Here is part two of my wasteland review special. The Road.
When people mention post-apocalypse movies, i guess most people automatically think Mad Max or The Postman, The Road is nothing like these, infact it's not like any post apocalypse film ive ever seen. It's Probably one of the best end of the world survival films ive ever seen.
The film starts with a Viggo Mortensen's character 'the father', asleep with his 10 year old son in a cave. They wake up and leave the cave on a journey south to the coast. They walk along roads devestated by some sort of Fallout from some sort cataclysmic Event that has essentially wiped out most of mankind. The 'Event' is never actually explained, all we know is that something big happened. Viggo's Past life is revealed through flash backs, we see him waking up in bed with his wife played by Charlize Theron, looking out the window at the ensuing chaos and filling a bath full of water. We see that Charlize is Pregnat. On flash back reveals her going into labour. This is the introduction to The boy character played by 13 year old Kodi Smit-Mcphee. The Road follows them as they avoid Cannibals, Murderers and theives in a lawless world trying hard to prevent them on their journey south.
Onto the film its self. John Hillcoat, who previously directed Austrailian western The Proposition, here displays a great understanding of what the harsh wasteland would look like, Burnt out cars, Fires burning out of control on hillsides, abandoned buildings are all made to look as if it had really happened. There are some fantastic shots including a shot of two Bridge freeways, one has a Truck Parked in the middle, and just looks very Post apocalyptic. The Locations are fantastic. The film shot in Pittsburg, L.A, Washington and New Orleans, and have all been made to look devastated.
The script by Joe Penhall is very minimalistic, there is not a lot of dialogue, but when words are spoken, great performances come from them. Viggo Mortensen again Excells in the kind of roles you wouldn't see Tom Cruise or Russell Crowe playing, Tom Hanks maybe. Mortensen's Performance is outstanding as the Father trying his hardest to protect his son, even going as far as to teach him how two kill himself. This was an incredible Oscar worthy performance. Smit-Mcphee as the boy is actually pretty good. As usual in films at times he can get a bit annoying, but then he shuts up an lets Viggo do His thing. Charlize Theron is very good as the mother and there's an almost unrecognisable Robert Duvall in a very very small supporting role.
The Problem this film had on it's release was lack of interest in it. Miramax had the film put back from October 2008 to november 2009 hoping for oscar success, but this kind of picture is incredibly un-hollywood, and was unfortuanately snubbed by the Academy. Mortensen's Role should have earned him a statue.
This is not an action film, it is a human drama that has the setting of an action film. This will not please everyone but will please some. This film is more of a what if film. What if something so epic happened, How would we survive, what would we do? If your expection Mad max, stay away this is not your kind of film. If your expecting a good, solid dramatic peice of cinema that just so happens to have a mad max setting, sit back relax and enjoy the show. You may be a little depressed afterwards but you will understand why humans do what humans do.
What's my verdict on The Road? Possibly the best film of last year. Outstanding on every level. Not to be missed.
FILM: 10/10
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