This is the fourth in a series of reports from the Telluride Film Festival. The event customarily held over the Labor Day weekend returned for its 36th season September 4-7. Coverage included a quick look at a film screened each night and highlights of some of the group discussions and celebrity appearances.
Monday’s sneak review: The Road (Dimension Films and 2929 Productions), which was shown at the Palm immediately following a morning tribute to the film’s leading man, Viggo Mortensen.
Running time: 111 minutes.
What’s it all about?
So the unemployment rate and health care issues are getting you down? Try living in a post-apocalyptic world, where bad taste (as in cannibalism) is prevalent and fuel and more wholesome foods are not. 
The traumatic tale focuses on a man (Mortensen) who loses his wife (Charlize Theron, in colorful flashback scenes, brings some much-needed energy). He takes a dark, dreary journey with his young son (you’ll see plenty of Kodi Smit-McPhee come awards season) in search of the deep, blue sea. Along the way, they sleep in abandoned cars, munch on crickets by the campfire and keep wondering if they’re the good guys. Too bad they couldn’t pick up the pace a little. (The two are shown together.)
If reveling in the misery of others in order to forget your own troubles is your idea of a good time, this movie is for you. Just in time for the holiday season, too, since the release date (originally set for 2008) has been pushed back again, shifting from October 16 to November 25, the day before Thanksgiving. It might make you think twice about having that second helping of turkey and dressing, though.
Director: John Hillcoat (The Proposition, To Have and to Hold).
Leading roles: Viggo Mortensen (The Man); Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Boy).
Also appearing: Charlize Theron (Wife); Guy Pearce (The Veteran); Robert Duvall (Old Man).
Telluride take: This film, combined with the Mortensen tribute, was considered the main event of the festival. Non-pass holders standing in the rain were turned away from the Sunday night session, but there were plenty of seats still available in the balcony for the next day’s program that began at 9 a.m. And while Hillcoat and the latest boy wonder, Smit-McPhee, were on stage with Mortensen during his opening night interview, they were nowhere to be found Monday.
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Article comments
1 - franni
Mr. Bialas
Might I suggest you take up a different hobby
Your comments on the Road are so insulting as to make one very uncomfortable with your so called Critics review. I hope there are no more additions to this way of making a complete arse of yourself.
If you are so in love with La Theron why don't you review the movies that she has been flopping in and leave Mr. Maccarthy's book and Mortensen's Movie in all it's splendor. If I could issue stars you'd get nothing. Grow up and learn to understand what you are reading and seeing.
2 - the mad magyar
Your negative review practically confirms that all my hopes for this movie will be met.
This is not an action movie, it's a serious post apocalyptic drama. I am extremely glad that (it sounds like) they stayed true to the spirit and tone of the book.
3 - the mad magyar
I'm curious as to how you would have reviewed a film like.... say Philadelphia.
Would you have also bashed that for not having any action???
Seriously man, what kind of reviewing is this?