RESERVATION ROAD
RYAN: Caroline, I would like to thank you very much for saving me from seeing a terrible movie, “Reservation Road.”
CAROLINE: Ew, it’s not a terrible movie at all…it’s just terribly sad. Why would you ever say that?
RYAN: I don’t know; I haven’t seen it.
CAROLINE: Exactly, so shut it. It’s a really good movie with great people in it like Mark Ruffalo, a perennial fave of mine, Joaquin Phoenix, Jennifer Connelly and Mira Sorvino. However, it’s about a tragic hit-and-run accident where a little boy is killed, so you should know that going in.
RYAN: That makes me sad.
CAROLINE: As it should. It’s not exactly an upper. But there’s a very interesting dynamic between the two families in the film, one which loses their son and the other which perpetrates the crime. But I won’t reveal which is which. And there are some great plot twists too. It’s really heart wrenching.
RYAN: Did you cry?
CAROLINE: I definitely welled up. I don’t think I actually shed a tear though; I was trying to play it cool since I was alone at a screening. But I can’t lie to you, it’s a disturbing, depressing movie.
RYAN: How was the direction?
CAROLINE: Really good. It’s same director, Terry George, who did “Hotel Rwanda.” Evidently he’s a glutton for punishment. Depressing movies seem to be his bag.
RYAN: Do you think we’ll see any Oscar nominations come out of this?
CAROLINE: I don’t know. LBH, this movie got buried this weekend under big releases like “Rendition” and “30 Days of Night.” But the acting is great and it’s from Focus Features; they always put out good movies.
RYAN: How was my girl, Jennifer Connelly?
CAROLINE: She’s fine, but her part is sort of thankless. The movie focuses on the cat-and-mouse between Mark Ruffalo and Joaquin. And I really liked Joaquin in this, but I think I liked him more in “We Own the Night.”
RYAN: It happens so often in movies that women get the short end of the stick. I guess there’s no room in Hollywood for women.
CAROLINE: Just ask the president of Warner Bros.
RYAN: Bottom line?
CAROLINE: I would recommend this movie because it’s very well done, but it’s so depressing that it’s definitely not for everyone. It’s got an indie vibe. It’s an emotional character study, not a big action flick. If you’re a parent of young kids, I don’t think you’re going to have fun watching this movie.
RYAN: So between this and “Rendition”?
CAROLINE: I’d say “Rendition” is more universally appealing.