The Road

I watched this movie on Friday night after a long week of work. I needed something to take my mind off the week's work.

This movie certainly didn't help.

Here's the trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLgszfXTAY

And here's the movie poster

Now admittedly I hadn't seen anything about this movie when it came out, except maybe the movie poster. I didn't know it was based on a book. I hadn't even seen the trailer. I'd just heard that it was a remarkable film so I thought I'd give it a go.

I was wanting something a little more fun, I guess. This movie certainly isn't fun.

Here we have Viggo, who plays the Dad in the film.

I heard his wife call him John once, but for the most part he's just referred to as "Papa" by his son.

Here's his son, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee.

Much like the other characters in the film, he doesn't have a name. That's how bleak things are in this movie.

Thankfully the above image was from one scene I did like, where the father and son stumble on an underground bunker. At least that scene was somewhat optimistic.

The rest of the movie you watch them do this.

Walk.

They do a lot of walking, and not a lot of talking.

There's flashback scenes to before they hit the road, and as you can see the role of the mother is played by Charlize Theron.

As the movie progresses you find out what happens to her.

Urgh. No thank you.

Robert Duvall is in the movie for a few scenes, and he was interesting to watch. By this time though things were looking so bad for the central characters I was dreading what was coming next.

I'd heard Guy Pearce was in this movie and wondered when he'd turn up.

When he finally did though I was almost ready to pack it in. The movie was just too bleak and horrific for me.

As a family man it was almost unwatchable.

Then the end credits hit and I discovered the movie was directed by John Hillcoat, who also directed The Proposition.

That's when I realised why Guy Pearce was in this movie. Guy was the central character in The Proposition.

Again, another bleak movie. At least it wasn't too horrific.

Well, not as horrific as The Road.

I can understand why people wanted to see it. Viggo always gives 100% to the movies he appears in, so there's that.

Visually it's a stunning movie. How they did some of the scenes I'll never know.

From that point of view I will give it praise.

The characters are complex, very complex. No wonder the films showcasing some big name actors.

If you're wanting a "Friday night fun film" though, you'll need to look elsewhere.

All up I give this movie 7 stars.

Until next time.