Sumptuous Devastation
I just got out of a 9 am screening of John Hillcoat's The Road. It's now 11:05 with another movie -- I Am Love -- about to begin at 11:30 so I have ten minutes to review The Road. And I'm not going to make it. Ugly-beautiful photography and highly admirable production design -- two hours of rotted, ash-covered, end-of-the-world remnants captured in ravishing desaturated color -- and who needs it? Okay, Viggo Mortensen and the kid are very good...yes, fine. But what they bring isn't nearly enough.
I read Cormac McCarthy's novel for the beautiful prose, but the movie is quite unnecessary. It really and truly goes nowhere, enhances nothing, offers no poetry of any lasting value and adds nothing to the conversation. Plus it has a lousy story. You can have it. I'll never watch The Road again. You can give me the Blu-ray and I'll never pop it in.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 12, 2009 at 7:44 AM
comment #1
Chase Kahn
says ...
I'm feeling kind of a "Blindness" vibe from "The Road" -- only in this case, the latter film is a bit less sharp-edged and unpleasant. Still interested.
"I Am Love" sounded like one of the more intriguing films at Venice, look forward to the reaction.
Posted by Chase Kahn
at September 12, 2009 9:12 AM
comment #2
Tom Reagan
says ...
It is a shame that The Road is as unpoetic as it is, because I read the script and cried the way I did when I read the book. I thought the script captured the novel perfectly and kept the action moving along. But it seems like on screen it's just unbelievably grim. I was worried when I saw the trailer, because the trailer seemed to make it look like just another routine action film. I guess my worries were correct.
Posted by Tom Reagan
at September 12, 2009 9:25 AM
comment #3
actionman
says ...
i like grim, apocalyptic movies. bring it on. i'll watch anything by the director of the proposition.
Posted by actionman
at September 12, 2009 2:30 PM
comment #4
frankbooth
says ...
This may sound odd, but Jackie Brown comes to mind. A young director makes a film or two and is often compared to an author with a similar sensibility. He's attached to adapt a novel by said writer, and it seems like a perfect fit. Everyone is excited.
The movie is made, and hews closely to the source material -- but seems off, somehow, tonally. He's got the words, but not the music. The film is generally dismissed as a failure.
But as time passes, it's appreciated for what it is. A gradual critical reappraisal sets in, and a decade later, it's not unusual to see the film listed as one of the director's best.
This situation reminds me of that one, except for the reappraisal part, obviously. No way of telling at this point. I guess my point is that I'm holding out and hoping The Road is more Jackie Brown than Bonfire of the Vanities.
Posted by frankbooth
at September 12, 2009 4:17 PM
comment #5
bildeaux
says ...
Just finished reading the book. I can see why it does not make sense to make a movie about it. Loved the book, but not sure I need to see it in movie form.
Posted by bildeaux
at September 13, 2009 11:03 AM
comment #6
badpete
says ...
the most dangerous road is found in latin america, i think in colombia or the brazilian border . .
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Posted by badpete
at December 7, 2009 3:57 AM
comment #7
badpete
says ...
im a fan of John ever since i know him, cheers!
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at December 7, 2009 10:43 AM
comment #8
badpete
says ...
im a fan of Viggo Mortensen ever since i knw him, cheers!!!
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Posted by badpete
at December 15, 2009 12:08 AM
comment #9
Natali Watson
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