Viggo Mortensen leads an all-star cast for this post-apocalyptic tale about an unnamed man (Mortensen) and his son (Kodi Smit-McPhee from Romulus, My Father) travelling across an ash-covered American landscape, left in tatters by an unspecified monstrous cataclysm some years before. Most of the planet's life and civilization has been destroyed, and what's left isn't very friendly.
This is from John Hillcoat, director of gritty Outback western The Proposition, and an adaptation of an unrelenting Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men) novel.
I apologise, we feel bad, but there's no trailer available. ~Ed.
The last big-screen adaptation of a Cormac McCarthy novel gave us the greatness of No Country for Old Men so this next re-working of his material has a lot to live up to. Alas, The Road doesn’t come close to approaching the quality of that effort.
Whilst the grey and gloomy depiction of a disturbingly realistic post-apocalyptic world conjures up an appropriately bleak mood and malevolent setting, it’s the stage for a story that can’t take full advantage of this environment. Touches of horror, via cannibalism, are left lurking in the shadows as a largely off-screen menace when they could have been better exploited in what is an overly minimal script (save some pointless flashbacks that add little except putting Charlize Theron’s name on the marquee).
The central relationship between father and son is never fully realised either, due to the attempted portrayal of innocence by young Kodi Smit-McPhee veering into whiny territory and being underpinned by a score (by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis) that is too obvious in its attempts to tug on heart strings. It’s only the final tear-jerking sequence and a fantastic cameo from Robert Duvall that deliver the emotional intensity the film is aiming for.
There are plenty of potentially interesting ideas and concepts contained within, but they are better suited for being explored through literature than they are on screen.
By Andreas Heinemann, Flicks.co.nz
In a post-apocalyptic world, a father struggles to keep himself and his young son alive as they search for any form of sanctuary. This movie is not easy to watch, for the world that’s detailed is bleak, depressing and frightening. Viggo Mortensen gives a heart-wrenching performance as the father who scrambles to provide any sort of hope for his hungry, withering son. With such a feeling of hopelessness, it’s hard to see how this story can give off any sort of uplifting conclusion. However, every heart-felt moment between the father and son contrasts the doom. A dark, yet beautiful film.
While I didn't feel the same emotional connection as I did to the book and the image I most remember from the book isn't in it, this is still an awesome film, great imagery, atmosphere and acting with an original take on the term post-apocalyptic.
Ok. I haven't read the book so I can't say wether it is true to it or not ... However the film itself is amazing, it will stay with you a long time. Don't go watching it thinking you're in for a horror movie, it is well above the horror genra (which by the sound is what Andrea didn't like)... it has depth, it has substance and even if the story itself is very simple and can be told in a few words, the delivery is simply remarkable and compelling. If you are used to watching movies that do all the thinking for you, don't bother, but if you like to be absorbed and affected by your films, go see it !
this movie should have been up for best movie at the oscars. And seamus is wrong
I read the book and was wondering how this film would turnout. Great surprise as its better than the book. Viggo is great and the visuals much appropriate. The book is even less engaging emotional the the film. I thought that the filmmakers did a remarkable job of maintaining the plainness of the book while still giving the viewer a greater set of emotions to identify with the characters. One of the best post-apocalyptic dramas ever made, if not the best. Well worth the watch for those who like the depressing theme.
The Road evokes the images and the characters of Cormac McCarthy's novel. It is powerful, but for me lacks the same core of emotional feeling.
Unflinchingly bold assault on the senses deserves your attention, it's cinematic 'méthode champenoise', book your seat now and crystal gaze the aftertaste.
One of the most chillingly effective visions of the world’s end ever put on screen -- and a heart-rending study of parenthood, to boot.
Director John Hillcoat has performed an admirable job of bringing Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to the screen as an intact and haunting tale, even at the cost of sacrificing color, big scenes and standard Hollywood imagery of post-apocalyptic America.
Engrossing and at times impressive, a pretty good movie that is disappointing to the extent that it could have been great. Is this the way the world ends? With polite applause?
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 18th Mar 2010.
Release date: March 18th 2010.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
