Reservation Road

Director: Terry George
Year: 2007
Source: Based on the novel by John Burnham Schwartz.
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Jennifer Connelly, Mark Ruffalo, Elle Fanning.
Rating: *** (out of ****)

Accidents, extortion, child abuse, these crimes are rampant these days. It is rather more challenging to raise your kids safely in the present situation than before. So, naturally, movies about these subjects are becoming more relevant than ever.

A college professor, Ethan learner (Joaquin Phoenix) and his family is returning from a recital. Little did he know, the worst nightmare of his life is about to happen. His son, Josh, gets hit by an SUV when they stop on the way home. The SUV disappears in that darkness, leaving the family devastated. Police starts the investigation but couldn't get any breakthrough for about 3 weeks. Ethan gets increasingly impatient and furious about the tragic event, his eyes always searching the murderer. And, one day he finds him.

Based on a novel by John Burnham Schwartz who also co-wrote the screenplay with director Terry George ( director of Hotel Rwanda), the movie explores the psyche of a hit-and-run offender (a rather sensitive one) and also the deep effect family suffers. This makes a good character based drama maintaining the delicacy of the subject. There are certain problems. The way the accident happens is lame and over-used. Also, there are coincidences everywhere to the point that it's hard to digest. Acting is uniformly good. I've always liked Jennifer Connelly's work. The pain in her eyes makes Grace Learner believable. Mark Ruffalo and Joaquin Phoenix are good. Little Elle Fanning is adequate. When it comes to movies made on acclaimed novels, I have observed, they fail to translate the characters, their feelings, the overall setting elaborately described in words with such poignancy on the celluloid and lose pace in the middle portion.
Reservation Road is no exception.