I’m a firm believer that an ending can make or break a film (and is the theme of my upcoming Up in the Air review), but what comes before is still important. If a movie isn’t hooking you, the big moment at the end always leads to eye-rolling and if it does, it’s a sucker punch.

Did nobody else notice how much McPhee resembled Theron? Was that a deliberate casting choice? Kind of freaked me out throughout the whole thing.

Well I liked The Road a little more than Sam but not as much as Craig or maybe even Joel. When you sit down and really mull it over it’s a fascinating and devastating premise, but something prevented me from really connecting with anyone emotionally. So I was rolling my eyes at the end (well not really) more than wiping tears from them. Didn’t ruin the rest of the film or the strength of the story, necessarily, but man, maybe this was just too bleak for me coming at a dark and cloudy (in some places…) time of the year.

Mortensen was great, in any case.

(sigh). Fucking elitists at the NYT. I kid, but come on…give away the plot points? Asshat move.

Yes, if you’re tired of zombie movies it may not hold your interest and unless you want to give the bleakest gift ever this Christmas, I wouldn’t be handing out copies of TWD to your loved ones.

With each subsequent collection I’ve considered dropping it because it can be so overwhelming and depressing at times, but each time a new one arrives at my local library I usually tear through it in one sitting, barely able to pause to look at the pictures because I’m reading furiously.

http://www.nytimes.com/gift-guide/holiday-2009/giftguide-graphicnovels/list.html

Interesting point about the barn scene Joel. Honestly I’d have to see the film again to see how it fits with the overall progression. One thing is I wonder how much time passed during the course of the movie. There was no way to tell.

And if you question that, it opens up much of the Father’s actions to criticism. So I’m trying to leave that whole thing alone because I don’t think the movie is really about those issues.

I wonder if the book covers that scope of growth and awareness over time in more detail?

I agree that outside of their bleak post apocalyptic settings, CoM and Road are two totally different films. I like them both (probably a bit bigger of a fan of CoM, but I’d have to see it again) but they’re occupied with different ideas.

I wonder how palatable Road will be to AMPAS. I have a suspicion they’re more inclined to react like Sam and Daniel have.

Although CoM and The Road have post-apocalyptic settings, I feel the stories, style and tone are different. The latter film is less cruel, has more warmth and is more viewer friendly to my way of thinking. I also think that AMPAS will be more receptive to The Road. CoM may be more epic, but The Road is more easily accessible and has a strong interpersonal relationship as a thruline that dominates the themes, whereas CoM has a greater scope but is more impersonal. That’s my take, anyway.

*** POTENTIAL SPOILER ***

One of the most important moments for me was when The Man was explaining to The Son how his job was to worry about (protect) the young boy — to which the son replied something like this: “I’m the one who has to worry.”

Plus there are plenty of shitty movies outside of the mainstream.

I’m still seeing spots from the those fucking lens flares after the first viewing.

Also, although I had the esteemed sartre on my side in liking WATCHMAN, you, Jenny and Joel lined up against it.

Another strong candidate for worst of the year is THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS, methinks.

They are different but also they are the same.

How’s that for a response? LOL!

But I am completely with you on the Assayas and Coens films. They are definitely in my Top 10 too.

Joel, you will be naming Von Trier’s ANTI-CHRIST as your worst film of 2009. And you won’t be alone. There are many people (some that I know personally) who abhor this film, equating it with evil. I won’t take you to task at all for an ultra-negative judgement, but I am a big fan of the director, and I see some brilliant stuff here. My full review will finally appear at my site in the morning, as a matter of fact.