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The Road

The Road

2009

Viggo Mortensen leads an all-star cast for this post-apocalyptic tale about an unnamed man (Mortensen) and his son (Kodi Smit-McPhee from Romulus, My Father) travelling across an ash-covered American landscape, left in tatters by an unspecified monstrous cataclysm some years before. Most of the planet's life and civilization  has been destroyed, and what's left isn't very friendly.

This is from John Hillcoat, director of gritty Outback western The Proposition, and an adaptation of an unrelenting Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men) novel.

Starring Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce

Directed by John Hillcoat ('The Proposition')

Written by Joe Penhall (based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy)

Thriller, Drama, Adaptation | 1hr 52mins | Rated (R16) | Contains Violence & Content That May Disturb | Origin: USA | Official Site »

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Flicks review

  •  2

    Andreas Heinemann, Flicks.co.nz

    Andreas Heinemann, Flicks.co.nz

    Flicks Writer

    The last big-screen adaptation of a Cormac McCarthy novel gave us the greatness of No Country for Old Men so this next re-working of his material has a lot to live up to. Alas, The Road doesn’t come close to approaching the quality of that effort.

    Whilst the grey and gloomy depiction of a disturbingly realistic post-apocalyptic world conjures up an appropriately bleak mood and malevolent setting, it’s the stage for a story that can’t take full advantage of this environment. Touches of horror, via cannibalism, are left lurking in the shadows as a largely off-screen menace when they could have been better exploited in what is an overly minimal script (save some pointless flashbacks that add little except putting Charlize Theron’s name on the marquee).

    The central relationship between father and son is never fully realised either, due to the attempted portrayal of innocence by young Kodi Smit-McPhee veering into whiny territory and being underpinned by a score (by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis) that is too obvious in its attempts to tug on heart strings. It’s only the final tear-jerking sequence and a fantastic cameo from Robert Duvall that deliver the emotional intensity the film is aiming for.

    There are plenty of potentially interesting ideas and concepts contained within, but they are better suited for being explored through literature than they are on screen.

    Agree? Disagree?...

The people's reviews

15 reviews

  • 100 word review

     4

    100WordReviews

    Superstar (?)

    In a post-apocalyptic world, a father struggles to keep himself and his young son alive as they search for any form of sanctuary. This movie is not easy to watch, for the world that’s detailed is bleak, depressing and frightening. Viggo Mortensen gives a heart-wrenching performance as the father who scrambles to provide any sort of hope for his hungry, withering son. With such a feeling of hopelessness, it’s hard to see how this story can give off any sort of uplifting conclusion. However, every heart-felt moment between the father and son contrasts the doom. A dark, yet beautiful film.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Review

     4

    Michael

    Nobody (?)

    While I didn't feel the same emotional connection as I did to the book and the image I most remember from the book isn't in it, this is still an awesome film, great imagery, atmosphere and acting with an original take on the term post-apocalyptic.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • well above HORROR genra

     5

    freshdude

    Superstar (?)

    Ok. I haven't read the book so I can't say wether it is true to it or not ... However the film itself is amazing, it will stay with you a long time. Don't go watching it thinking you're in for a horror movie, it is well above the horror genra (which by the sound is what Andrea didn't like)... it has depth, it has substance and even if the story itself is very simple and can be told in a few words, the delivery is simply remarkable and compelling.
    If you are used to watching movies that do all the thinking for you, don't bother, but if you like to be absorbed and affected by your films, go see it !

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • excellent book, excellent movie

     5

    patty

    Nobody (?)

    this movie should have been up for best movie at the oscars. And seamus is wrong

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Best post-apocalyptic flick

    Leo

    Nobody (?)

    I read the book and was wondering how this film would turnout. Great surprise as its better than the book. Viggo is great and the visuals much appropriate. The book is even less engaging emotional the the film. I thought that the filmmakers did a remarkable job of maintaining the plainness of the book while still giving the viewer a greater set of emotions to identify with the characters. One of the best post-apocalyptic dramas ever made, if not the best. Well worth the watch for those who like the depressing theme.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Review

     3

    Simon

    Nobody (?)

    not emotionally engaging enough to be be a film that relies on its atmosphere.
    not enough plot to be entertaining.
    it wasn't bad filmaking, just a poor choice for a screen adaptation. overall i found it a little shallow.
    read the book - there is no way a film could ever capture its brilliance.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Depressing and oh-so-slow

     2

    Warren

    Nobody (?)

