189 reviews
I really liked this film. It made me feel good. I loved the beautiful countryside camera shots. Those alone are worthy of National Geographic. The parts between conversations had a calming effect on me along with the soundtrack. I thought Martin Sheen did very well as did the other actors. They all worked so well together and by the end of the movie you could see they spent a lot of time together on the set and honestly got along or so it seemed and thats what made the movie impressive. Wonderful movie to watch with an uplifting vibe and quirky characters with a real bond make this a definite must see. I can actually see myself watching this for a second time and that's rare in films for me. Enjoy !
- Christian1967
- Nov 1, 2011
- Permalink
"The Way" is a really nice film in which we face some peculiar roles while navigating this ever-changing and complicated world . Martin Sheen plays Tom, an American doctor who comes to St. Jean Pied de Port, France to collect the remains of his adult son (played by Emilio Estevez), killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while walking the Camino de Santiago. Rather than return home , Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage to pay tribute his son's desire to finish the journey . Tom decides to journey on this path of pilgrims, what Tom doesn't scheme on is the profound impact the trip will have on him and his "California Bubble Life". Inexperienced as a trekker, Tom soon finds out that he will not be alone on this journey and he becomes stronger . On his journey, Tom meets other pilgrims from all around the world , each with their own issues and looking for greater meaning in their lives: a fatty man (Yorick van Wageningen) from Netherland, who wants to lose weight , a smoking Canadian (Deborah Kara Unger) and an eccentric Irish writer (James Nesbitt) . From the unexpected and, often times, fun adventures , this unlikely quartet of misfits creates an everlasting bond and Tom begins to learn what it means to be a citizen of the world again. All of them are broken and looking for greater meaning in their lives , but along the way they strengthen their souls . Through Tom's unresolved relationship with his son, he discovers the difference between "the life we live and the life we ".Life is too big to walk it alone.
A powerful , thoughtful and inspirational story about a marvellous father-son relationship , some friends and the challenges have to face a motley grup of roles . Concerning a misfit group of people join and share view points, and amusing experiences along the way . An extremely stirring and touching movie with a lot of messages to fortify the human spirit. .Quartet starring are frankly good : the grieving Martin Sheen , the mature smoking Deborah Kara Unger , the burly Dutchman Yorick van Wageningen and James Nesbitt as an Irish writer who is suffering from a bout of writer's block. Martin Sheen is really fabulous as the beloved father heads overseas to recover the body of his estranged son who died while traveling The Way , he is the best character by mingling grief and paying tribute to his son, deciding to take the pilgrimage himself. It contains a colorful and evocative cinematography by Juan Miguel Azpiroz . Special mention for musical score composed by Tyler Bates , full of sensitive and attractive sounds. The motion picture was stunningly directed by Emilio Estevez who also appears briefly in some scenes along with his father Martin Sheen.
The film describes alrightly ¨The Camino de Santiago (Latin: Peregrinatio Compostellana, "Pilgrimage of Compostela"; Galician: O Camiño de Santiago), known in English as the Way of St. James , is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried . Many follow its routes as a form of spiritual path or retreat for their spiritual growth. It is also popular with hiking and cycling enthusiasts and organized tour groups, and can be seen within the context of Christian colonization and Christianization. The Way of St. James was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the later Middle Ages, and a pilgrimage route on which a plenary indulgence could be earned;other major pilgrimage routes include the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Legend holds that St. James's remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain, where he was buried in what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela also called "Saint James" . The Way can take one of dozens of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Traditionally, as with most pilgrimages, the Way of Saint James began at one's home and ended at the pilgrimage site. However, a few of the routes are considered main ones. During the Middle Ages, the route was highly travelled.The main pilgrimage route to Santiago follows an earlier Roman trade route, which continues to the Atlantic coast of Galicia, ending at Cape Finisterre. Although it is known today that Cape Finisterre, Spain's westernmost point, is not the westernmost point of Europe , the fact that the Romans called it Finisterrae (literally the end of the world) indicates that they viewed it as such. At night, the Milky Way overhead seems to point the way, so the route acquired the nickname "Voie lactée" - the Milky Way in French However, the Black Death, the Protestant Reformation, and political unrest in 16th century Europe led to its decline. By the 1980s, only a few hundred pilgrims per year registered in the pilgrim's office in Santiago. In October 1987, the route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe; it was also named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Since the 1980s the route has attracted a growing number of modern-day international pilgrims. Whenever St. James's Day (25 July) falls on a Sunday, the cathedral declares a Holy or Jubilee Year . The French Way and the Routes of Northern Spain are the courses listed in the World Heritage List by UNESCO.
