The Road

The Road (2009)
Directed by John Hillcoat
Length: 111 minutes
Rated R for some violence, disturbing images, and language





Unless you are like a majority of Americans, you have probably heard of Cormac McCarthy's critically acclaimed and commercially successful novel The Road. This dreary journey tale set in an apocalyptic future focuses on the bond between a father and a son in their struggles to survive; while the novel may be short on standard literary fare, its simple prose and heavy themes have made it a success amongst the literary community, even earning the praise of one Oprah Winfrey. As a fellow University of Tennessee alumni (even though McCarthy did not graduate), I have eagerly awaited the film adaptation since first reading the novel. While its sparse conversations and ashen settings may deter most movie goers, this film adaptation does a good job of capturing the themes and ideas of the novel.

Though the cause of the "apocalypse" is never explicitly stated, it's hardly the point. Faced with lack of food, shelter, water, heat, or hope, a father - played by the always reliable and seemingly naked Viggo Mortensen (A Dangerous Mind, Good) - struggles to keep his son safe while teaching him how to stay a good guy in a bad world. Newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee (Matching Jack, Let Me In) plays the son and delivers a balanced performance: not too whiny but just enough to sell the age of the kid (approximately 8-10). With the ever present threat of thieves and cannibals, father and son press onward to the coast in search of a new life.

The film stays accurate in keeping a focus on the relationship of the father and son, avoiding the temptation to turn the film into the next The Book of Eli or Mad Max. Though I doubt McCarthy would have allowed such a thing, it's refreshing to see a screenplay stay true to a novel. It truly is heart-wrenching seeing how protective and loving the father is of his son - willing to take his child's life in order to protect him from the hell another may intend to inflict upon him. Imagine teaching your child how to kill himself in case he was ever in danger of falling prey to a cannibal.

I was also pleased with the film's depiction of the setting. When I say dark and dreary, it doesn't even begin to describe the level of destitute seen here. No sunlight, no trees, just ash and destruction lining the very road the man and boy take. Cormac McCarthy's works are not known for their ease, instead challenging the reader with hard-to-follow dialogue and heavy metaphors/themes. The Road is a very literary based adaptation, and as such captures the feel of the novel well. While fans of the book will appreciate this, it does not necessarily translate into a successful and mass-appealing movie. So if you enjoyed the book, like Viggo Mortensen, or like successful book-to-film translations, there is something here for you to absorb; otherwise, you may not like this dark translation that may feel too much like reading for some.

Final Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote:
The Man: "Do you ever wish you would die?"
Old Man: "No, it's foolish to ask for luxuries in times like these."