The Road- A Journey Worth Taking-PPV

I can't help but to order a PPV (pay-per-view) movie or venture out to the video store every "new release Tuesday" to see what treasures I can find for an evening of entertainment. This may seem silly, but I try to forget which movies will be released so I can be surprised when I get there. I remembered that this is a decent month for rentals and assumed that there would be at least one movie worth watching on a Tuesday night. I was right.

I walked in and greeted the clerks that I have come to befriend since I've been a regular for some time. I asked what was hot for the day and she gave me two options: Dear John and The Road. The clerk said that I would need to be brave if I choose The Road because it's "not the happiest movie". Of course, that sparked my attention and I darted over to the rack to grab it. I realized this was one of the movies I was waiting to watch since its release to theaters some time over the winter- not to mention I usually choose darker films over love stories. I rented both movies anyway but had to watch The Road last night.

One of the reasons why I'm exhausted every Wednesday is because of my own self-abuse. Somehow, I always manage to choose the most emotional movies for my Tuesday night entertainment. I'll go to the video store, grocery store, cook dinner, play with my daughter, settle her in to sleep and finally at about 9 p.m. start and emotional journey to wake up at 5:30 in the morning the next day. Why do I do this? Because I love movies and I need immediate gratification the moment anything I want to see has been released.

Ah, now on to the review. The Road stars actors Viggo Mortensen, Robert Duval, Charlize Theron and the fourteen-year-old rising star Kodi-Smit McPhee (who seemed to be about 10 years-old in the movie). I don't know where to begin with my interpretation of this film because it is so unique that I don't want to include any spoilers but I'll give it a shot. The post-apocalyptic setting for the film is dismal, cold and quite concerning. Any type of movie including a child in danger or a family clinging together to stay alive places me in emotional turmoil but I can't help but be curious to watch it, even if it is with one eye open.

A father and his son awake from their slumber outside on the ground corralled by old, worn blankets and surrounded by chalky dirt, dead falling trees and the quiet rumble of a small earthquake. What was probably a lush forested area at one time was now dried up land baron of plant life. There was obviously a catastrophe that struck mother earth that killed almost every living thing in its path. Very few people made it through and the ones that were left in the aftermath were either struggling to stay alive or on the hunt to kill others and eat their bodies to survive. Mortensen who was now a single father of a young boy has many important responsibilities before him- to maintain his own sanity, forage for food and water and protect himself and his son from the elements as well as the dangers of lurking cannibals.

I can only tell you about the setting, as the journey of The Road needs to be a personal experience for you. Many of us contemplate the possibility of the apocalypse or major earthly catastrophe and can relate to the fear of this becoming reality. The one thing we parents try not to imagine is what it would be like for our children. This film was based on the novel of the same title by Cormac McCarthy who also wrote No Country for Old Men. McCarthy walks a very thin emotional line with this story, teetering on edge of dread but not going overboard by traumatizing us too much. Director John Hillcoat did a phenomenal job of choosing what to capture and what not to. He keeps the audience in suspense, making us constantly fear what could happen to this two-person family trying to survive. This film had the potential to be very dark and evil, even inappropriate, but Hillcoat executed this sad story in the best taste possible. The conclusion could not have been more respectful to the characters and to the audience.

I recommend this movie to those of you who dare to go slightly out of your element and try something new. You will not be disappointed. Mortensen's acting is flawless as usual as are Charlize Theron and Robert Duval, though that's to be expected. What surprised me is the work of Kodi-Smit McPhee. His role had to be difficult even when surrounded by great actors. This young star has certainly made a name for himself with his role in The Road. There is no way that we won't see more of him on the big screen in the near future. Kodi was chosen for Best Young Actor at The Critic's Choice Awards. Three upcoming movies that Kodi will star in are Tinytown, Matching Jack and Let Me In.

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By: Francis David