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First of all, Reservation Road has nothing to do with Native Americans, it happens to be an address. This will enable you to watch the film for story and acting, rather than trying to figure out what “reservation” has to do with this movie. The film was adapted for screen from John Burnham’s novel. It is about guilt, revenge, and being accountable for one’s actions. The film also shows you must pay attention to the road while driving. 

Reservation Road tells the story by going back and forth between two families. One has Joachin Phoenix and Jennifer Connelly as a couple with two children, a girl (Elle Fanning) and a boy, Sean Curley. The girl is a pianist while the boy plays cello. The other family is a divorced one, with Mark Ruffalo as the father living alone with sometime custody of his son (Eddie Alderson from television’s “One Life To Live.”) Mark’s wife (Mira Sorvino) is a music teacher and has remarried. There is tension whenever the boy goes from one parent to another, but clearly the boy would prefer living with his Dad. One night, while coming from a trip, Joaquin’s family stops to gas up the car and their son is accidentally hit by another car. The other car pauses for a moment and then speeds away. We know Mark is driving the other vehicle, an SUV, and his own son is asleep in the front seat. Mark proceeds to hide his SUV in his garage and uses a rental car. The police are puzzled and as time passes, make no headway. People handle grief in different ways. Joaquin’s wife is now starting to move ahead, but he is stuck with the accident and what to do. Online, he comes upon a web site of parents and friends who lost loved ones to hit and run drivers. There are suggestions as how to start an investigation. Joaquin starts this on his own and uses the services of his attorney. Trouble is, the attorney is Mark Ruffalo, who by now is sweating profusely.

You can see where this film is going from a mile away, but how it gets to a conclusion is a ride by itself.   The net begins to tighten and we wonder just how much each family can take. Connelly is almost ready to get out of her marriage. Their daughter misses her brother and the poignant music scenes are handkerchief time. Mira Sorvino has just about had it with her ex-husband and his lame excuses about being late when out with their son, and Mark Ruffalo just doesn’t know what to do.  

Acting is quite well done. Joaquin Phoenix grows a beard and looks stone-faced throughout. He is in shock and won’t let himself go. Jennifer Connelly has two drama scenes and then gets shoved to the background, as does Mira Sorvino. Elle Fanning is a fine young actress and I believe she does her own piano playing in the film.  Eddie Alderson shines as Mark’s son, who thinks his Dad is great. It is Mark Ruffalo who has the haunted look in his eyes. The actor walks a fine line between giving himself away and trying to work as an attorney for a living. The camera is behind him as he walks through any door and you wonder who will be waiting for him. 

What trips the script up are co-incidences that pile on top of each other. Mark turns out to be Joaquin’s attorney and Mark’s ex-wife is the children’s music teacher.  Also, Joaquin starts to investigate his son’s death by himself, why not hire a private investigator instead of the attorney’s office?  Joaquin gets into trouble when he starts stalking people with dark SUV’s.

In the end, Reservation Road gives us a study of a man absorbed in himself and his past. This leads to behavior that crosses the path of another who can see a situation for what it really is. Reservation Road is not a place to be at night.

Copyright 2007 Marie Asner