The Road

Released: 2009
Drama, Sci-fi
Director: John Hillcoat
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron
Running Time: 111 minutes
Rated: R

The breakdown: Cormac McCarthy's novel of the same name comes to life in this riveting movie.  After something causes the end of the world (it's never discussed) a couple of lone survivors, a father and son, have to battle to stay alive every single day.

In a post-apocalyptic world, a father and son battle to survive what's left of planet Earth and the United States.  They've been in this world for quite a while and have to battle against hunger, bad weather, other people who are out to kill them and steal whatever they have, and anything else that may come up.  The biggest threat is starvation and then after that, groups of bad guys that get together and go hunting for people who cannot protect themselves.
The son who's about 10 has never had a soda and doesn't know what things like tv or radio and music are.
The father is extremely weary from trying to protect and provide for the both of them, but loves his son more than anything and would do everything to keep him alive.
I read the book as well, and was absolutely riveted by the plot.  I finished the book in a week and it was a very good story that was emotional and thought provoking.
The book is almost always better than the movie because they eventually have to leave something out of the book for the time constraints or have to add something else that wasn't in the book to appease a visual audience.
I recommend reading the book over the movie, but the movie wasn't a bad adaptation.

The story is very heavy though, so it's nothing like a feel good movie at any point, nor is there any comedic relief so be prepared for an emotional film.

4 out of 5 for being an elegant adaptation of the book and a rock solid dramatic story.