The Road (2009)

A post-apocalyptic tale of a man and his son trying to survive by any means possible.

Director:

John Hillcoat

Writers:

Cormac McCarthy (novel), Joe Penhall (screenplay)

Stars:

Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Viggo Mortensen	...	Man
Kodi Smit-McPhee	...	Boy
Robert Duvall	...	Old Man
Guy Pearce	...	Veteran
Molly Parker	...	Motherly Woman
Michael Kenneth Williams	...	Thief
Garret Dillahunt	...	Gang Member
Charlize Theron	...	Woman
Bob Jennings	...	Bearded Man
Agnes Herrmann	...	Archer's Woman
Buddy Sosthand	...	Archer
Kirk Brown	...	Bearded Face
Jack Erdie	...	Bearded Man #2
David August Lindauer	...	Man On Mattress
Gina Preciado	...	Well Fed Woman

Storyline

A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind and water. It is cold enough to crack stones, and, when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the warmer south, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing: just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless cannibalistic bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a rusting shopping cart of scavenged food--and each other.

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Plot Keywords:

old man | future | beach | cart | shopping cart | 

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Taglines:

In a moment the world changed forever.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence, disturbing images and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [fr]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 December 2009 (France)

Also Known As:

La carretera

Filming Locations:

Abandoned Turnpike Tunnels, Breezewood, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£627,147 (UK) (8 January 2010)

Gross:

$56,692 (USA) (11 May 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dimension Films, 2929 Productions, Nick Wechsler Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Whenever it was a sunny day, the FX technicians had to use CGI to make it look cloudy, because director John Hillcoat wanted to maintain a desolate atmosphere.

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Goofs

In the beginning, the Man is shown to only have two bullets in his revolver. But when we see the front the revolver after he cocked the hammer and pointed the gun at the urinating gangster we see two rounds in the cylinder. The cylinder will rotate again if the hammer is pulled back, so when he fired seconds later the hammer would have hit an empty chamber.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Wife: What's happening? Why are you taking a bath?
The Man: I'm not.

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Crazy Credits

Over the end credits, we hear the sounds of children playing. What the world must have been like in happier times.

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Connections

Referenced in Peep Show: St. Hospitals (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord No. 3 in E Major: Adagio Ma Non Tanto"
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach (as J.S. Bach)
Arranged by Ryan Franks
Performed by Ryan Franks & Harry Scorzo
Courtesy of Crucial Music Corporation

User Reviews

A Miserable Journey Displayed Beautifully

With a surplus of post-apocalyptic/disaster flicks present in today's film circle, the Road does what very few films in any genre seem capable of doing. Here is a picture that in it's own discreteness captures the realism of a holocaust horror, combining the absolute worst possible future with the most profoundly beautiful human characteristics that keep the main characters persevering. Not only does the story accurately exhibit the polar opposite aspects of a post apocalyptic existence, but the cinematography used during the flashbacks of a life full of color and hope many take for granted, is excellently positioned with the dark, dismal, and often terrifying reality that is the Road. The score was also fantastic and perfectly appropriate for the film.

The only two, minor issues I had were the sound editing, (MINOR!) and the ending which was NOT at all a disappointment, but I felt it was quite open, without giving anything away. This is, again, a minor issue, for the story in itself was a journey, and we see only a small portion of the great, tragic, and ultimately fulfilling struggle.

And, though I'm sure no more attention is necessary, the acting as a whole was phenomenal. Each film since LOTR Viggo has greatly improved and I'd like to think of this as the beginning of his finest hour. Very few performances touch me emotionally, and his was certainly one of them, in three scenes in particular which were, being discrete, (the parting flashback, the dinner, and the climax.) Well done, the Road, thank you Mr. Mortenson.