The Road *Megathread*

Creature

From here



"Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Get more The Road news

Charlize Theron (pictured inside) has signed on to join Viggo Mortensen in the bigscreen adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's bestselling novel The Road for 2929 Entertainment, according to Variety who also revealed that Dimension Films will distribute domestically. The story centers on a man who embarks on a nightmarish road trip after a nuclear explosion in an attempt to transport his son to safety while fending off cannibals. Aussie helmer John Hillcoat (The Proposition) is directing from a screenplay by Joe Penhall. Theron, who will play the wife of Mortensen's character, will be seen mostly in flashback. Shooting is set to begin next month."



I absolutely loved this book so naturally I'm a bit skeptical on hearing about this adaptation. However Viggo Mortensen is a terrific actor and director John Hillcoat seems to have gotten a lot of praise for his last film The Proposition. The Road is a really great book, I just hope this doesn't end up being a mediocre film version of a great book like I Am Legend was.

Drag00n79

I just got the book today. Can't wait to read it based on what I've heard on Boards.

strangesdays

Halfway through Blood Meridian at the moment, Fantastic imagery, but bloody dense prose at times. Coupled with the extreme violence, its quite a knackering read!

oxygen_old

The director of the Road, adapted from the book by Cormac Mc Carthy, said that most of the dialogue was unusable for the film?

I dont think this is the case, the dialogue was the best part of the book, it was sureal and minimal, like the landscape they traversed.

This is a bad start to adapting this book.

http://io9.com/393576/first-glimpses-of-the-roads-moody-realism

Miguel_Sanchez

I haven't read the book but I do find sometimes that dialogue that works in a book sounds bad when spoken by actors so maybe that's what the director thought.

Creature

Thats interesting. No Country for Old Men, which was written by the same author, used mostly dialogue from the book and I think most of us agree that film came off very well.

I agree with you oxygen. Abandoning the dialogue from the book is a big mistake.

Sad Professor

oxygen, when/where did Hillcoat say this? There's nothing about it in the link you posted. I'm sure I read somewhere that the father and son would speak in the same brief and minimalist way they did in the book.

oxygen_old

Its around the middle of the page.
"
How close will the movie stay to the book? .... The NYT explained that while they couldn't include most of McCarthy's narrative, a lot of that feeling will come from the ...."

oxygen_old

Actually, re-reading that. Looks like their talking about Mc Carthys Narrative and not his Dialogue. Panic averted, hopefully they will stick to the books original dialogue.

Sad Professor

Yeah, narrative isn't dialogue. What they mean is that the movie won't be able to use the biblical style of writing McCarthy uses in the book. Strip away McCarthy's prose and you're not left with much so a lot will depend on the actors and Hillcoat's visuals.

Running Bing

Sad Professor wrote: »

Yeah, narrative isn't dialogue. What they mean is that the movie won't be able to use the biblical style of writing McCarthy uses in the book. Strip away McCarthy's prose and you're not left with much so a lot will depend on the actors and Hillcoat's visuals.

and I must say in those I have confidence.

When I think of the proposition I really think Hillcoat could do a good job here and although I was personally hoping for unknown actors Mortensen is amongst the best actors working today without being a superstar so its a happy trade off.


That alone gives me hope but I just hope they dont try and change things too much and add in a load of false drama and tension....and of course they need to keep the books minimalist dialogue.

Sad Professor

Agreed. I loved The Proposition and was very pleased when I heard Hillcoat was directing this. And Mortensen is perfect casting imo.

oxygen_old

When I heard Vigo Mortison, I was kinda doubtful. He is brilliant in LOTR, Hist of Violence, Eastern Promise etc., but I had imagined a completely different type of person from this character. Much more middle age, middle of the road, normal, non action hero type of guy who is struggling to get by. Like it was suggested he used to be a doctor in the book (when he described parts of the brain to a cannibal) and he mostly hid with the son in the book. And made no attempt to help anybody else trough out the book.