A powerful , thoughtful and inspirational story about a marvellous father-son relationship , some friends and the challenges have to face a motley grup of roles . Concerning a misfit group of people join and share view points, and amusing experiences along the way . An extremely stirring and touching movie with a lot of messages to fortify the human spirit. .Quartet starring are frankly good : the grieving Martin Sheen , the mature smoking Deborah Kara Unger , the burly Dutchman Yorick van Wageningen and James Nesbitt as an Irish writer who is suffering from a bout of writer's block. Martin Sheen is really fabulous as the beloved father heads overseas to recover the body of his estranged son who died while traveling The Way , he is the best character by mingling grief and paying tribute to his son, deciding to take the pilgrimage himself. It contains a colorful and evocative cinematography by Juan Miguel Azpiroz . Special mention for musical score composed by Tyler Bates , full of sensitive and attractive sounds. The motion picture was stunningly directed by Emilio Estevez who also appears briefly in some scenes along with his father Martin Sheen.
The film describes alrightly ¨The Camino de Santiago (Latin: Peregrinatio Compostellana, "Pilgrimage of Compostela"; Galician: O Camiño de Santiago), known in English as the Way of St. James , is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried . Many follow its routes as a form of spiritual path or retreat for their spiritual growth. It is also popular with hiking and cycling enthusiasts and organized tour groups, and can be seen within the context of Christian colonization and Christianization. The Way of St. James was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the later Middle Ages, and a pilgrimage route on which a plenary indulgence could be earned;other major pilgrimage routes include the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Legend holds that St. James's remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain, where he was buried in what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela also called "Saint James" . The Way can take one of dozens of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Traditionally, as with most pilgrimages, the Way of Saint James began at one's home and ended at the pilgrimage site. However, a few of the routes are considered main ones. During the Middle Ages, the route was highly travelled.The main pilgrimage route to Santiago follows an earlier Roman trade route, which continues to the Atlantic coast of Galicia, ending at Cape Finisterre. Although it is known today that Cape Finisterre, Spain's westernmost point, is not the westernmost point of Europe , the fact that the Romans called it Finisterrae (literally the end of the world) indicates that they viewed it as such. At night, the Milky Way overhead seems to point the way, so the route acquired the nickname "Voie lactée" - the Milky Way in French However, the Black Death, the Protestant Reformation, and political unrest in 16th century Europe led to its decline. By the 1980s, only a few hundred pilgrims per year registered in the pilgrim's office in Santiago. In October 1987, the route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe; it was also named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Since the 1980s the route has attracted a growing number of modern-day international pilgrims. Whenever St. James's Day (25 July) falls on a Sunday, the cathedral declares a Holy or Jubilee Year . The French Way and the Routes of Northern Spain are the courses listed in the World Heritage List by UNESCO.
... my sons way. Emilio Estevez has shown on numerous occasions, that he seems to be the more sensible one. Then again comparing him to Charlie Sheen (and his recent outbursts nonetheless) would be unfair to his brother. And while Martin Sheen also took on another surname to make it in Hollywood (Charlie and Martin succeeded), Emilio chose to keep his name, even though it may have blocked some doors for him.
For this movie he reunites with his father (not the first time he's directing him, but the toughest shoot he put him through yet). It's a very personal story about loss and finding one's way. The title is apt then and the journey ahead of the characters may be long, but also very insightful. Great acting and great locations make this a movie that will make you sentimental for sure.
For this movie he reunites with his father (not the first time he's directing him, but the toughest shoot he put him through yet). It's a very personal story about loss and finding one's way. The title is apt then and the journey ahead of the characters may be long, but also very insightful. Great acting and great locations make this a movie that will make you sentimental for sure.
The Way (2010)
A charming movie that skirts around religious intentions and mixes in some good human tenderness and friendship. It's a feel-good movie for sure, following four hikers who meet by accident on the road to Santiago de Compostela, or the St. James Way. This is a pilgrimage road that many people have been rediscovering over the last thirty years (it's frankly threatened to become overrun with walkers). The distance varies depending on where you start, but can easily be 500 miles.
So people who undertake this for whatever reason do so seriously. It's not a lighthearted enterprise (and if you look online there are 10 reasons not to do it, reminding walkers that much of the trip is near roadways and a very modern Spain). But this movie romanticizes the heck out of it, and it makes it all a feel-good experience. There may be no particular revelations, human or spiritual, here, but it's fun to get to know the people as they open up to one another.
The main figure is Martin Sheen, who carries with him (on an impulse, as you'll see) the ashes of his son. Bereavement is written all over him, and he tries to find meaning in life beyond the golfing and ophthalmology left behind for this trip. This plot idea takes a twist because the director is Sheen's son, Emilio Estevez (who also appears briefly).
There is a little travelogue aspect here, and a little filler (like the whole section with the gypsies), but it's all pretty and easy to watch. And the best of it is sweet without being saccharine.
A charming movie that skirts around religious intentions and mixes in some good human tenderness and friendship. It's a feel-good movie for sure, following four hikers who meet by accident on the road to Santiago de Compostela, or the St. James Way. This is a pilgrimage road that many people have been rediscovering over the last thirty years (it's frankly threatened to become overrun with walkers). The distance varies depending on where you start, but can easily be 500 miles.
