Wednesday, February 22, 2017

The Road

Viggo Mortensen continues to add solid films to his resume, and "The Road" is no exception.  While it's not going to go down as the "feel good film of the year", it examines the bond of love and dedication a father has for his child's safety and well-being under possibly the bleakest conditions imaginable (post-apocalyptical conditions) and takes the viewer on a highly emotionally-charged journey that isn't filled with histrionics, but rather rolls on with short episodes of the various places father and son encounter on their way southward to get away from the wintery climate they came from.  The road is filled with dangerous situations and people, and each encounter leaves their mark on father and son, and the film goes to great pains to keep the viewer tuned into the emotional state of both characters on the road.

Mortensen is obviously the emotional anchor to the film, and he's up to the task, and gives a highly believable performance as the father, and Kodi Smit-McPhee is also fine as his son, and he did sort of looked like the mother, played by Charlize Theron.

I suspect for fathers who have young children, this film will hit them hard and earns all the heartbreak and tears it elicits from them.  It's a solid powerful film, I just don't know if I could watch it again anytime soon.

I give it 3 stars, or a grade of B. 

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