Here is our first movie review. We’ll do these from time to time to give our readership a look at some good movies out there. It doesn’t matter what phase of life you’re at, we can all appreciate a good movie. Here is one that I enjoyed, although it was definitely painful to watch.
I recently went to go watch The Road starring Viggo Mortensen and Kodi McPhee, and I had absolutely no idea what it was going to be about. I had heard from various online sources that it was some sort of post-apocalyptic movie, and so I went expecting what every apocalyptic movie has to offer: carnage, destruction, explosions, intense action and very little plot storyline. I’m not a really big fan of “end of the world” movies, other than the action elements it has to offer. I mean, I love watching things blow up, and I love seeing full on special effects unleashed on the screen…but other than that, most end of the world movies have little to offer in terms of life defining substance.
As a matter of fact, to date, the only really good “end of the world” movie that I have seen (and cherish dearly) is Armageddon, but that was more because it’s hard to resist the mellowing influence of “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith, which is, in my opinion, still one of the best karaoke classics ever created.
The Road had very little to offer in terms of CGI. As a matter of fact, it was one of the most stripped down movies I have seen in a really long time. To be honest, the whole movie focuses on Viggo Mortensen and his son (Kodi McPhee) going from house to house, collecting trash and different types of “garbage”. That sounds incredibly dull and boring, I know. And yet, for some strange reason, you can’t help but be completely captivated by the grim and dark world that is painted vividly by John Hillcoat. It is one of the most honest and disturbing portrays of humankind that I have ever seen, and for that, you’re enthralled by the realism of it. The Road portrays in full horror what would happen if all of humanity were stripped of everything. It answers some tough questions such as how would we act? What choices would we make? What kind of people would we become?
We’ve seen glimpses of what civilization could look like through events like Hurricane Katrina. Imagine if Hurricane Katrina were not an isolated incident, but a worldwide phenomenon. In the case of Hurricane Katrina, someone was coming to “rescue” the people in New Orleans and restore order. What if everyone had the same problem, and so there was no one to “rescue” us? That’s basically what The Road does. It creates a world where nothing else matters but survival. Every one has to fend for themselves, there is no “rescue” to be found here.
And it is in this barrenness, this void of all civilization and order that Viggo and Kodi put on a stellar performance. Scene, after scene, after scene, you can’t help but feel the intense emotion and pain they must be experiencing. Every single day is a struggle, and every single minute of that struggle is captured in the most heart wrenching way possible. It is a painful movie to watch, and even when it’s all said and done, you’ll go home thinking all the difficult questions of life: Why do we live? Why do we keep fighting to survive every day? If you took away all the pomp and fare of life, and stripped us down to our basic human existence, what is the purpose of life?
The Road offers a simple and yet powerful answer to that question of life. “The Fire”. The Fire is a metaphor for the burning essence of our souls, that, for some reason, will not settle for death. We don’t always know why we keep pushing in spite of all the difficulties, struggles, and hardships of life. But at the same time, many of us, at our very cores, have a “fire” that keeps pushing us onward toward life, success, meaning, and purpose.
Some may call it survival of the fittest. Others may call it God compelling them to life. Whatever you want to call it, I think there is something deep within us that yearns and aspires for life and survival.
The Road is definitely not an entertaining movie. But it is a heartfelt and thoughtful movie. I don’t recommend this movie to everyone, but if you’re a thinker and enjoy deep philosophical movies, The Road is definitely a movie that’s worth watching.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Most people who haven’t read it told me that they were also expecting a big cgi spectacle as well but they were “bored” by the plot. (go fig!) I think the point you bring up about “there is no one to rescue us” is what makes the story exceptional. The book was truly remarkable (with more graphic encounters with bad guys) and the movie was a very faithful reproduction of the book with some excellent enhancements, for those who haven’t seen it, IMHO I’d recommend reading it first.
hey sarah! yea i haven’t read the book yet, but i definitely want to take a look at it. I really have to say, the plot IS boring. but that doesn’t make it intensely interesting, in the post “exposure” sort of way. I left the movie thinking some of the deepest thoughts I’ve had in a while. it really struck a chord somewhere deep in my being–i was really shaken up in a sense by it. I think, in that regard, the movie did exactly what it was hoping to do.
i’ll never watch it again. But what I did watch will probably be engraved in my memory in some way/shape/form for a really long time. I can’t say that about many movies. I’ll take a look at the book though for sure!