So people who undertake this for whatever reason do so seriously. It's not a lighthearted enterprise (and if you look online there are 10 reasons not to do it, reminding walkers that much of the trip is near roadways and a very modern Spain). But this movie romanticizes the heck out of it, and it makes it all a feel-good experience. There may be no particular revelations, human or spiritual, here, but it's fun to get to know the people as they open up to one another.
The main figure is Martin Sheen, who carries with him (on an impulse, as you'll see) the ashes of his son. Bereavement is written all over him, and he tries to find meaning in life beyond the golfing and ophthalmology left behind for this trip. This plot idea takes a twist because the director is Sheen's son, Emilio Estevez (who also appears briefly).
There is a little travelogue aspect here, and a little filler (like the whole section with the gypsies), but it's all pretty and easy to watch. And the best of it is sweet without being saccharine.
- secondtake
- May 3, 2015
- Permalink
This is surely Emilio Estevez's Masterwork, in the same way as was Costner's "Dances with Wolves". It is "The Quiet Epic"! The movie didn't require; Noise, CGI, Foul Language or Special Effects - all that it needed and got were; Across the Board Top Class Acting Performances and Brilliant Cinematography.
Although, no longer a spring chicken, I spent over 2 hours completely engrossed in this film, alternating between tears and laughter. I found it was a movie made with such loving care that it encouraged, and enabled me, to share their experience and make my own life journey with them. My own emotions and life history became intermingled with theirs. I feel it was Emilio's intention for us all to take "Our Own Way".
My main sadness is that so many people will be unable to see it at cinemas, as it has only been given a single weeks run to facilitate the usual glut of "So called Blockbusters". Movies like The Way need time to breathe, as "Word of Mouth" is the key to expanding Audience figures and the wider appreciation such a work deserves..
Although, no longer a spring chicken, I spent over 2 hours completely engrossed in this film, alternating between tears and laughter. I found it was a movie made with such loving care that it encouraged, and enabled me, to share their experience and make my own life journey with them. My own emotions and life history became intermingled with theirs. I feel it was Emilio's intention for us all to take "Our Own Way".
My main sadness is that so many people will be unable to see it at cinemas, as it has only been given a single weeks run to facilitate the usual glut of "So called Blockbusters". Movies like The Way need time to breathe, as "Word of Mouth" is the key to expanding Audience figures and the wider appreciation such a work deserves..
- akhart-491-146739
- Oct 1, 2012
- Permalink
I have looked forward to "the way" since first hearing about it. I heard interviews with Martin Sheen himself and a great double interview with Martin and Emilio on Irish radio. I did a part of the camino in 2009 and It was a life changing/enhancing experience for me so I couldn't wait to see how the film would deal with it. Yesterday I saw the film in the Screen cinema in College Green Dublin. The film is, in my opinion, very true to the camino experience. A previous reviewer trivialised it as "a road movie" and suggested "wizard of Oz" characterisation. The camino "road" has been travelled for over a thousand years. Long before "road movies" were even thought about and yes, any story of fellow travellers sharing their stories on a journey, can be similar to the "wizard of Oz" but I think Chaucers "Canterbury Tales" is probably the true origin of the species. The camino de Santiago in its reality, and in this film, is a wonderful kaleidoscopic confluence of humanity. Pilgrims seem to self-select for certain character traits such as eccentricity, other worldliness, joyfullness, adventurousness, hurt, curiosity etc. Tom's companions were all from the palette of characters I found on the camino. Tom himself was an accidental pilgrim and only at the end of the camino did he allow himself to fall in love with it like the others. Tom, the cynical skeptic, driven to put one foot in front of another as a way of dealing with the brokenness of his relationship with his son and the trauma of his sudden death, allows the distance required to allow viewers share in the journey of the Camino in a way that could not have been achieved by following four "ordinary" pilgrims, no matter how colourful. Tom was the "straight man", the foil, that allowed the full colours of all the other characters to shine through. I thought it was a brilliant piece of cinema. Ole!
- wmconsidine
- May 14, 2011
- Permalink
Thomas Avery (Martin Sheen) is an American ophthalmologist. His nomadic only-child Daniel (Emilio Estevez) is killed walking the Catholic pilgrimage trail Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. In flashbacks, Thomas refuses to go with Daniel and berates him for his roaming nature. Thomas decides to carry Daniel's ashes and finish the trail for both him and himself. He encounters several hikers along the way.
There is no high drama here. There is a little bit of humor but overwhelmingly, this is a personal journey movie. It is touching and compelling. One call feel Martin Sheen truly invested in this movie. Emilio is the director. He puts in a few too many montages. Deborah Kara Unger is terrific. It's a nice movie overall.
There is no high drama here. There is a little bit of humor but overwhelmingly, this is a personal journey movie. It is touching and compelling. One call feel Martin Sheen truly invested in this movie. Emilio is the director. He puts in a few too many montages. Deborah Kara Unger is terrific. It's a nice movie overall.
