The Road (2009)
Brandon Sears
.jpg)
RATED:Rated R for some violence, disturbing images and language.
DIRECTOR: John Hillcoat
RUNNING TIME: 111 mins
DATE SEEN: January 28, 2010
One of the most emotionally affecting novels I've ever read, The Road made its silver screen adaptation in 2009. Viggo Mortensen (Lord of the Rings) stars and John Hillcoat (The Proposition) directs in a world where an unnamed event destroys our very way of life. The film itself follows the lives of one family and their ability (as well as inability) to cope with this new world as well as the struggle to endure as they move from the Northern to the Southern United States in seach of sanctuary and something "normal".
I was a little worried as the film took a long time to hit theatres due to multiple pushbacks, hoping it had nothing to do with quality issues or reshoots. Originally scheduled to hit cinemas in November 2008, the studio pushed it back a total of 3 times with Oscar ambitions in mind. While receiving a few nominations and wins from smaller awards,The Road received no Oscar nominations whatsoever. I am truly shocked that Mortensen did not garner a nomination for his role, he was beyond excellent. However, as well all know, the Academy Awards doesn't always recognize the "best" films.
The scenery in this film is just terrifying. When I read the novel about 2 and a half years ago, I could somewhat picture what the environment looked like and Hillcoat's set designer, Robert Greenfield nailed it. Give him credit where credit is due, Hillcoat himself stated, "We don't want to go to CGI world" and wanted a lot of real locations. Filming primarily in Pennsylvania in rundown sections of Pittsburgh as well as deserted rural areas including coalfields and heavily wooded sections of countryside, Hillcoat's vision shone through as frightening and realistic. The only real CGI used where wide shots of devestated cities as well as sky replacement, to give it that constant grey atmosphere.
The costume design is also remarkable, giving each character a weathered and exhausted look. Robert Duvall is practically unrecognizable in this movie. Mortensen and his son look just awful, it's hard to imagine what Mortensen went through to loose as much weight as he did, he was just skin and bones (Christian Bale still has him beat. ). When I left the theatre, I managed to catch a riviting endorsement from a fellow viewer when he said "Well, I just gotta say, those were the dirtiest fingernails I've ever seen".
All in all, I loved the movie. I would probably still say that the book was better but it's hard when it's a near perfect adaptation.
Brandon Sears is an insurance salesman by day and a superhero by night (not really). He has been writing for Modern Distraction since 2004. He lives in Sydney Mines with his wife, Ashley and his dog Toby.