2605's Movie Review of The Road (2009)

Brutal but beautiful
2605 - wrote on 01/15/10

The Road is a faithful adaption of Cormac McCarthy's masterpiece, and successfully translates his story of a dying world and the father and son trying to survive in it. Viggo Mortensen plays 'The Man', and is perfectly cast as someone willing to do anything to protect his son. He also looks like someone who has endured ten years of life after the end of the world, with a full beard, gaunt face and haunted eyes. Smit-McPhee is believeable as 'the boy' born after the apocalypse, and the relationship between the father and son is believable and affecting. The boy gives the man a reason to live, and also acts as his conscience.

The film is extremely bleak, with the ravaged landscapes painted in grey, only lightened by fires on the horizon or lightening flashing through the sky above. As in the book, the exact nature of the cataclysm is left unexplained (although the evidence points to a meteorite impact) - the focus of the film is instead on the fight for survival, and what drives it. Hillcoat effectively translates the novel to give several images that will disturb, and remain with you long after the credits role. Mention must also be given to the soundtrack, written and performed by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis (who also scored 'The Proposition', Hillcoats previous film). The background music has been criticised in some reviews as too instrusive, but in my opinion it served to reinforce the emotion of the scene instead of overriding it (with 'The Church' being a particular highlight).

It could be argued that the novel, with it's lack of a real climax and episodic nature, is unsuited for a film adaption. This is a valid criticism, and the contrast between the rest of the story and the ending (which in the book appears slightly tacked on and out of nowhere) is even greater than here than on paper. However, the film is clearly made with love, and this, along with excellent performances, beautiful cinematography, understated CGI work and a powerful (but not preachy) message about the importance of nature, make it a film well worth experiencing. It sets the bar high for the rest of the year.