- SnoopyStyle
- Oct 20, 2015
- Permalink
This movie exceeded all expectations, which were already very high. All kudos to Emilio Estevez for an excellent screenplay and superb direction. The photography, too, was wonderful. I think this will go down as one of Martin Sheen's best ever performances. He underplays his role (due to Emilio's direction?) which makes it all the stronger. In fact, it's the understated quality of the whole film that makes it very moving. It never descends into sentimentality but you still feel the grief of Martin Sheen's character as he makes the pilgrimage his estranged dead son never completed. At the same time, there are a lot of funny moments, which lift it from becoming a depressing journey. The gradual coalescing of the four very different main characters into a unified group works very well. Each of them has a different reason for making the pilgrimage and, to begin with, they seem to have nothing in common, but it's still very believable when they start to relate to each other. Emilio and his father Martin have every reason to be very proud of this film. It works on every level.
- paulinewainwright
- May 2, 2011
- Permalink
- kemeneely2015
- Sep 30, 2012
- Permalink
went to see this last night at 11.10pm, but cinema forgot to start the film, so it was 5 to midnight before we got going - with a little prompting.
It makes me want to do el camino. Very touching. I cried twice and laughed, and towards the end was sitting with a huge grin on my face. The warmth between the characters was good, honest, authentic.
It's also like having plans to do one thing, but you end up doing something quite different, that just grows. I could feel a loosening at the end of it, where feelings had shifted for people, there was a release for the characters that had happened in a very real way. Nothing grated, it was very gentle, but built up to a wave that carried me with it.
Scenery is beautiful of course. An interesting bit with the gypsies in Spain that I found challenging. It brought me up as I believed the same stuff they assumed - I'd heard it so much: and it is interesting when I realised that what I've accepted as truth may just be prejudice. We all like a scapegoat to absolve ourselves, and to feel superior to other folks.
Well done everyone involved with this. I think I will be buying a few copies of this to hand out.
It makes me want to go, but it kind of makes me want to go alone to see who I meet on the way.
It makes me want to do el camino. Very touching. I cried twice and laughed, and towards the end was sitting with a huge grin on my face. The warmth between the characters was good, honest, authentic.
It's also like having plans to do one thing, but you end up doing something quite different, that just grows. I could feel a loosening at the end of it, where feelings had shifted for people, there was a release for the characters that had happened in a very real way. Nothing grated, it was very gentle, but built up to a wave that carried me with it.
Scenery is beautiful of course. An interesting bit with the gypsies in Spain that I found challenging. It brought me up as I believed the same stuff they assumed - I'd heard it so much: and it is interesting when I realised that what I've accepted as truth may just be prejudice. We all like a scapegoat to absolve ourselves, and to feel superior to other folks.
Well done everyone involved with this. I think I will be buying a few copies of this to hand out.
It makes me want to go, but it kind of makes me want to go alone to see who I meet on the way.
- shorttbetty
- Sep 24, 2012
- Permalink
- I_actually_am_sam
- May 22, 2011
- Permalink
Like most road movies, this is as much about the characters' inward journey as it is about getting from A to B. At times it is too sentimental for my taste and some of the encounters seem rather artificial. But it has considerable warmth, humanity and good humour.
I saw this at the BFI in London at a screening attended by Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen. They are very proud of their film and it obviously means a lot to them, as father and son. They came across as intelligent and socially aware people, which was great to see.
During the discussion, a member of the audience pointed out the parallels with "The Wizard of Oz", something which I confess escaped me while the film was on but seemed perfectly obvious when I heard it. So watch out for that if you see the movie, and also look out for a cameo by Matt Clark, veteran character actor and, apparently, good friend of MArtin Sheen.
I saw this at the BFI in London at a screening attended by Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen. They are very proud of their film and it obviously means a lot to them, as father and son. They came across as intelligent and socially aware people, which was great to see.
During the discussion, a member of the audience pointed out the parallels with "The Wizard of Oz", something which I confess escaped me while the film was on but seemed perfectly obvious when I heard it. So watch out for that if you see the movie, and also look out for a cameo by Matt Clark, veteran character actor and, apparently, good friend of MArtin Sheen.
- DanielKing
- Feb 20, 2011
- Permalink
OK, but disappointing. Set up to be a profound and emotional movie, but it is actually quite empty. Pretty much heaps of style and a bit of substance. Amazing scenery and soundtrack through, and this is what drives the feeling that the movie is more than it really is. Quite manipulative.
Decent performances all round, especially from Martin Sheen in the lead role.
Decent performances all round, especially from Martin Sheen in the lead role.
This beautiful simple and involving film is one of the better films I've seen in the past couple of years. It does what the best of cinema can - it moves us, and reminds us that life is a journey full of chance encounters and that its not all serendipity, but we can walk on too.
