Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES II, III & IV • December 9, 2009 ‘The Road’ explores post-apocalyptic world by Dennis Seuling This is the season of cinematic doomsday. A few weeks ago, the mega-budget popcorn movie “2012” opened and showed audiences amazing images of buildings, battle- State Line 375 State Highway 17 North, Mahwah Open 24 Hours, 7 Days Join Us For Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner The Best Got Better! Diner - Restaurant 201-529-3353 The Man (Viggo Mortensen, left) and The Boy (Kodi SmitMcPhee) endure hunger, danger, and despair in ‘The Road.’ Now Serving Cocktails, Espresso & Cappuccino ships, highways, and other structures being devastated by earthquakes, tidal waves, and fireballs. Now we have a more somber picture of the apocalypse in “The Road,” $ 00 On $10.00 and over. With this coupon only. One Coupon per table. 5:00 to 9:00 pm only. Off 1 $ 00 VT On $20.00 and over. With this coupon only. One Coupon per table. 5:00 to 9:00 pm only. Off 2 Trackside Bar & Grill Catering 227 Main Street • Butler, NJ 07405 ON - OFF PREMISE CATERING Holiday Parties • Birthdays • Showers • BBQ’s Special Occasions or any of your catering needs. Servers/Bartenders Available 973-838-8044 VT based on the novel by Cormac McCarthy. “The Road” opens after the earth has been transformed into an ashen graveyard. The viewer never learns what caused such widespread destruction, but things are desperate as a lone father, The Man (Viggo Mortensen), and his son, The Boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee), rely on an old map to make their way to the sea. Why the sea? This is never explained, but the two must deal with many obstacles along the way. Food is scarce and survivors have turned violent, even cannibalistic, to stay alive. The Man carries a revolver with two bullets to use on his son and himself if and when they are set upon by these murderous, barely human packs. Director John Hillcoat has fashioned a cold, relentless movie about a desperate journey to an uncertain destination. The Man is resolute and even impassioned about going forward despite injury, untold dangers around the next turn in the road, mysterious, possibly lethal strangers they encounter on the road, and hunger. “The Road” is more cerebral than “2012,” with several philosophical conversations between The Man and The Boy -- in terms The Boy can understand -- on the value of life, the preference of death to what is worse, and the need to retain humanity where morality has vanished along with the world’s infrastructure. Unfortunately, these scenes slow the movie’s pace considerably, resulting in repetition and stopping dead what little action there is. Through flashbacks, the viewer sees glimpses of family life before earth turned to rubble. Charlize Theron plays the wife and mother in brighter times. Gradually the movie reveals why she is not with her husband and son. The flashbacks are memories The Man must hold onto in order to (continued on Crossword page) ��������� ������� ���������� �������� 10-7-09 pat/janine Trackside2x2(10-7-09) 2 x 2” ��������������������������������������������� Sunday & Monday NFL Ticket on Direct TV HAPPY HOUR ������ ������������ �������������������������� ������������ ���������� Football Menu & Bar Specials Regular Menu also available ������������������������������������ ����������������������� ������������������������� ����������������������� ���������� ���������� LIVE BAND ������������������������ ��������������������������� ������� �������������� �������������� ��������������������� ���������������� ������������������������ ����������� ��������������������������� �������������� ����������������� � �� �������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������ 12-9-09 Ester/Janine