Reservation Road
To find the truth you have to find who's hiding it.
On a warm September evening, college professor Ethan Learner (Joaquin Phoenix), his wife Grace (Jennifer Connelly), and their daughter Emma (Elle Fanning) are attending a recital. Their 10-year-old son Josh (Sean Curley) is playing cello -- beautifully, as usual. His younger sister looks up to him, and his parents are proud of their son. On the way home, they all stop at a gas station on Reservation Road. There, in one terrible instant, he is taken from them forever.
On that same evening, law associate Dwight Arno (Mark Ruffalo) and his 11-year-old son Lucas (Eddie Alderson) are attending a baseball game. Their favorite team, the Red Sox, is playing - and, hopefully, heading for the World Series. Dwight cherishes his time spent with Lucas. Driving his son back to his ex-wife, Lucas’ mother Ruth Wheldon (Mira Sorvino), Dwight heads towards his fateful encounter at Reservation Road. The accident happens so fast that Lucas is all but unaware, while Ethan - the only witness - is all too aware, as a panicked Dwight speeds away.
The police are called, and an investigation begins. Haunted by the tragedy, both fathers react in unexpected ways, as do Grace and Emma. As a reckoning looms, the two fathers are forced to make the hardest choices of their lives.
Member Reviews
Great story, well told... - crazyboutmovies
What a taunt and suspenseful story this is! I have not read the book, but the filmmakers here sure tell a good story. The premise of the story is entirely plausible, and it is a tale of terrible things happening to perfectly normal people.
Pheonix, Ruffalo, Connelly and Sorvino were all wonderful in their respective roles, and they all made you care for the characters they are playing.
A great movie for families with older children.Well told and well acted - Quindog
A fantastic story and so well acted by everyone in it. I never though Ruffalo was capable of anything but a romcom, but he was pretty believable.
It's a slow dark movie that explores chracters and deals with personal turmoil of the deepest nature. So if it's not well acted, it wouldn't be entertaining. Entertaining it was. A sad movie, but it held my attention right through to the great ending.
Yes, a great ending... in a rare occurrence Hollywood didn't ruin the film at the end.
And so well written. Nothing stupid happens to keep the plot thickening and the drama rising.
A highly recommended film.Dark Family Drama Worth Watching - Filmgal
Reservation Road is one of those films that came and went almost unnoticed. With a great cast, emotional performances and subject matter, Reservation Road is an interesting watch.
Drawn together by tragedy, two families deal with the loss of a loved one and the resulting guilt and trauma. Part emotional drama and part suspense, the film builds slowly but steadily adding to the sense of suspense and heightened emotions.
Mark Ruffalo and Joaquin Phoenix give standout performances in the film. Phoenix seems like a natural in the role of a father, which is a role he doesn't get to play often. Ruffalo is equally compelling in the film as he faces off against Phoenix. Jennifer Connolly seems to be making a niche for herself in the distraguht mother category and she does play it well, but it is something audiences have seen before.
The subject matter is adult so younger viewers probably would not be interested as the film is a slow family drama. Recommended film if you are in the mood for a good drama.
Member Reviews
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Great story, well told... - crazyboutmovies
What a taunt and suspenseful story this is! I have not read the book, but the filmmakers here sure tell a good story. The premise of the story is entirely plausible, and it is a tale of terrible things happening to perfectly normal people.
Pheonix, ...Well told and well acted - Quindog
A fantastic story and so well acted by everyone in it. I never though Ruffalo was capable of anything but a romcom, but he was pretty believable.
It's a slow dark movie that explores chracters and deals with personal turmoil of the deepest nature. So ...Dark Family Drama Worth Watching - Filmgal
Reservation Road is one of those films that came and went almost unnoticed. With a great cast, emotional performances and subject matter, Reservation Road is an interesting watch.
Drawn together by tragedy, two families deal with the loss of a loved ...