    Completely agree with the Flicks review. This material would be much better in a book or maybe with a different director, but in this movie it lacks tension and character development. Robert Duvall gives the film a lift but it isn't enough to drag it out of the cellar.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Don't agree with Flicks review

     4

    Shaun-J

    Nobody (?)

    Sorry Andreas, but I am going to have to highly disagree with your review. I thought it was a remarkable and captivating film. I learned to appreciate these kinds of film not too long ago and I admire the effort that has gone into making this sad tale into an on screen gem. Its very slow moving, but that didn't bother me, I was just relating myself to the situation they were in and wondering how I would deal with it.
    In regard to the flashbacks, I thought they were extremely relevant as we needed to have something to look back on with not having any idea what happened to the world itself.
    In regard to the cannibals lurking around the place, I felt they didn't need any more details than was shown, What else could you need to know? They are people pushed to the brink of death by starvation, and thats how they have chosen to deal with it. It does rise the moral dilemmas that go along with cannabilism but if you think about it, what lengths would you go to to survive?

    All up a moving tale of a father and son relationship in a torn world. They were treading on high ground to even attempt to portray this on screen, and I think they did it to the best that could be expected.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • A Movie for the Ages

     5

    Jenny

    Nobody (?)

    Dark and captivating. I'm sorry to those people who only like films like Twilight but this is for grownups. I thrilling tale that leaves leads you enthralled through an ash-strewn North America. Not every question is answered but for those with imaginations it should not be a problem.

    Agree? Disagree?...

  • Depressing and Dark

     2

    Mark Boon

    Nobody (?)

    From the beginning the movie is very dark and hard going...Without reading the book I found I had a lot of questions which didn't get answered like why did they, man and boy, survive and not others? Sounds like the book like most films, e.g. harry potter, is better than the movie. Found it very sad and frustrating movie to watch on a sunday afternoon...Viggo was good in a very dark sad role. Very similar to I am legend just a lot more complex storyline...worthy but only just. Makes you want to watch to the end but out of frustration more than compulsion.

    Agree? Disagree?...

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Press Reviews

  • Chicago Sun-Times

    The Road evokes the images and the characters of Cormac McCarthy's novel. It is powerful, but for me lacks the same core of emotional feeling.
    Read full review

  • Christchurch Star (Nick Paris)

     5

    Unflinchingly bold assault on the senses deserves your attention, it's cinematic 'méthode champenoise', book your seat now and crystal gaze the aftertaste.

  • Empire (UK)

    One of the most chillingly effective visions of the world’s end ever put on screen -- and a heart-rending study of parenthood, to boot.
    Read full review

  • Hollywood Reporter (USA)

    Director John Hillcoat has performed an admirable job of bringing Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to the screen as an intact and haunting tale, even at the cost of sacrificing color, big scenes and standard Hollywood imagery of post-apocalyptic America.
    Read full review

  • New York Times

    Engrossing and at times impressive, a pretty good movie that is disappointing to the extent that it could have been great. Is this the way the world ends? With polite applause?
    Read full review

  • The Dominion Post (Graeme Tuckett)

     5

    If there was ever a book that would have collapsed horribly upon itself if it was buggered about with too much, The Road is that story. The novel is Pulitzer Prize-winning brilliant, and author Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men) is a rare and special assembler of the English language.
    Read full review

  • tvnz.co.nz (Darren Bevan)

     4

    Prepare yourself for a particularly depressing end of the world.
    Read full review

  • Variety (USA)

    Except for the physical aspects of this bleak odyssey by a father and son through a post-apocalyptic landscape, this long-delayed production falls dispiritingly short on every front.
    Read full review

  • ViewAuckland.co.nz (Matt Turner)

     5

    Beautifully shot, superbly written and powerfully moving, this is a remarkably faithful adaptation of the novel with an Oscar-worthy performance by Viggo Mortensen.
    Read full review

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