DVD Mini Review - Reservation Road

This time last year Terry George's Reservation Road was considered a top candiate to garner many Oscar nominations. And that might be what did the film in. Based on a novel byy John Burnham Schwartz (who also co-wrote the screenplay with George) Resevation is a good film but not on the same level as No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, etc. But I think that the critics were too harsh on the film. Instead of expanding around the country it died a few weeks after it was released.

The story is a familiar one. Ethan (Joaquin Phoenix) and Grace (Jennifer Connelly) Learner seem to have a perfect life. He is a university professor and she is into landscaping. They have two children - Emma (Elle Fanning) and Josh (Sean Curley). One night they are driving back from a concert that Josh performed in and they make a stop. Josh gets out of the car and is hit by a hit and run driver. He dies almost immediately. The film examines what this does to his family. But it also examines what it does to the driver. The driver is Dwight Arno (Mark Ruffalo) and he was on his way home from a Red Sox game with his son Lucas (Eddie Adelson). The incident has a great impact on him and throws his life into complete disarray.

Although the story is one we have seen before it focuses on some aspects that are not usually shown. It parallels the anguish of both Ethan and Dwight. Both of these men have great love for their sons. The film also explores the philosophy of "an eye for an eye" and comes up with a conclusion that I agree with. One fault with the film is that some of coincidences seem too convenient - the one involving Dwight's ex-wife Ruth (Mira Sorvino) in particular. I watched the deleted scenes and there is one beautiful scene that I think they should have left in. It says so much about two of the characters.

The acting is good across the board. The kids are terrific and Sorvino does the best she can with her limited role. Connelly does a good job conveying a mother's grief. Phoenix is great as a man who is like a pressure cooker ready to explode. However, in his last scene there are a few minutes where I think he goes a bit over the top. Best of all is Ruffalo as a man who doesn't know what to do with himself.
At first you can't stand him but later on you have pity on him when you realize why he did what he did.

Reservation Road may not be outstanding cinema. But it is good and I think that it should be seen. So give it a chance.