< Home / Interview / Critic / Bio / My articles in Japanese >

Reservation Road

Written by Nobuhiro Hosoki

 

Adapting his script from the acclaimed John Burnham Schwarts novel, "Reservation Road," director Terry George (Hotel Rwanda) has created a psychological drama that explores loss, uncontrollable rage, and inconsolable grief. In an upscale Connecticut suburb, a college professor Ethan Leaner (Joaquin Phoenix) is impressed with the way his talented son, Josh (Sean Curley), plays the cello at a recital. Driving home with his whole family on board, he stops at a gas station to let his daughter Emma (Elle Fanning) uses a bathroom.

That same evening, a warm fall night, a lawyer named Dwight Arno (Mark Ruffalo) and his 11-year-old son Lucas (Eddie Alderson) are in their seats at Fenway Park where the Red Sox are about to clinch their title. Dwight's concern is about his ex-wife, Ruth (Mira Sorvino) who is now with another man and not necessarily appreciative of his parenting skills. He dreads the inevitable fight with Ruth, so he races home to return the lad to his mother.

The two families collide in a fateful accident at the Reservation Road, leaving them forever scarred by Dwight, who makes the incomprehensible decision to ride off into the darkness after swerving his car into Josh killing him instantly. The only lingering sound is a long shrieking by Ethan's wife, Grace (Jennifer Connelly).

Soon a routine police procedure follows; they call for an investigation, but it is hampered by their lack of effort. Ethan, increasingly engaged in bitter thoughts of vengeance, takes the matter into his own hands by lurking around the neighborhood looking for damaged SUVs. Meanwhile, Dwight is absorbed in his own guilt and fear of losing his son's respect by pretending to mention to him that he hit the log on that horrendous night.

Director Terry George captures their grief and anxiety, but most of this study relies on unusual coincidence, such as when Ethan retain Dwight's law firm to help with the investigation, and when Ruth is revealed as the schoolteacher to both Josh and Emma. Fortunately, the film is provided with the skills of two of the finest actors (Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo), lifting the contents of this grueling and schematic melodrama, and showing the incredible soul searching of a flawed man.

Directed by Terry George
Written by Mr. George and John Burnham Schwartz
Director of photography:John Lindley
Edited by Naomi Geraghty
Music by Mark Isham
Production designer: Ford Wheeler
Produced by Nick Wechsler and A. Kitman Ho
Released by Focus Features.
Running time: 102 minutes.

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix (Ethan Learner)
Mark Ruffalo (Dwight Arno)
Jennifer Connelly (Grace Learner)
Mira Sorvino (Ruth Wheldon)
Elle Fanning (Emma Learner)
Eddie Alderson (Lucas Arno),
and Sean Curley (Josh Learner).