The Road: Film Review

This one's a gem. This is how the end of the world should look; not with John Cusack saving the day. I can't remember the last time I felt simultaneously so miserable yet hopeful after watching a film. This is powerful stuff and a wonderful look at the strength of the human spirit. While I wanted absolutely to see this film I must admit I didn't know fully what to expect. I thought, "What am I going to get out of a father walking around with his son after the apocalypse?" Well turns out, I got a lot.

I enjoyed this film because it doesn't waste time and it's well paced. We're thrown into the middle of an apocalyptic shit storm from the word go. Mortensen's character (The Man) and Charlize Theron's character (The Wife) are laying in bed. All looks normal until Mortensen hears some noise, checks outside through the window and heads immediately to the bathroom. He fills the tub with water which he says, "isn't for a bath," letting us know immediately it's for a water supply after the taps stop working and that shit is going down. After this point Mortensen and son have only one thing in mind: stay alive long enough to get to the coast. During their journey we're treated to multiple flashbacks to explain why they are alone -- sans Theron (mother and wife). Her "departure" from the story is surprising and cowardly but completely and utterly understandable. It's not the easiest pill to swallow.

While the cause of the end of the world is never explained fully, the film doesn't suffer for it. The only hints we're given are from Mortensen through very well executed narration and later, Robert Duvall's character (Old Man). Mortensen says the apocalypse began with, "a shear of bright light and a series of low concussions," suggesting a nuclear holocaust. Duvall says, simply, "I knew this was coming. They were warning us," suggesting the same as Mortensen or perhaps a global warming disaster of some kind. The cause of the apocalypse turns out quickly to not really matter. I didn't watch this wondering, "when are they gonna get to how this happened," because I was too caught up in the lives of these two survivors.

Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Boy) are wonderful together. If I didn't know any better I'd believe they were father and son by blood. Their chemistry and teamwork in this film is damn solid. Mortensen has proven once more he'll go to whatever lengths he deems necessary to capture his character. In this case he's almost completely emaciated. He reminds me of Christian Bale in The Machinist. Smit-McPhee was a joy to watch as well. For a thirteen year old kid who's almost entirely unproven he made me believe he's the real deal. And he did a hell of a job ditching his Australian accent for this film. I believe this kid's got a bright future.

The film is beautifully shot. In fact, I'm going to say that on the topic of cinematography this is best and most stunning I've seen since There Will Be Blood. As I mentioned elsewhere, visually this film is tormenting. It is shot in such a way that it not only reflects what the characters must be feeling in such hard times but actually reflected how I felt for them.

So, in the end, this is a wonderful film. It's tough to watch but it's amazing and worth it. After all the sadness, terror and heartache the message of hope and the idea that things can and will get better is most prevalent. I dug this film a lot. Check it out.