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The Road
Main Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall, Charlize Theron
Director: John Hillcoat
Release Date: 12/2/2009
Street Date: 5/25/2010
Run Time: 111 minutes
Released By: Dimension Films, The Weinstein Company 
 
Yet another recent release dealing with the apocalypse, this post-apocalyptic tale tells the story of a man (Viggo Mortensen) and son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) travelling south to the ocean while dealing with lack of food and water, protection, violence, and illness.  The movie does not deal with the source of the apocalypse, but focuses on the father / son relationship while they deal with the world around them fraught with desolation and despair.  The duo moves through starvation, adverse environments, cannibalistic gangs, loneliness, loss of family and community to reach their goal of a better life only to experience loss, risk, and change at movie’s climax.
 
Early indications of an Oscar nomination for Mortensen were erased when the film was not widely advertised and distributed.  Rumors of similarities to another post-apocalyptic movie, The  Book of Eli, and lack of funding / support by the studio abounded as Oscar nominations were announced without Mortensen on the ticket.  For interested movie goers not within easy access to the few movie houses presenting this picture, the wait persisted until the May 25 street release date.
 
While not a family film (violence ­ cannibalism , some language) the story line defines the love inherent between a parent and child.  Hope is prevalent in the story line as the father and son press on through plight after plight.  The movie is generally dark and occasionally slow.  Early kudos was rightfully given to Mortensen for a fine and revealing portrait of a man and parent.  Greater attention should be given to Kodi Smit-McPhee, who portrays Mortensen’s son, for a believable and enduring role.  Cameo appearances by Robert Duvall and Charlize Theron are spot-on but short and somewhat disconnected to the original story line.
 
Overall, The Road is good adult fodder showing hope and faith for those who can stomach the dark underlying current of the story.  Of interest is how this film truly portrays a post-apocalyptic world without wasting valuable story line on presenting the actual apocalypse.  In this light, it becomes clear how critical great acting is to pull of this type of film without adding an hour of special effects to tell the story.
 
Scott Mertens