JOAQUIN PHOENIX TRAVELS THROUGH GRIEF IN RESERVATION ROAD

Joaquin Phoenix plays a grief stricken father taking revenge on his son’s killer in Reservation Road.

Joaquin Phoenix is busy these days starring in two completely different films. Where We Own The Night deals with the seedy underworld of the Russian mob, Reservation Road is a poignant story that deals with the consequences of two fathers, one grieving for his son accidentally killed in a hit and run and the other protecting his son from knowing the truth about his guilt.

Joaquin says he immediately responded to the story as it gave both fathers an equal point of view.

“I read the script and I think I just had a visceral reaction to it I think like many people do. I think what was interesting about it for me was the first time a script that I read really successfully told two sides of the same story. And I thought that was really interesting and both characters, both my character Ethan and Mark Ruffalo’s character Dwight were fully realized.”

Joaquin who responds to his directors says Terry George had a handle on the overwhelming sadness the movie may have on the audience.

“The danger with this story is that it becomes too heavy laden with grief. At least for me I don’t want to watch two hours of people crying and it seemed like Terry understood grief but would find the right balance. Because this is also, in some ways this film is a mystery and a thriller.”

Reservation Road opening Friday, October 19th, also stars Jennifer Connelly playing Joaquin’s wife and Elle Fanning, Dakota’s little sister as their daughter.