Martin Sheen-Emilio Estevez movie 'The Way' charts a man's pilgrimage for love, understanding
BY JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Friday, December 07, 2012
12/07/12 at 3:04 PM
This SUNDAY, read the exclusive Tulsa World interview with Martin Sheen and more about his Wednesday appearance to support Tulsa's 12 & 12 Center for Addiction Treatment and Recovery.
The soul-searching movie "The Way," starring Martin Sheen and written and produced by son Emilio Estevez, Sheen plays Tom Avery, a father who learns the biggest lesson of his life following the death of his son Daniel (Estevez).
“You don’t choose a life, Dad, you live one,” Daniel says before he embarks on his pilgrimage overseas to Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, in northwestern Spain. The area is believed to be sacred tomb of apostle St. James.
Daniel dies shortly after starting the gorgeous and treacherous trek. While Estevez is only on screen a short time, his role is key.
When Tom travels overseas to claim his remains, the 60-plus-year-old finds himself finishing the pilgrimage started by his son.
Soon, the know-it-all “eye doctor” learns that he knows little about himself — or his son — as he embarks on his biggest life lesson.
Sheen’s role isn’t autobiographical, but the true-to-life father-son bond makes this movie intensely intimate. Sheen brings a genuine openness and warmth to Tom Avery that is whole, legitimate and undeniable.
With strangers Tom finds comfort, compassion and awareness: a rosary from a priest, food at a hostel, others walking toward and away from their lives, from all corners of the world. He also befriends a partier, a writer and a divorcee.
The soundtrack propels Estevez’s storytelling with moving works from Tyler Bates, as well as Coldplay, Nick Drake, James Taylor, Alanis Morissette and others.
During the prolonged journey, Tom leaves his son’s ashes, pulling them from a silver box as he shares moments with Daniel’s memory.
In death, the father spends more time with his son than he has in years.
Said Sheen in a phone interview, “See it with someone you love, share the moment with a person you care about. It might change things.”
“The Way”
2010, PG-13, 123 minutes
Available to purchase on DVD and Blu-Ray and from streaming movie sites including Netflix
Jennifer Chancellor
918-581-8346
jennifer.chancellor@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Martin Sheen stars the the Emilio Estevez-written and directed movie "The Way." Courtesy
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