Didn’t try free the people from the cannibals house the next day or anything, or check if the other little boy his son seen was being looked after, took all the thief’s clothes and probably let him freeze to death. Honestly I think his character is kind of flawed, and it’s a great benefit to the story. I hope it’s not something they skim over in the movie.
Harvey Keitel is brilliant casting as the old man, and as for Guy Pierce, again a great actor, I just had more of a biker type in mind for that character. I had presumed to survive in that environ with a wife and child you would have needed to be extremely tough before the event occurred.

vincenzo1975

Anyone else looking forward to the next Cormac mcCarthy adaption?
Viggo Mortenson, and kodi smith mcphee (?????) starring with support/cameos from Charleze theron, Robert duvall and Guy Pearce

The story is non existent really, simply a journey along the road of a desolated apocolyptic world by a father and son, witnessing the disintegration of man and all man made concepts. Its savage stuff at times. It is a massive character study with big themes relationships/love/betrayal/hope.

what makes it really interesting is that John hillcoat is directing, he made The proposition and ghosts of the civil dead, which are two seriously disturbing and raw movies.

Nick cave is also doing the music, he has done nothing but outstanding scores so far in the few films he has done.

Cant wait to see this one.

Kiith

This looks pretty cool. I love post apocalyptic films, and Hugo is a great actor.

pixelburp

It's going to be an interesting movie, but possibly one of the most depressing in years. The book is harrowing, pessimistic and very gruesome in places (you have been warned,

the pregnant woman giving birth then putting the child on a bbq & the people being slowly cutup for food in the cellar spring to mind

). There is a glimmer of hope at the end, but only after a similarly depressing moment.

NOT a date movie

Kiith

No way am i looking at that spoiler :pac:

pixelburp

Kiith wrote: »

No way am i looking at that spoiler :pac:

It's not so much a spoiler (cos in fairness as mentioned there's 0 plot & you can pretty much guess how it's gonna end up by the end), as a filter for anyone not wanting to read the grusome details

Crash

Amazing book, absolutely harrowing to read, hopefully they can do an adaption that gives it justice. Mortensson as the father could work quite well actually.

Shryke

I really wasn't blown away by the book. I would say Blood Meridian is McCarthys best work. The Road just wasn't that harrowing or anywhere near as awful as people like to make out. There is way too much hype around it. I think it's a fairly average read.
The film will be good and the adaption should be fairly easy. They could almost do it word for word, scene for scene. Nick Cave is a fantasitic musician so I'm sure he'll give an extra air to the film but I can already imagine exactly what the film will be like. Most likely it will be thought of along side Children of Men as some kind of instant classic. Just not by me.

ObeyGiant

I'm really looking forward to this film. Most post-apocalyptic movies tend to err on the side of farcical, but this definitely seems closer to "Threads" than "Mad Max".

Plus, I'm totally looking forward to seeing Omar Little throw down against Aragorn.

Running Bing

Perfect choice for director and Mortenson is one of the most underrated actors working today imo so it should be good.


Although I was not as blown away by the book as some I did find it a very memorable and affecting read so I am really looking forward to this.

Tusky

Loved the book and the casting for the father is perfect. Looking forward to it.

JP Liz

The release date for John Hillcoat's The Road has reportedly been pushed back.
The film, starring Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron, has been set back for a fourth time since its original premiere date.
According to Paste magazine, a reason for the halted state of the upcoming film could be The Road's "convoluted trailer" and lack of positive reviews.
Mortensen recently confirmed that he was planning to retire from filmmaking after the release of Hillcoat's picture.
The Road is now scheduled to arrive in US cinemas on November 25, and will be released in the UK on January 8, 2010.

Josey Wales

It will be worth the wait I'm sure. I think Viggo Mortensen is the best actor working today.

Galvasean

Looks good. Certainly a lot better looking than The Book Of Eli.

Sleazus

Really looking forward to it - finally, an Oscar-caliber zombie movie!

I kid, but only slightly. Read the book and was very, very good. It just aggravates me that the bulk of critics giving rave reviews to the book treat it as the be-all-and-end-all of post-apocalyptic fiction. It's great, it's engaging and it's well written (and is probably the best book I've read this year), but it doesn't do anything new or daring.

