In Wyndham Harbor, Connecticut, Professor Ethan Lerner (Joaquin Phoenix) is driving back home with his family after attending a recital where his ten-year-old cellist son Josh (Sean Curley) played. His wife Grace (Jennifer Connelly) asks Josh to let the fireflies he put in a jar go, otherwise they would die. When their daughter Emma (Elle Fanning) asks to go to the restroom, Ethan parks the car in a gas station on Reservation Road and Josh goes to the shoulder to release the fireflies. Meanwhile the divorced lawyer Dwight Arno (Mark Ruffalo) is driving his son Lucas (Eddie Alderson) back to his ex-wife Ruth (Mira Sorvino) home after watching a Red Sox baseball game. When his cell-phone rings, his eyes are simultaneously hit by the headlights of another car; and Dwight looses the control of his Ford Explorer, hits Josh and in panic he drives off. Josh dies and the disturbed Ethan becomes obsessed, trying to locate the hit-and-run driver, affecting his relationship with his family. When he feels that the police will not locate the killer, Ethan hires Dwight to help in the investigation and bring the driver to justice. The family man Dwight is divided between going to the police station and loose his son and live with an increasing remorse.
"Reservation Road" is a powerful and heartbreaking drama based on a fatal hit-and-run accident that destroys two families. Any driver may face a similar situation, and both characters deserve sympathy. Ethan looses his beloved son and destroys his marriage seeking revenge. Andy was raised with a traumatic relationship with his father and he wishes to spare his son from similar environment. However he knows that he would go to prison and lose the growing of his boy. Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Connelly and Elle Fanning have excellent dramatic performances; however, Joaquin Phoenix performs a character obsessed by death wish, almost deranged, and his character is quite unpleasant. In my opinion, Ethan should balance a little more his grieving with his need of revenge and be more empathic, connecting better with the audience. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil)? "Traídos Pelo Destino" ("Betrayed by the Destiny")
"Reservation Road" is a powerful and heartbreaking drama based on a fatal hit-and-run accident that destroys two families. Any driver may face a similar situation, and both characters deserve sympathy. Ethan looses his beloved son and destroys his marriage seeking revenge. Andy was raised with a traumatic relationship with his father and he wishes to spare his son from similar environment. However he knows that he would go to prison and lose the growing of his boy. Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Connelly and Elle Fanning have excellent dramatic performances; however, Joaquin Phoenix performs a character obsessed by death wish, almost deranged, and his character is quite unpleasant. In my opinion, Ethan should balance a little more his grieving with his need of revenge and be more empathic, connecting better with the audience. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil)? "Traídos Pelo Destino" ("Betrayed by the Destiny")