Rating of
3.5/4
Touching Post-Apocalyptic Masterpiece
mitchellyoung - wrote on 09/15/11
Although no one can probably touch Cormac McCarthy's prose, this film comes close by realizing with gritty terror McCarthy's bleak post-apocalyptic world. The film unfolds simply, as a base story of survival. There is no need for superfluous details, such as backstory (I almost wish they had cut the flashbacks, since they don't add that much to the story) and character names. Still, there are elements of true melancholy sadness. Mortensen's character is an excellent quasi-antihero - a man who is just trying to protect himself and his son, but, in so doing, makes some questionable choices that endanger others. The film has a lot to say, in its own quiet way, about the nature of humanity and what it means to be kind or charitable, even under the worst of circumstances. The final scenes with the robber (you'll see when you watch) killed me emotionally.