Matin Sheen and his son, Emilio Estevez, make a winning team here - the direction, though straightforward is, like Ron Howard, filled with memorable scenes and images that linger. Sheen himself is always good at taking us with him - his half-amused, half-bemused style suits this perfectly. As he travels on the old pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela to deal with tragic loss he meets and forms a group with three other pilgrims.
All in all, the overall experience of watching this is simply pleasure - and like Danny Boyle's films, it seems simple but it is a complete experience. The Way is human, emotive, emotional, and sincere, and for this viewer a good journey.
Matin Sheen and his son, Emilio Estevez, make a winning team here - the direction, though straightforward is, like Ron Howard, filled with memorable scenes and images that linger. Sheen himself is always good at taking us with him - his half-amused, half-bemused style suits this perfectly. As he travels on the old pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela to deal with tragic loss he meets and forms a group with three other pilgrims.
All in all, the overall experience of watching this is simply pleasure - and like Danny Boyle's films, it seems simple but it is a complete experience. The Way is human, emotive, emotional, and sincere, and for this viewer a good journey.
- intelearts
- Mar 26, 2011
- Permalink
I've been anticipating The Way for about two and a half years for the wrong reason - I wanted to see Emilio Estevez back on the screen. The last formal film he appeared in was Rated X with his brother Charlie Sheen in 2000. Finally we see Emilio's talents not only behind the camera, but in writing as well. He handles the screenplay, the directing, and the producing in this beautifully crafted film.
You can tell just from the close-to-home feel of the character The Way is something sentimental and meaningful to both Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez. Both real life father and son actors have been taking most of their time in 2011 and using it to promote a film with heart and soul, but will likely be ignored when in theaters because of its very limited release and its minimal marketing.
The story focuses on Tom (Sheen), an American doctor, who goes to France after hearing his adventure-seeking son Daniel (Estevez) has died in a storm while hiking the Camino de Santiago - a famed Christian route many walk on to find faith or go to Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela at the end of the five-hundred mile route.
After arriving in France to pick up Daniel's ashes, Tom makes a split-second decision that he will follow hike the path of his son, while spreading his ashes throughout the trail. He meets up with many different people with many different stories. They are Joost (Wageningen), a Dutchman who is hiking the trail for exercise purposes, Sarah (Unger) who is trying to quit smoking, and "Jack from Ireland" (Nesbitt) who is suffering from writer's block and is trying to collect information about fellow hikers and their separate journeys.
The Way has a number of strange qualities - for one it has noticeable parallels to the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. And two, it is odd for Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, two actors that practice in strict Catholicism, to focus on a film that leads to a Christian Cathedral. Whatever the reason behind it, the story is pitch-perfect and Martin Sheen may have just given one of the best performances of his career.
The tears come and go in The Way, but so do the shocker scenes like when the topic of abortion is briefly mentioned. It is rare for such a film to bring up a controversial topic, which is why The Way deserves a load of credit.
The plot isn't too deep, but the story is truly moving. The acting by the four characters is fantastic, and like any road movie, it is more about the characters getting to find their inner-selves rather than walking from point a to point b. Only here - it is more welcomed because of the fact that is what the Camino de Santiago is all about.
Starring: Martin Sheen, Deborah Kara Unger, James Nesbitt, Yorick van Wageningen, and Emilio Estevez. Directed by: Emilio Estevez.
You can tell just from the close-to-home feel of the character The Way is something sentimental and meaningful to both Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez. Both real life father and son actors have been taking most of their time in 2011 and using it to promote a film with heart and soul, but will likely be ignored when in theaters because of its very limited release and its minimal marketing.
The story focuses on Tom (Sheen), an American doctor, who goes to France after hearing his adventure-seeking son Daniel (Estevez) has died in a storm while hiking the Camino de Santiago - a famed Christian route many walk on to find faith or go to Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela at the end of the five-hundred mile route.
After arriving in France to pick up Daniel's ashes, Tom makes a split-second decision that he will follow hike the path of his son, while spreading his ashes throughout the trail. He meets up with many different people with many different stories. They are Joost (Wageningen), a Dutchman who is hiking the trail for exercise purposes, Sarah (Unger) who is trying to quit smoking, and "Jack from Ireland" (Nesbitt) who is suffering from writer's block and is trying to collect information about fellow hikers and their separate journeys.
The Way has a number of strange qualities - for one it has noticeable parallels to the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. And two, it is odd for Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, two actors that practice in strict Catholicism, to focus on a film that leads to a Christian Cathedral. Whatever the reason behind it, the story is pitch-perfect and Martin Sheen may have just given one of the best performances of his career.
The tears come and go in The Way, but so do the shocker scenes like when the topic of abortion is briefly mentioned. It is rare for such a film to bring up a controversial topic, which is why The Way deserves a load of credit.
