A Wander Along The Road

Today's double bill began with The Road.  A film I was dying to see due to the massive amount of reviews heaping praise on it.  I haven't read Cormac McCarthy's book so I can only judge it as a stand-alone piece.

Spoilers are hidden at the bottom of the post where stated.  Please highlight to view.

I concur this is a brilliant film.  It will be one that I'll be waiting a long time to re-watch though.  It is a bleak experience.  I can't remember seeing a film that is this bleak throughout. This only enhances the film though.  For me, it's the most 'realistic' post-apocalypse vision I've seen on-screen.  I've heard that most of the film was filmed in New Orleans and Mount St Helens.  It's certainly the greyest film I have seen in a very long time.  It makes me realise how lucky I am to live in such a safe environment.

The entire cast is excellent.  There wasn't a bum note throughout.  There couldn't be a more perfect role for Viggo Mortensen.  I completely believed in his character throughout.  He must have been so drained by the end of this film.  Kodi Smit-McPhee is fantastic as his son.  If there was to be a weak point in this film you'd fully expect it to be him.  To play such a sad, downbeat role throughout the entire film is hard enough.  To do it so well is remarkable.  The fact that he has the lead role in the US remake of Let the Right One In negates a little of my ire.  Only a little mind.

Charlize Theron has a much smaller role but also plays it excellently.  She is the perfect foil for Mortensen's character and his attitude to the situation they find themselves in.  Her story is told in the flashbacks that are littered throughout the film.  They are used well though and add to the story without becoming distracting or being the be all and end all of the story.

Speaking of smaller roles the cameo players are excellent.  They must have put in a lot of preparation to get into character for the roles.  They weren't starry cameos either.  Just people they met along the road.  The calibre of their performances was suitable to a much larger role.  They really were an asset to the piece.

There is no definite setting for this film.  We're never told the time or the place.  This can only prevent it from ageing before it's time.  This film seems destined to be a timeless classic.

Spoilers below, highlight to view.

I couldn't see how we could gain any hope from this film and how it would end.  We had just a sliver or two given to us.  I was impressed with how we were given these.  Just before a very tense scene, which leads in Mortensen's character's death, we were shown a single beetle and a lone bird in flight.  Is this because they're further South.  That the film neglects to tell us.

The boy meets another traveller on the beach.  One which we, the audience, have a gut feeling we can trust.  We are relieved when he gains the boy's trust.  Massively so when his family are revealed.  The boy finally has 'siblings' and a dog for company.  We know that these guys are careful as they'd avoided contact until teh boy was alone after his father's death.  We have hope that things will get better.  But if they do we know it will still be a long, harsh road ahead.  This is no typical 'happy ending'

4.5 pawprints out of 5 for The Road.