Set in a post apocalyptic world, The Road is based on a Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Cormac McCarthy who also wrote No Country for Old Men. Starring Viggo Mortensen as The Father and Kodi Smit Mc Phee as The Son, we are presented with a tale of the pair’s struggle to withstand hardship, malnutrition, and constant threat from gangs and cannibals who travel the roads as well. They have only one goal, they must survive until they reach the coast. Who or what they’ll find there remains a mystery to both us and them. Directed by John Hillcoat, the movie adaptation sticks quite loyally to McCarthy’s vision in his book. The story is emotionally difficult to accept but ultimately makes the film a worthwhile viewing experience.
Viggo Mortensen gives a stellar performance as The Father. His portrayal of a man willing to do anything for his son is heart wrenching. It begs the question to those of us with children, would you do the same? Would you know what exactly that meant? Could you teach your child to ultimately go on without you? His struggle to maintain a good sense of morality is seriously put to the test as the film progresses and he is faced with enemies and situations that challenge him. At that point it is up to the son, in an impressive performance by Smit Mc Phee, to remind his father that they are, as he puts it, ‘the good guys’. The cast also stars Charlize Theron, who gives a strong performance despite her small role as The Mother and Robert Duvall whose portrayal of a desperately frail old man journeying on his own will definitely haunt you to the end. Another small but memorable performance is that of The Final Man by Guy Pearse.
The cinematographer, Javier Aguirresarobe who also worked on The Others, should definitely get an honourable mention here too. The backdrop he provides for the story is gritty, desolate and devastating, and yet it can be viewed as a beautifully poignant scene at the same time. A lot of the movie is washed out and lacking in colour and this only adds to the experience of journeying along with the father and son.
The movie is a tough one to watch, without a doubt. But we definitely thinks it’s worthy of your time if you are patient. Those of you expecting a post apocalyptic, disaster movie along the lines of I Am Legend or 2012 might be disappointed however. This is a completely different take on the genre, one not every viewer will appreciate. The Road focuses on things from a small scale perspective, which I feel makes it a movie that is easier to associate with and allows it to hit closer to home. Hillcoat definitely does a top notch job of displaying human beings at their lowest.