The plot isn't too deep, but the story is truly moving. The acting by the four characters is fantastic, and like any road movie, it is more about the characters getting to find their inner-selves rather than walking from point a to point b. Only here - it is more welcomed because of the fact that is what the Camino de Santiago is all about.
Starring: Martin Sheen, Deborah Kara Unger, James Nesbitt, Yorick van Wageningen, and Emilio Estevez. Directed by: Emilio Estevez.
- StevePulaski
- Oct 10, 2011
- Permalink
It was slow, but I stuck with it because the bottom line is that I enjoyed it. Having said that, it was missing something that left me frustrated and wanting.
I need to know a little more about the characters in order to care about them or at least understand them better. Who was the son? One reviewer mentioned that he was nearly 40, but in real life he would be more like 50. Did he have a family? If he was a doctoral student, where did he get the money to go traveling? Clearly Sheen was living an honorable and productive life, yet there was no sign that his son respected that at all, based upon the one conversation they had. Are we supposed to think that the son's life choices were the cool ones and the dad was an uptight loser? Or just that the dad needed to accept his son for who he was? It would have helped to have Sheen make one definitive statement about this one way or the other at the end perhaps. Something like, "I'm proud of the life I have chosen, but I do recognize that Daniel was driven by different passions. I only wish he could have combined them with a steady job and a family." Who were these other people? I'm o.k. with the stereotypes, because often people do fit the norms of the place they come from. But I need a little more information about each one. This could have come in the form of one more substantial exchange of their back story from each one, or even some scenario that demonstrated what they were about.
You have to tell me how the son died on the route. I didn't see any dangerous cliffs or wild animals. How could one night of cold weather have killed him? It was just too weird without an explanation.
It might have been interesting to have one fellow pilgrim be a young person. These were all middle aged people and one old guy. A young person may have added a fresh sense of wonder and reminded the others of that part of themselves from their own youth.
As one other reviewer said, I don't believe that a chain smoker, a fat guy, and an old man could do this walk without any training first. I also didn't see any evidence of blisters or soreness. But it's just a movie, so I'm o.k. with it.
The guitar music was sometimes a bit too much and a tad manipulative. I did feel like some of the scenes were bonking you over the head with sentimentalism, and that's partially because of the music.
But the dialog was good, the down-to-earth performances valuable, and the scenery enjoyable. I agree with another reviewer that Estevez does not really present any unique cinematography in terms of the nature or people, but some scenes were done quite well. Particularly the punch, and the theft.
Ultimately it doesn't matter if St. James or Christianity are the actual "Way." It only matters that pilgrims feel that they are. Although most of our characters are secular, they may have residual spirituality left over from childhood, and everyone needs hope.
It may be that Sheen and the woman changed the most from start to finish. The woman was a little less angry, and Sheen was a little less rigid in his evaluation of life and people.
I need to know a little more about the characters in order to care about them or at least understand them better. Who was the son? One reviewer mentioned that he was nearly 40, but in real life he would be more like 50. Did he have a family? If he was a doctoral student, where did he get the money to go traveling? Clearly Sheen was living an honorable and productive life, yet there was no sign that his son respected that at all, based upon the one conversation they had. Are we supposed to think that the son's life choices were the cool ones and the dad was an uptight loser? Or just that the dad needed to accept his son for who he was? It would have helped to have Sheen make one definitive statement about this one way or the other at the end perhaps. Something like, "I'm proud of the life I have chosen, but I do recognize that Daniel was driven by different passions. I only wish he could have combined them with a steady job and a family." Who were these other people? I'm o.k. with the stereotypes, because often people do fit the norms of the place they come from. But I need a little more information about each one. This could have come in the form of one more substantial exchange of their back story from each one, or even some scenario that demonstrated what they were about.
You have to tell me how the son died on the route. I didn't see any dangerous cliffs or wild animals. How could one night of cold weather have killed him? It was just too weird without an explanation.
It might have been interesting to have one fellow pilgrim be a young person. These were all middle aged people and one old guy. A young person may have added a fresh sense of wonder and reminded the others of that part of themselves from their own youth.
As one other reviewer said, I don't believe that a chain smoker, a fat guy, and an old man could do this walk without any training first. I also didn't see any evidence of blisters or soreness. But it's just a movie, so I'm o.k. with it.
The guitar music was sometimes a bit too much and a tad manipulative. I did feel like some of the scenes were bonking you over the head with sentimentalism, and that's partially because of the music.
But the dialog was good, the down-to-earth performances valuable, and the scenery enjoyable. I agree with another reviewer that Estevez does not really present any unique cinematography in terms of the nature or people, but some scenes were done quite well. Particularly the punch, and the theft.
Ultimately it doesn't matter if St. James or Christianity are the actual "Way." It only matters that pilgrims feel that they are. Although most of our characters are secular, they may have residual spirituality left over from childhood, and everyone needs hope.
It may be that Sheen and the woman changed the most from start to finish. The woman was a little less angry, and Sheen was a little less rigid in his evaluation of life and people.
