DESPERATION. That feeling overwhelms all other emotions in this film. Based on the the new american classic novel by Cormac McCarthy, it is the story of a father and a son fervently attempting to survive in a post apocalyptic world where most of mankind, or whats left of it, has turned savage and cannibal. Trust No One.
It is Rare when a movie follows a novel so closely, and Joe Penhall (screenwriter), achieves this. He juices the novel of its desperation, pain, anguish, and fear, and throws in a little more creating a script that enhances all the underlying morals, and surface emotion. When you take this brilliant adaptation and hand it over to a talented director like Hillcoat, you get a film that has the viewer walking away feeling truly impacted by the story.
The "look" of this film, is grey, barren, and dead. But, the thing is...it's not ugly. Thats how great the cinematography is. There are actually some very beautiful scenes between the man and his son (names purposely unknown), where the photography of the shot enhances the emotion expressed. It's simply amazing to me, that one could portray any beauty in such a horrific world. There are also many shots that in themselves are shocking, like a father and son walking down the middle of an empty freeway overpass, or a forest where not a single tree has been left standing for miles. I found these scenes to be quite haunting and thought provoking, and it is rare when a landscape shot alone can get you thinking. It really makes the viewer feel the sense of hopelessness, like, there really is no one left to turn to.
All in all, I smell Oscar noms. Not only for "Best Picture" or "Best Cinematography," but also a possible "Best Actor" nomination, but I am not quite sure for whom, because the performances of Mortensen, and young Australian newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee (who portrays the boy), were both absolutely spectacular. And actually now that i think about it, a possible "Best Supporting Actor" might be in order for Robert Duvall, for his brief but impactful performance.
Awesome film, had me thinking about it for days, and when a film can have that kind of effect--you know it is gold.
My Rating- FLAMIN'
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