When an unknown devastation, that blocks out the sun and kills off all plant and animal life, occurs humanity sinks its lowest points. Fending off the cold, starvation, and the remaining people who seem to have all turned to cannibalism, the father (Viggo Mortensen) and his young son look for… anything. Based on the book of the same name (which I understand to be even darker tale than that of the movie), the story follows a father in his effort not just to keep his son alive, but also to try and keep as much of his son’s innocence and good will toward humanity alive. A seemingly impossible task.
I don’t have much to say about The Road other than it was a very hard movie to watch. Its bleak, gritty and to be honest it left me with a pit in my stomach. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as a movie that can invoke this type of response from people has to be very well made.
Mortensen is brilliant. His role takes him far away from his role as the hero Arragon in Lord of the Rings. I kept wanting to see some glimmer of heroism in his eye. Some hint that he was about to stand tall and make things right. This moment never comes. Conversely, just the opposite happens. Weary of his existence, he begins to creep slowing into the very same vileness he longs to protect his son from.
I’m not even going to rate this movie as I have no intention of watching it again, or even really recommending it to any one. As far as movie production and acting are concerned, it was great. As far as the story and basis go, this just wasn’t my cup of tea.
The whole movie is just about as bleak as this scene.
February 11, 2010
Media, Thoughts