Anyway, anticipating the film. The only negative review I've read so far is from Variety, and they wouldn't know taste if it bit them.

Otacon

"McCarthy's inspiration for The Road came during a 2003 visit to El Paso, Texas, with his young son. Imagining what the city might look like in the future, he pictured "fires on the hill" and thought about his son. He took some initial notes but did not return to the idea until a few years later, while in Ireland. Then, the novel came to him quickly, and he dedicated it to his son, John Francis McCarthy"

Wow, I never felt so proud of our country!

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road

Slat3

I'm really looked forward to The Road after it finally made it's debut at the Toronto film festival.

The book is a tragic but hopeful story.

Here is the trailer.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/weinstein/theroad/

Kess73

Sleazus wrote: »

Really looking forward to it - finally, an Oscar-caliber zombie movie!

I kid, but only slightly. Read the book and was very, very good. It just aggravates me that the bulk of critics giving rave reviews to the book treat it as the be-all-and-end-all of post-apocalyptic fiction. It's great, it's engaging and it's well written (and is probably the best book I've read this year), but it doesn't do anything new or daring.

Anyway, anticipating the film. The only negative review I've read so far is from Variety, and they wouldn't know taste if it bit them.

What zombies? There are no zombies or any supernatural beings in the film or in the book.

I was listening to Mark Kermode recently and they were discussing the Road and it's supposed to be filmed in such a bleak way. Wasn't too impressed by the book; liked it, but it wasn't amazing, but it's sure to make a great movie.

Sleazus

Kess73 wrote: »

What zombies? There are no zombies or any supernatural beings in the film or in the book.

I did add that I was kidding.

I was actually pointing out that the book (and the film) belong to the subgenre of post-apocalyptic science-fiction/horror that is nowadays best known as the setting of the zombie apocalypse style films - although the subgenre itself owes its roots to British writers like John Wyndham.

I loved the book and I think it's fantastic, but it belongs in the same family as Romero's zombie movies or Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later (much as I'd argue Day of the Triffids belongs in the same class - because they aren't really about the zombies, much as The Road isn't about the cannibals). That's not a detraction or an insult at all - I don't think those works get enough credit.

I just find it interesting that people (and I'm not referring to you, Kess) get so prickly when the notion of The Road as science fiction (which it is by any broad categorisation) comes up, as if that very association tars it.

Elessar

I think we're all missing the real important news here.

Viggo Mortensen is retiring?!??!?!!?!?

Tragamin2k2

In a dream 3 nights ago i was on the set of apocalypse now, Martin Sheen told me to watch a film called "The road". I didnt think it existed, but just saw this now.

Kinda scared

D-FENS

And Michael K. Williams is in it...Omar comin yo!
(Well, sort of )

Linguo

Sleazus wrote: »

I just find it interesting that people (and I'm not referring to you, Kess) get so prickly when the notion of The Road as science fiction (which it is by any broad categorisation) comes up, as if that very association tars it.

It really annoys me as well, as if science fiction can't have all the same merits as other fiction, it's a very narrowed minded approach

uncleoswald

Elessar wrote: »

I think we're all missing the real important news here.

Viggo Mortensen is retiring?!??!?!!?!?

I like Viggo but he does strike me as the artsy (euphemism for wishy-washy) type. I bet he has retired before and he will do again.

Corholio

Just a little note on this and not sure if this will come to fruition or not. But Editors have an as yet unreleased song called "No Sound But The Wind" which was rumoured to be on their now album but isnt. Far as i know the basis of the song is the Cormac McCarthy novel "The Road". Theyve been quoted as saying they have something planned for the track which had lead some to believe it could be featured on the score of the film.

Although with Nick Cave doing the score, im not sure if it will be just his entire compositions or not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ENUNDPveoc

Driver 8

Well, given that one Cormac McCarthy adaptation was a real missed opportunity and the other was one of the best films of the decade, let's hope The Road is more of the latter.