'The Way' has plenty of appeal and the story behind it is a moving one, but it does feel like a missed opportunity. While anybody who enjoys road trip style films will probably get some pleasure out of 'The Way', it's only engaging for so long and unfortunately doesn't have the depth of plot required for a 2 hour long film.
It's around the halfway point when the film really starts to run low on ideas. It becomes repetitive and dull, and in its desperation it resorts to some very unconvincing and poorly written situations. Most notably, the scene where the characters get drunk and start trading insults, which felt totally unnatural and didn't match the atmosphere of the film.
It's around the halfway point when the film really starts to run low on ideas. It becomes repetitive and dull, and in its desperation it resorts to some very unconvincing and poorly written situations. Most notably, the scene where the characters get drunk and start trading insults, which felt totally unnatural and didn't match the atmosphere of the film.
- adamonIMDb
- May 20, 2018
- Permalink
'THE WAY': Four Stars (Out of Five)
Emilio Estevez wrote and directed this drama starring his father Martin Sheen. Sheen plays an American doctor who decides to walk the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage in France that his son died on during a storm. Emilio plays his father's sons in flashbacks and ghostly visions. Emilio got inspiration for the film when his own son, Taylor, and father drove the length of the pilgrimage together in 2003. Taylor met his wife on the trip so it became a very special experience for him as well as his family. Sheen and Estevez decided to make a movie about the Camino because of this and Estevez wrote the film with his father in mind for the lead role. The movie is everything it sets out to be: moving, inspirational and touching.
Martin plays Thomas Avery who journeys to France to collect his son's remains shortly after learning of his death. He is told that Daniel, his son, died in the Pyrenees during a storm while attempting to complete the Catholic pilgrimage also known as the Way of St. James. Tom then decides to attempt the walk himself and sets out on a quest while carrying his son's remains and dispersing of them along the way. He meets a trio of other travelers (Deborah Kara Unger, James Nesbitt and Yorick van Wageningen) along the way who are each doing the journey for their own individual reasons. He also continues to see visions of his son at select points along the path.
As a kid Emilio Estevez was one of my favorite actors for several years. I was a big fan of the 'YOUNG GUNS' films, 'STAKEOUT', 'REPO MAN', 'THE BREAKFAST CLUB' and many more. He hasn't appeared in many big roles in movies for several years now, deciding to settle more for cameos and concentrating more on writing and directing, which he's always been the strongest in his family. He's written and directed a wide variety of different genre films from action, like 1987's 'WISDOM' (in which he co-starred with Demi Moore), to slapstick comedy, like 1990's 'MEN AT WORK' (in which he co-starred with his brother Charlie) to historical fiction drama, like 2006's 'BOBBY' (in which he took part in an ensemble cast including the likes of Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Shia LeBeouf and Anthony Hopkins). I've enjoyed all of his directing and writing efforts to varying degrees but I'd have to say this is by far his most intimate and emotional. If you're a fan of Esteves or Sheen you're sure to enjoy but even if you're not you still might want to give this one a try: It's a very beautiful and touching film.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rje99p8QSz8
Emilio Estevez wrote and directed this drama starring his father Martin Sheen. Sheen plays an American doctor who decides to walk the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage in France that his son died on during a storm. Emilio plays his father's sons in flashbacks and ghostly visions. Emilio got inspiration for the film when his own son, Taylor, and father drove the length of the pilgrimage together in 2003. Taylor met his wife on the trip so it became a very special experience for him as well as his family. Sheen and Estevez decided to make a movie about the Camino because of this and Estevez wrote the film with his father in mind for the lead role. The movie is everything it sets out to be: moving, inspirational and touching.
Martin plays Thomas Avery who journeys to France to collect his son's remains shortly after learning of his death. He is told that Daniel, his son, died in the Pyrenees during a storm while attempting to complete the Catholic pilgrimage also known as the Way of St. James. Tom then decides to attempt the walk himself and sets out on a quest while carrying his son's remains and dispersing of them along the way. He meets a trio of other travelers (Deborah Kara Unger, James Nesbitt and Yorick van Wageningen) along the way who are each doing the journey for their own individual reasons. He also continues to see visions of his son at select points along the path.
As a kid Emilio Estevez was one of my favorite actors for several years. I was a big fan of the 'YOUNG GUNS' films, 'STAKEOUT', 'REPO MAN', 'THE BREAKFAST CLUB' and many more. He hasn't appeared in many big roles in movies for several years now, deciding to settle more for cameos and concentrating more on writing and directing, which he's always been the strongest in his family. He's written and directed a wide variety of different genre films from action, like 1987's 'WISDOM' (in which he co-starred with Demi Moore), to slapstick comedy, like 1990's 'MEN AT WORK' (in which he co-starred with his brother Charlie) to historical fiction drama, like 2006's 'BOBBY' (in which he took part in an ensemble cast including the likes of Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Shia LeBeouf and Anthony Hopkins). I've enjoyed all of his directing and writing efforts to varying degrees but I'd have to say this is by far his most intimate and emotional. If you're a fan of Esteves or Sheen you're sure to enjoy but even if you're not you still might want to give this one a try: It's a very beautiful and touching film.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rje99p8QSz8
The Way is a film about a younger man who wants to go his own way while his rich father encourages him to lead a more predictable path. For similar films, see 3 Idiots, a Bollywood gem.
