The RoadMovie Reviews

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• Must Go!
  Written December 1, 2009

  Best Apocalyptic Film in Years (but not for the TV Babies)

  by harmonicp

  This film certainly seems to provoke mixed reactions. Many of the published reviews I've read are either favorable or unfavorable based on how well the critic thinks film stacks up against the Pulitzer Prize-winning book. I haven't read it, and therefore have no basis for comparison. So for me the questions is: did the filmmakers and actors succeed in creating something beautiful, truthful and timeless? For my money: YES, and let's add to that list of descriptors "heartbreaking", "disturbing" and "haunting". Movie fans hoping for "Armageddon" or "The Terminator" will be disappointed in this vision of the apocalypse. There are few pyrotechnics, almost no SPFX, and the pacing is slow - more "2001" than "2012". Like "Children of Men", it requires an actual attention span and a stomach for melancholy, which is apparently too much to ask of many viewers. But for those who can appreciate the grim atmosphere, exquisite acting and all-too-believable premise and dialogue, this film is a gem.

  • 13 out of 13 found this review helpful.
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• I'm In
  Written December 16, 2009

  Franklin, TN - Where the hell is this movie?

  by EPTCB

  Who was the dumb-*** at the movie studio who hyped this movie up and then failed to deliver it to several markets? Fire them! Will someone put a boot in his/her *** for being so stupid? I and many, many others were waiting 6 months or more to see this and when it was released, never came to our neck of the woods! Retards!

  • 11 out of 11 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written December 25, 2009

  The Road: a movie that will change the thinking persons life.

  by mz8l18

  This film will be viewed in university level classes. This is going to be one of those films the general public will hate and it will fade away into oblivion, but for a few it will cause them to change the worldview that they may have grown up with. The setting is bleak and depressing but this is only the subtext to the story about a relationship between a father and his son in the darkests of situations. . The ending is inspiring and is worth the journey in a world where hope is merely a myth. As I have read these reviews, it demonstrates why hollywood is pumping out cookie cutter products. It is exactly what most of the drones want to see. This movie. suprisingly. is close to the book for a movie. If "The Road" does not get an academy or acclaim it will be a very sad day. I was so moved by this movie that it brought me to tears ( this has only happened to me twice) but after having seen the movie I was happy that I was sad.

  • 14 out of 18 found this review helpful.
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• Go
  Written December 28, 2009

  Not a Road for Everyone

  by Gangsteroflove7

  Director John Hillcoat has the monumental task of filming a Pulitzer-Prize winning novel that has been called possibly the book of the decade. The screenwriter needs to win an Oscar for putting together a script from a novel that featured hardly any character names and no written dialouge.
  
  Viggo Mortensen as "Poppa" and newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee as "son" are near flawless in the post-apocalyptic saga that is difficult to watch yet impossible to pull your eyes away from. Definitely not a feel-good film, but those who knew McCarthy's work would have already been aware of that.
  
  I am dismayed at the poor reception and box office tallies this film has received to date. It appears, like with another best-selling novel that is being shunned at the box office - "The Lovely Bones", it is more comfortable for people to read about murder and the end of the world and not to watch it on the big screen. What a shame - guess these means Hollywood will continue to make unoriginal nonsense and

  • 10 out of 10 found this review helpful.
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• Go
  Written January 11, 2010

  Apocalyptic movie centered around a father and son.

  by richardmacgurn

  I loved this movie. Good acting all around, good story, very bleak and realistic for its genre. But if you're expecting anything more than what it is then you'll be disappointed. There are no eye-popping special effects, no happy moments, and no clever plot twists. This is on the dark side of the apocalyptic spectrum. Ironically though, although it is very dark and sad, it doesn't go far enough in that direction for me. It is a powerful drama about extreme survival and the love between father and son. There is constant tension and anxiety throughout their journey and you never feel comfortable or safe and with good reason. Most of the humans who have survived to this point have gone far beyond the depravity of cannibalism because this is a stage 4 apocalyptic scenario. There is no hope, no god, no good, and no fun for anyone. There is only survival, and for the father, his only motivation is for his son to survive and maybe, just maybe, one day he'll be happy...

  • 9 out of 9 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written December 28, 2009

  Pretty true to the book, IMHO

  by per_gaby

  There were a few liberties taken with the movie, but none that were too obvious or completely changed the tone of the story. I loved the movie as much as I loved the book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic stories! (great casting by the way!)

  • 9 out of 9 found this review helpful.
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• Go
  Written January 14, 2010

  What a movie!

  by anthonyfdmovie

  Never heard of the movie until I saw it listed online. It was only showing in two movie theaters but seemed interesting to see. So glad I did. My girlfriend was tear jerked throughout the movie and I was taken back on the father/son relationship (having a son of my own the same age had me thinking). It's been over a week and I am still buzzing from the movie. For well made movie and so glad they did not reveal what started the whole thing, it allowed you to focus on the characters and their role on survival.

