Apparently that part is nowhere in the actual film and was purely a marketing technique chosen by the Weinsteins. Read this great article about the film: http://www.esquire.com/features/movies/the-road-movie-review-0609
The book very consciously doesn’t explain exactly what happened, but Hollywood is far too literal-minded for that. I assume that global warming was chosen because it’s considered the coming apocalypse du jour?
I like the apocalypses where the machines take over better. Or the apes.
It wouldn’t bother me at all if they did add that to the story. I read the book too and saw the trailer. It looks to me like they’ve changed the story quite a lot by adding his wife into the film. Maybe they’re just flashbacks, but with an actor like Charlize Theron playing the part, I’m thinking she has a much larger role than in the book.
I never mind it when filmmakers take liberties with novels, I think that’s what they are supposed to do. I never, ever expect a film to seem or feel like the novel it’s based on. It will let you down every time. You just can’t copy the feelings and emotions that are displayed in a story. You sure can’t do it in 2 hours. So you have to rely on other things.
As much as I liked Hillcoat’s last film, I have to skip this movie. I really didn’t like the novel. It was far too depressing and I don’t think I would enjoy this one just because of the subject matter.
Well, if Cormac McCarthy’s apparently enthusiastic embrace of No Country For Old Men (I recall him being in obvious good spirits at the Oscars that year) is any indication, The Road will also bear his undeniable stamp of approval, whether it’s good or not.
Strawdawg, I read where Charlize Theron’s part is all just flashbacks. And to your dis-like of this book, to each his own. =]
I am still very optimistic for this film because I too, very much enjoyed The Proposition.
If I see “The Road” I fear I’ll hear the words “Mr. F” every time I see Charlize Theron.
The Road is by far McCarthy’s best novel—I dread to see it on the screen because I fear that I will raise unholy hell if/when it is inevitably mangled on celluloid.
Nathan Glaze
The beginning part of the trailer for The Road really pissed me off. I read the book earlier this year and love it. Partly because of how elegantly McCarthy wrote and how he leaves it so simple. Thus I was extremely peeved when I saw the global warming propaganda in the trailer. I don’t think it was directly said but I got the implication that thing had gone to hell after a nuclear blast. But when I read that all point of exposition went in the film and that the global warming stuff was just in the trailer I when PHHHHH. Still. Why?