. The amazing thing about this movie, is just how much unease the audience is made to feel at the appearance of other people. When humans have lost their humanity, the sound of footsteps is about as chilling as the cocking of a gun. It’s a moment of true tension, and it doesn’t get any easier with repitition.
Trying to zero in on what makes this amazing film so very unsettling, I have to point an arrow at the amount of times we’re forced to consider suicide and mercy killings. The notion follows the characters as closely as their shadows, so much so that we are left wondering not if this father and son will take their own lives, but when? It pulls us into despair with them as we understand how hopeless mankind feels the world has become. When I say that this film is chilling, realize that I am talking about a story when mothers and fathers talk about killing their own children.
Much of the credit for how affecting THE ROAD is comes back to Viggo Mortensen’s performance. Fighting through seven layers of clothing, and enough dirt and grime to make a mud hut, he plays the father as man who hasn’t – and seemingly won’t – give up on the world. He wears an expression that takes fear, sadness, and panic bravely disguised so that his son can always believe that everything will be alright. It isn’t all doom and gloom for this father and son, and in the moments where they do happen upon an unexpected treasure like a can of Coke, Mortensen plays the scenes with a sad sense of pride. he knows that in times like these, he is giving his son something to believe in, and it takes everything he has not to break down and cry from relief.
Painted from a palette of greys and browns, THE ROAD is a truly moving piece of work by director John Hillcoat. While he paints the earth as one many of us wouldn’t want to live in for long, he continually draws our attention to this family. The sense of love and wisdom he draws from Smit-McPhee, and the embodiment of determination he gets from Mortensen help us understand that even when things seem lost…we must do all we can to endure. We must do this for those we were put here to protect, for those who are protecting us, and for those who are gone in the name of our protection.
Truly, if there has been one difficulty in writing this review, it’s been in trying to separate the film from the book. For any Cormac McCarthy fans out there, I’ll cut to the chase – there are a few differences. However, I don’t think that they cause the original story any disservice, in fact quite the opposite. They fill in a few blanks, and take a necessary pit stop to juxtapose a momentary win with the long losing streak that life has become for these people. It does the legendary story complete justice. It does McCarthy’s tones of grit and pain real justice, before sending its audience out to recouperate in the sun.
Nice review. I haven't seen this, although with little word on it, it was dropping down my list of anticipated films – but I'm glad to see that it' good. I've always been impressed with Mortenson. A History of Violence was a favourite of mine in 05.
I had a hard time separating the book from the film as well, and I have to say that I didn't like how they filled in some of the blanks in the film. While I thought Viggo did a great job I wasn't feeling the heart of the father/son relationship. I got the protectiveness, but there was constant talk of the preparing his son, but I never felt we saw that, nor the result of that.
I keep feeling on the fence about it, but I'm really not keen to see it again to decide further.
I was upset I didn't get a chance to see The Road this weekend as I had to choose between that and Bad Lieutenant, and I felt the latter will probably not be in theaters as long.
From what I've been reading, the film seems almost like a page-for-page adaptation, which seems to excite some and disappoint others.
I have to admit, I did not read this review, since The Weinsteins, in their infinite wisdom decided to pull The Road from local markets until late December. But I will say that I'm infinitely jealous you got to see it, and I will read it on December 18th, after I've had the same opportunity.
@ Andrew… If you like Viggo, see this. He's in top form for this film. Come to think of it, is the guy on a winning streak when it comes to great parts or what?
@ Shannon… Can't win 'em all right? I think the line between protecting and preparing was a tad blurry, but I think it was there. Unfortunately I think it was there in a way that's kinda hard to articulate.
I suggest you come back to it sometime.
@ Danny… Do see it, though I will tell you that it's faithful to the book, but definitely not a page-for-page adaptation.
@ Blake… Don't get me started on The Weinsteins. I'm still pissed that they shelved this film for an entire year in favour of pushing THE READER for last year's Oscar season.
Sounds like a movie for our times, I will defenetly be seeing it soon.
Sounds similar in tone to those last moments in Blindness, when they suddenly find themselves upon the post apocalyptic world, only the road looks even bleaker.
Hmm, have to disagree re: preparing/protecting. Preparing would indicate that teaching someone to be capable, which we certainly didn't see. However, could be some blinders on there intentionally. I might revisit it later.
Great analogy to Blindness Film Connoisseur! Now that film was hard to sit though.
@ Film Connoisseur… Thank you!! As I was writing that piece I knew I was echoing my thoughts on something else I'd seen, but couldn't remember what film. It has a LOT in common with BLINDNESS…especially in the way society seems to let go of their humanity in the face of crisis.
@ Shannon… Fair enough, but then again I've always been the sort ot learn by watching. So someone telling me how to do something isn't always as effective as someone just doing it while I watch. And hey – he taught the kid how to kill himself, didn't he?? What better parenting do you need?
Hey glad to help, post apocalyptic films are something I specialize in, love them to death.
@ FC… So is MAD MAX the dvd you put on when you're home sick?
I avoided reading this until I'd seen the film, but now that I have, I definitely agree with your assessment. The visuals and performances echo the bleakness of the story, but also make for a great movie. And I liked the things they added (I assume you meant the mother stuff?) too.
Have you seen Hillcoat's previous film, The Proposition? It's a pretty cool and quite serious Australian western, which maybe you'll like.
@ Alex… No worries about skipping my review until you've seen the flick. I actually do that all the time 🙂
And yes, when I mention "stuff added", I was talking about the mother and her deep state of melancholy.
I've never seen THE PROPOSITION, but have heard nothing but great things about it. Methinks I'll have to add it to the neverending list of movies I need to rent.
Thanks for reading dude!
Finally saw this today (yes, I went to a matinee show), and I really loved it. I'm not sure if this film ever stepped in the wrong direction. Naysayers might say this film is too "one-note" but that's the point. This is a bleak world with absolutely no hope, and I thought it was done perfectly.
@ Danny… Glad you finally saw it. I can sympathize with your waiting game since I've been anxious to see this since last fall when it was supposed to come out.
I'm with you – anyone complaining that it's a one note story didn't understand the story. Tales like this where the characters aren't even given names aren't about the destination, it's the journey that matters.
And with the state of the world when they set out on their journey, it's a wonder they could keep moving at all!
Now pardon me while i go read your review 🙂