  • 7 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written December 29, 2009

  Disturbing, yet fantastic!

  by dbrogers

  There are many "why'd they do that? I wouldn't!" moments, but this drama is a great flick. I appreciate it and the questions you ask of the movie are always debatable, which really helps you deal with the choices the characters make. It doesn't glamorize the end of the world with zombie killing heroes, and silly save-the-day, Arks. Your teenager will most likely not appreciate because it's too realistic and you know how they hate reality.

  • 7 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written December 2, 2009

  RIVETTING RENDITION OF POST-APOCALYPTIC PURGATORY

  by Muvibuff

  ACTORS: Vigo Mortenson is always on his "A" game, and this movie is no exception. For comparisons sake, he easily rivals Will Smiths displays of paternal desperation "The Pursuit of Happiness". Charlize Theron and the boy (whom I suspect is an actual relative, but am not willing to spend the time checking on it) both deserve Oscars for their performances. 5 of 5 STARS
  STORY: Post apocalyptic movie in the truest sense. For those who enjoy this genre subset, you will not be dissapointed. For all those adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers out there, I wouldn't waste your time. This movie moves at a snails pace; and anyone who is unwilling to wait and watch the masterpiece unravel in its own good time will find themselves ho-humming through the brunt of it wondering if you should have just stayed home and watched RUSH HOUR 2 on TBS for the seventh time. 4 of 5 stars
  OVERALL: Take your best friend to this movie for mutual post-cinematic contemplation of humankind and its petty toils.

  • 7 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written November 28, 2009

  I am glad that I saw it

  by miguelaperez

  I had neither read the book, nor heard about the movie until a friend recommended it. I am glad that I saw it. Certainly a very dark movie, but what great acting by both main actors, and what a compelling story.
  I think tomorrow will seem a brighter after watching this great movie. Must watch material for sure, and though i am no famous critic, I hope that at the very least it gets nominated at the Oscars for best actor, best supporting actor, best cinematography, best costumes and make up. If hollywood has an ounce of spirit left in it then this movie ought to get at least one of those.
  
  Thats my $0.02

  • 8 out of 10 found this review helpful.
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• So-so
  Written December 19, 2009

  An unembellished tale of survivalism, depression and isolation

  by jk_fandango

  Do not go to this movie to be entertained. The bleakness and hopelessness are relentless. At the sympathetic indy theater where I saw this on opening night, the credits were greeted with perfect silence and hurried exits. Not really out of disgust or disapproval or rapt contemplation or drained exhaustion, but simple "What is there to say about this?"
  
  Don't get me wrong, this movie is technically very well done and well-acted, and I love this concept. But it just leaves you with very little, but a sense of barrenness and mortality. No real messages. No real drama or development. A tenuous glint of possible hope in the last five minutes.
  
  In terms of spirit and tone, this is not a "Day After Tomorrow", or even a "28 Days Later", although there are distinct conceptual similarities to both of these. Again, this movie is not really about entertainment. More similar in tone to "Antichrist", but without the unbearable pretense and absurd nuttiness.

  • 6 out of 6 found this review helpful.
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• I'm In
  Written November 28, 2009

  • 

    NOT PLAYING ANYWHERE NEAR YOU

  by bigmisch

  • 7 out of 8 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written November 27, 2009

  Was great but, very serious, not one to go see as a date or for a good ttime

  by volleybalk

  The movie was great, it was very serious, Vego plays a great fatherly role. This movie really makes you wonder what could happen if the world did start to die. I would recommend it over any thing else out right now.

  • 7 out of 9 found this review helpful.
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• Go
  Written January 12, 2010

  qualified enthusiasm

  by ithrah

  Incredible acting by Mortensen, Duval and Omar (of The Wire, i do not know his real name:), incredible set design/location choices, exceptional script, but very disturbing, bleak and bone-chilling. Go if you are intrigued by post-apocalyptic philosophical inquiry. Do not go if your psyche is fragile and you are much happier not thinking about the kinds of ethical and moral decisions that are posed to human beings on the brink of extinction. VERY GOOD film.

  • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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• Must Go!
  Written January 4, 2010

  To Road...

  by Cye

  Scrupulously faithful to McCarthy's novel, The Road is a hearbreaking, bleak, yet ultimately hopeful portrait of a father and son travelling across a barren post apocalyptic landscape in search of hope.
  
  The harsh landscape of a scorched world, ravaged by fire and ruled by roving bands of barbarians who have given over their humanity to their baser needs, sets the backdrop for a story as old as humanity itself. A father and son, are seeking the coastline and the vague promise of warmth and hope. As they travel Southward along a scorched highway, the question is raised again and again, "Are we the good guys?" A question that grows more obscure as their journey unfolds. The father, striving to keep his son alive while holding on to the tenuous remaining threads of humanity that seperate them from the barbarous scavengers that they encounter, finds himself having to resort to ever harsher measures to give hs son the tools to survive in the time he has left.
  
  Five stars!

  • 4 out of 4 found this review helpful.
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