DeWitt

One of my all time favourite books, going by some of the early reviews/screenings, things are looking pretty good. Appears to have kept pretty faithful to the book.
The casting is phenomonel too.

powerzjim

Im really looking forward to this loved the book, viggo is one of my favorite actors and i really enjoyed the directors film the proposition

http://www.flicksandbits.com/?p=110

The movie is very faithful to the book the only major addition is the role of the Mother
Viggo: What Joe done is a lot harder than it looks like. With the character of the mother the role Charlize Theron plays, there were rumours it had been expanded and it was a whole different thing but it’s actually not, he found a very clever way by going to another medium by how they directed the sequences. What I took from the book and I’ve read it several times was that I didn’t dislike her but I didn’t agree with her, The Man and The Boy were braver, in the book you sort of leave her behind and get on with these guys, what they did in the movie was you understand her point of view and when in the film The Man and The Women agree to disagree her choice in the face of the end of nature and loss of humanity and hopelessness of it all and do what her neighbours did by ending your life in your own way is the rational one, its the sensible one, and when she asked The Man how do you plan to survive and why, he doesn’t really have an answer. Joe really got her across, you understand her, her point is as valid as The Mans it’s just different.

Kess73

One big visual bit that is totally gone is

The dead baby being cooked on the spit. Seems the cannibal element is gone/toned down.

I don't see how the role of the mother is an addition as her character is in the book also.

Her side of things was told in flashbacks in the book, and from what I have read, will be the same in the film.

Valmont

I resisted the urge the to read your spoilers Kess so I quoted your post to tell you about that and there they were, minus the grey shroud. Crap!

Duggy747

I just couldn't resist fullstop

From early reviews of this film it seems to be a very good film, not brilliant, but very good.

It's also seem to be known as a relentlessly bleak film throughout, yay. Something to cheer me up from the blues :pac:

Kess73

To be honest I am really looking forward to it. It is my second favourite Cormac McCarthy book, running the Border Trilogy (ok that is three books, but you can buy them in one volume ) very close for the top spot.


If the film can even come to within 75% of the quality of the book, then it will be an excellent film.


Once the supporting cast was announced a few years back, it was pretty obvious who was going to be who from the book even before they confirmed who was playing who, and I have to say that most of them have faces that fit just right with how the characters looked in my head when I first read the book, with only one glaring exception.

That exception is Guy Pearce, but he can have a chameleon type effect in some of his roles, so I have hopes even for him.

Robert DuVall will be perfect for his role, and I think he will bring the emotional heft that his character brings in the written format.

baalthor

I read the book last year and I really want to see this - think it's opening here in Jan/Feb?

Read on IMDB that there is background music in the movie - kind of surprised by that ...


Useless trivia: Kodi Smith-McPhee's father played the thug in the bar scene in Wolf Creek.

Kess73

There will be music in it, but it will be scored in a similar way to the music in the Proposition and The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford, with the same two men that scored both films involved, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.


So expect atmospheric and bleak music.

Photi

Kess73 wrote: »

That exception is Guy Pearce, but he can have a chameleon type effect in some of his roles, so I have hopes even for him.

Robert DuVall will be perfect for his role, and I think he will bring the emotional heft that his character brings in the written format.

Pearce's role is quite minimal, it really could have been anyone.

Duvall, however, is excellent, really carries the role of the old man.

Viggo is phenomenal as The Man, wasn't quite convinced with the kid, I'd pictured him as someone much younger.

BopNiblets

I finished the book the other night, glad to hear it's going to be quite faithful to it.

Omar from The Wire is in it too, "Omar comin!"

FouxDaFaFa

Looking forward to this film but I'm expecting it to be tough to watch. As the others have said if it can come anyway close to the book it will be a great film.

Lockstep

I've been looking forward to this since I read the book, Viggo Mortensen is a perfect choice for the Manl; I imagined the Man in the book as Aragorn (Boy's actor is a bit old though)

Watched the scene in the cellar on Youtube, chilling, chilling stuff.