10 Best Movie Performances From Nameless Characters

Tasked with keeping his young son (wonderfully played by Kodi Smit-McPhee) safe in a post-apocalyptic world packed with danger and death at every turn, Viggo Mortensen stars as a father desperate to find hope in a hopeless world.

Make no mistake, this is a bleak film. Although that is traditionally the norm when it comes to post-apocalyptic focused flicks, John Hillcoat’s The Road really turns it up a gear on that front. It's as grim as it is gruesome where the few survivors unfortunate enough to inhabit this new world struggle to co-exist with one another.

In terms of cinematic compatibility, The Road exhibits contextual and visual elements similar to that of Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men and George Miller’s Mad Max movies.

The film contains a whole host of fantastic performances from Charlize Theron, Robert Duvall and of course the aforementioned McPhee, however, it’s Viggo Mortensen who carries The Road on his back in a truly terrific yet equally tragic exhibition of a father struggling to navigate a merciless wasteland. It’s harrowing and heartbreaking to watch unfold, as you can’t help but wince at every cough and cry that Mortensen's 'Man' exhibits.

Viggo Mortensen is undoubtedly one of Hollywood’s most consistent and dependable actors working today, who excels in both blockbuster franchises and indie flicks, and his work in The Road is up there amongst some of his best showcased on the big screen.