Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Connelly

A drama that revolves around two fathers whose families and lives tragically converge with the death of a child.

Flixster Users

55% liked it

10,392 ratings

Critics

37% liked it

106 critics

R, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: Terry George

Release Date: October 19, 2007

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DVD Release Date: April 8, 2008

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Stats: 1,668 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,668)


  • October 24, 2009
    Messed up story. I didn't like it much. My favorite parts were when they showed the Red Sox.
  • March 25, 2009
    heavy
  • March 10, 2009
    What happened here? Director Terry George was coming off of 2004's Hotel Rwanda, he had A-list talent like Mark Ruffalo, Joaquin Phoenix, Jennifer Connelly and the results end up feeling like a parody of awards-hungry films steeped in grief and set in suburbia. To be fair, the ac...( read more)ting is mostly respectable even if the characters start yelling a majority of their lines. The film moves at a swift pace that doesn't allow much time for the actors to react reflectively about grief and guilt.

    This could have been a great, paranoid thriller of the Fritz Lang school, but director Terry George is more interested in making a prestige picture, full of yelling and crying. The movie's only interesting trick is to slowly swap sympathy from the grieving dad to the suffering driver Dwight. Strong supporting roles by Jennifer Connelly and Mira Sorvino and the subject is definitely captivating enough, but the other elements drown it in mediocrity. Both lead male characters feel incomplete; they suffer from a tragedy that should guarantee viewer sympathy/identification, yet there is no real connection. All this wrapped up with an ending you can see coming for miles.
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  • December 19, 2008
    This movie started off really well, but it soon became just the same old thing over and over again. There really wasn't much to the story at all.

    The 3 main actors all did a very good job. It was nice seeing Mark Ruffalo in this role, instead of in some chick flick role.

    ...( read more)Yes, the story was tragic, but it gets old seeing someone never moving on from it. And the climax was pretty easy to see coming and easy to predict.

    There was something about the ending that just didn't work. It just sort of ends, like they really didn't know how to end it so they just cut it off.

    This one's not worth buying, see it on TV.
  • July 23, 2008
    Nothing we haven't seen before. Good-old Hollywood you can rely on. Mark Ruffalo is the strongest link in this film.
  • November 16, 2009
    Terry George's slice of life is a melodramatic tragedy that emotionally manipulates you like few films I've seen.
  • November 1, 2009
    crime and punishment in new england
  • October 24, 2009
    Emotionally wrenching drama about dealing with loss of one who is near and dear. A tale of anger, revenge, and great courage. Great casts, a good enough thriller.
  • October 18, 2009
    Excellent movie showing both sides of an accidental death. Meet an everyday man, who for an instant is a "Killer", and how this brief moment in time, changes his life...forever. View the many different stages of grieving, and how the victims family goes through them differently. ...( read more)I really felt for both sides in this story.
    Great story, great actors! In my opinion this movie is underrated. I love any movie that leaves me thinking...
  • October 16, 2009
    Great movie but I HATE endings that leave you hanging

Critic Reviews


October 26, 2007
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

It starts with devastation and closes, after a few reels of narrative dithering, with a climax of hairpin emotional turns and indisputable power. full review

October 25, 2007
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Reservation Road is a car wreck of a movie about an auto accident. It's designed as a psychological suspense film, but every character development and plot twist can be seen far in advance. It's a mys... full review

October 20, 2007
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Reservation Road is all about the darkness that lurks in the hearts of men, and although it's dark in there, all right, the power of redemption is always a possibility. This dour, ponderous picture ju... full review

October 19, 2007
Pete Hammond, Maxim

A powerful human drama that rips into you like a hurricane. Suspenseful, emotional and completely engrossing throughout. full review

October 19, 2007
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Unfortunately, the film grows contrived. full review

October 19, 2007
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

A deadly earnest and deadly dull psychological thriller. full review

October 19, 2007
Kyle Smith, New York Post

All of them [the cast] dazed with Oscarlust, aren't in on the joke they're telling. full review

October 18, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Even the best actors -- and I'd rank Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Ruffalo among their generation's finest -- can't save a movie that aims for tragedy but stalls at soap opera. full review

October 17, 2007
Armond White, The New York Press

Reservation Road is in the familiar suburban terror genre but Joaquin Pheonix and Mark Ruffalo give it emotionally credible nuances. full review

September 6, 2007
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Rather than tragedy, this unfolds like a plodding morality tale in which Wrath and Cowardice play out their respective parts. full review

View more Reservation Road reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • perfectgentlemn
    July 20, 2008
    Good Movie, Great story, Joaquin Phoenix outshined Ruffalo, odd cast of characters... But good movie regardless, go see ! ;-) Enjoy
  • rhysa1
    May 21, 2008
    THE BEST THRILLER IVE SEEN LOL
  • browneyedcaligrl
    July 24, 2007
    i wanna see it pretty bad
    and it has joaquin phoenix in it!!
    lol
  • magsmaple
    July 22, 2007
    Looking forward to this movie being released!!!!
    Should be a good one!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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