Emilio Estevez chooses to trek across southern France to Spain on the Camino to Santiago, an 800 km hike. Bad news happens quickly, and you soon find his father, Martin Sheen, in France taking care of family business. The part that is somewhat difficult to believe is that Sheen can go from a pretty sedentary life, to suddenly hiking 800 kms without a hitch.
But it is the journey that counts, and he meets 3 interesting characters who accompany him on El Camino, The Way. It is these interactions with Joost from Holland, Jack from Ireland, and Sarah from Canada that the director Estevez weaves meaning in and out of the story. You learn about the characters, why they are doing this, what drives them, and you slowly see Martin Sheen change before your eyes as the experiences of being on the road open his eyes to more than he normally sees in his offices in California.
The Way will make you cry, and laugh, and feel good about the friends you make, and have already made. It is one of those films, like It's a Wonderful Life, where you have to play with the hand you are dealt and learn to appreciate the good things and possibilities that away you on your own journey.
My only critique is that the movie did run a big long at just over 2 hours. It could have easily been trimmed down 15 minutes without any loss of quality.
You will really like the Way. Enjoy.
Emilio Estevez chooses to trek across southern France to Spain on the Camino to Santiago, an 800 km hike. Bad news happens quickly, and you soon find his father, Martin Sheen, in France taking care of family business. The part that is somewhat difficult to believe is that Sheen can go from a pretty sedentary life, to suddenly hiking 800 kms without a hitch.
But it is the journey that counts, and he meets 3 interesting characters who accompany him on El Camino, The Way. It is these interactions with Joost from Holland, Jack from Ireland, and Sarah from Canada that the director Estevez weaves meaning in and out of the story. You learn about the characters, why they are doing this, what drives them, and you slowly see Martin Sheen change before your eyes as the experiences of being on the road open his eyes to more than he normally sees in his offices in California.
The Way will make you cry, and laugh, and feel good about the friends you make, and have already made. It is one of those films, like It's a Wonderful Life, where you have to play with the hand you are dealt and learn to appreciate the good things and possibilities that away you on your own journey.
My only critique is that the movie did run a big long at just over 2 hours. It could have easily been trimmed down 15 minutes without any loss of quality.
You will really like the Way. Enjoy.
A great deal of love and thought has been put into this film by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, i remember watching an interview with them both and they seemed very proud of finally bringing it together.
Unfortunately it managed to irritate me.
The film is so full of cliché and over sentimentality that it detracts from what could have been a wonderful film. I guess part of the aim, which comes into play through various scenes was to make these characters seem rude, annoying or in some cases untrustworthy only for perception to change as the film progresses and as they get to know each other. This idea also comes into play briefly with the gyspy scene to which the outcome is an unexpected one and at other times.
The problem i have is that in reality Sheens character would have stayed well away from everyone involved.
The characters themselves are deeply unoriginal. The weed smoking Dutchman, brash Irish writer etc, it's too much. It felt so staged that i couldn't endear myself to anyone. The addition of music timed to the clock throughout the film was to me a poorly chosen and cheesy soundtrack. I won't delve into specifics on certain scenes but just a quick mention of the final scene as they peel off one by one, watch and cringe.
Some positives, the scenery is fantastic and it does have it's touching moments. Sheen is dependable.
I'm afraid i didn't enjoy this film, i felt it could have been so much more and at 2 hours long it's, far too long.
Not for me
Unfortunately it managed to irritate me.
The film is so full of cliché and over sentimentality that it detracts from what could have been a wonderful film. I guess part of the aim, which comes into play through various scenes was to make these characters seem rude, annoying or in some cases untrustworthy only for perception to change as the film progresses and as they get to know each other. This idea also comes into play briefly with the gyspy scene to which the outcome is an unexpected one and at other times.
The problem i have is that in reality Sheens character would have stayed well away from everyone involved.
The characters themselves are deeply unoriginal. The weed smoking Dutchman, brash Irish writer etc, it's too much. It felt so staged that i couldn't endear myself to anyone. The addition of music timed to the clock throughout the film was to me a poorly chosen and cheesy soundtrack. I won't delve into specifics on certain scenes but just a quick mention of the final scene as they peel off one by one, watch and cringe.
Some positives, the scenery is fantastic and it does have it's touching moments. Sheen is dependable.
I'm afraid i didn't enjoy this film, i felt it could have been so much more and at 2 hours long it's, far too long.
Not for me
- darrenrgregory
- Apr 7, 2012
- Permalink