RESERVATION ROAD
Year: 2007
USA: Focus Features
UK DVD: Universal Pictures
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Ellefanning, Jennifer Connelly, Mark Ruffalo, Samuel Ryan Finn
Director: Terry George
Country: USA
USA: 102 mins
UK: 98 mins
USA Rated: R for language and some disturbing images
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language and infrequent moderate violence
USA Release Date: 19 October 2007
UK DVD Release Date: 28 July 2008
Synopsis
From the director of Hotel Rwanda comes this compelling, powerful dramatic thriller with outstanding performances from an all star cast and superb cinematography.
Starring Academy Award Nominee Joaquin Phoenix (We Own the Night, Hotel Rwanda), Mark Ruffalo (Zodiac, Rumour Has It), Academy Award Winner Jennifer Connelly (A Beautiful Mind, Blood Diamond), Academy Award Winner Mira Sorvino (The Final Cut, Summer Of Sam), and rising young star Elle Fanning (Babel), RESERVATION ROAD is based on the critically acclaimed novel written by John Burnham Schwartz and directed by two-time Academy Award nominee Terry George (Hotel Rwanda).
A compelling account of loss and vengeance RESERVATION ROAD follows the dramatic events that see the lives of two families forever changed by a tragic accident. Director Terry George has led the powerhouse cast to deliver deeply emotional performances that result in an astonishingly real portrayal of the terrible sequence of events that unfold.
Two fathers, one fuelled by anger and vengeance, the other wracked with guilt and remorse, find their lives suddenly entwined in a powerful struggle for peace and justice as the fate of these two men is brought to a thrilling climax.
With a beautiful, loving wife Grace (Jennifer Connelly) and two bright and promising children, Ethan Learner (Joaquin Phoenix) is a successful college professor with the world at his feet. But even if you are looking in the right direction, you sometimes do not have the power to change the terrible twists of fate that are destined to befall you. But instead you are left to make choices about the uncertain future, ones that could deal a final critical blow to the entire world you once knew, or ones that could save it from the ruins of despair.
With a broken marriage behind him law associate Dwight Arno is fighting his own battles. He is struggling to prove himself as a father to his ex-wife Ruth (Mira Sorvino) and his 11-year-old son Lucas and begin his new life alone. Beset with one traumatic event after the other, his despair is palpable but he pushes ahead with determination until one terrible night that changes his life irrevocably and forever.
Exploring the depths of human betrayal, loyalty, despair, anger and love, each man's family must wait and watch this terrible dance of deceit and vengeance play to its thrilling conclusion.
Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo deliver phenomenal performances as the duelling men battling their own demons and each other in their mutual desire for freedom from their own personal hell. Jennifer Connelly delivers a brilliant and moving performance as Ethan's wife Grace and Elle Fanning (Babel) is astonishing in her portrayal as their daughter Emma.
RESERVATION ROAD is a must-see film and is available to own on DVD complete with deleted scenes and a making-of featurette.
DVD EXTRAS
Deleted Scenes
Looking Back on Reservation Road
16:9 Enhanced (Anamorphic)