The Road

Based on Cormac McCarthy’s acclaimed bestseller, The Road follows a man (Viggo Mortensen) and his young son (Kodi Smit-McPhee) as they attempt to traverse a post-apocalyptic wasteland following an undetermined disaster – with the bulk of the proceedings essentially detailing their various mishaps and encounters en route to the coast. Director John Hillcoat has infused The Road with a relentlessly downbeat sensibility that effectively captures the spirit of McCarthy’s grim tale, yet, much like its inspiration, the film is only sporadically enthralling as a result of its unabashedly episodic structure. There’s virtually nothing propelling the proceedings forward and it goes without saying that this lack of momentum, coupled with an extremely deliberate pace, ensures that the movie is rarely as engrossing as Hillcoat clearly wants it to be. It’s just as clear, however, that the film benefits substantially from the pervasively bleak production design and two stellar central performances, with Mortensen’s stirring efforts often elevating the movie and sustaining the viewer’s interest. The uneven atmosphere is rarely as problematic as one might’ve suspected, as the movie boasts several striking and downright memorable sequences that effectively compensate for its less-than-engaging moments – with the protagonists’ encounter with a grizzled old coot (Robert Duvall) certainly standing as a highlight. The unexpected emotional punch offered by the film’s closing minutes ultimately ensures that The Road concludes on an admittedly high note, and it’s finally obvious that the movie will have a far more pronounced impact on those viewers that loved the book (ie one couldn’t have asked for a more faithful translation from page to screen).

*** out of ****