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Road To Perdition - A Review July 12, 2002
This is a movie about fathers and sons. It's about the relationships between them and the trials they produce. It's about both generations looking at, and in some cases learning more about their children and parents than they would like. It's about growing up and losing the innocence we all look at the world with as children.
I'm not going to beat around the bush on this one. Road To Perdition rated :5: stars. Period. I walked out of the theater this afternoon as amazed by a movie as I have been in a long time. The acting, the script, the atmosphere, the cinematography all were astounding. Directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty), it stars Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan, Apollo 13, Forrest Gump) as Michael Sullivan Sr., an enforcer and fiercely loyal follower of mob boss John Rooney, played by Paul Newman (Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, The Color Of Money, Slap Shot). Michael Sullivan Jr. is played by newcomer Tyler Hoechlin. Jude Law (Enemy At The Gates, A.I., Gattaca) is cast as McGuire, an assassin-for-hire, along with Daniel Craig (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) as Connor Rooney, boss John's son.
Tom Hanks' portrayal of Michael Sullivan shows him at the top of his game as an actor. He tells so much by doing such small things - a look, a tilt of the head, a restrained movement. If he doesn't receive at least an Oscar nomination for this role, then I REALLY want to see what beats him out. He is 100% believalble as the hard, cold, haunted gunman and distant parent. Having said that, his may not even be the best acting job in the movie. Young Tyler Hoechlin and Paul Newman give Hanks a grand run for the money - Newman as the old Syndicate master in the city, juggling a deep affection for Michael (both Sr. and Jr.) with his duties as father to a head-strong thoughtless son - Hoechlin plays Hanks' 12-year-old son, who has a talent for seeing what he shouldn't, which causes a whole series of bad things to happen. Jude Law turns in a fine performance as a psychotic killer who loves to photograph his victims (and anyone else) as they die. Quite conceivably, there could be three nominations for acting out of this movie! Hanks, Hoechlin and Newman are that good, and Law isn't far behind.
Sam Mendes' directing is spot-on. I'm not aware of anything he's done other than American Beauty, but this - his second major film - shows that the acclaim he received for the first was anything but beginner's luck. He has a deft touch for telling stories that grab you and don't let go.
What can I say about the camera-work in this movie? Shot after shot is staged and framed beautifully. Lighting is used to set the mood in scene after scene. Many are shot in darkness and rain, with very good shadow detail using a palette of gray upon gray upon black with the occasional burst of color from deep red lipstick or arterial blood, to the gold and white flash of a gunshot. The attention to detail is fantastic. Chicago streets lined with period cars, the original Colt 1911 45's, the Thompson submachine guns, the wardrobes all shout "authentic"!
The soundtrack is very active with gunshots that have a hard, cracking edge to them that is reminiscent of Saving Private Ryan and Windtalkers. Dialog is clean - thank goodness - as small tonal inflections add their own weight to the tale. Surrounds are fairly active, especially during the gun battles, and with a good bit of ambient sound present such as crowded rooms, rain and road noise. The musical portion of the soundtrack should get an acting nomination in its own right. At times, melancholy, haunting, soothing, or threatening, it is one I HAVE to have. It tells part of the story in its own right.
Not being a fan of spoilers, I'm not going any further on this amazing, excellent film. You'll have to find out the rest for yourself. Oh, have I mentioned how much I liked this movie?
It's not the easiest film to watch at points, but IMO it's a great movie. Give this one your undivided attention. You won't be disappointed.
David - HTGuide flunky
Our "Theater"
Our DVDs on DVD Tracker
This is a movie about fathers and sons. It's about the relationships between them and the trials they produce. It's about both generations looking at, and in some cases learning more about their children and parents than they would like. It's about growing up and losing the innocence we all look at the world with as children.
I'm not going to beat around the bush on this one. Road To Perdition rated :5: stars. Period. I walked out of the theater this afternoon as amazed by a movie as I have been in a long time. The acting, the script, the atmosphere, the cinematography all were astounding. Directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty), it stars Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan, Apollo 13, Forrest Gump) as Michael Sullivan Sr., an enforcer and fiercely loyal follower of mob boss John Rooney, played by Paul Newman (Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, The Color Of Money, Slap Shot). Michael Sullivan Jr. is played by newcomer Tyler Hoechlin. Jude Law (Enemy At The Gates, A.I., Gattaca) is cast as McGuire, an assassin-for-hire, along with Daniel Craig (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) as Connor Rooney, boss John's son.
Tom Hanks' portrayal of Michael Sullivan shows him at the top of his game as an actor. He tells so much by doing such small things - a look, a tilt of the head, a restrained movement. If he doesn't receive at least an Oscar nomination for this role, then I REALLY want to see what beats him out. He is 100% believalble as the hard, cold, haunted gunman and distant parent. Having said that, his may not even be the best acting job in the movie. Young Tyler Hoechlin and Paul Newman give Hanks a grand run for the money - Newman as the old Syndicate master in the city, juggling a deep affection for Michael (both Sr. and Jr.) with his duties as father to a head-strong thoughtless son - Hoechlin plays Hanks' 12-year-old son, who has a talent for seeing what he shouldn't, which causes a whole series of bad things to happen. Jude Law turns in a fine performance as a psychotic killer who loves to photograph his victims (and anyone else) as they die. Quite conceivably, there could be three nominations for acting out of this movie! Hanks, Hoechlin and Newman are that good, and Law isn't far behind.
Sam Mendes' directing is spot-on. I'm not aware of anything he's done other than American Beauty, but this - his second major film - shows that the acclaim he received for the first was anything but beginner's luck. He has a deft touch for telling stories that grab you and don't let go.
What can I say about the camera-work in this movie? Shot after shot is staged and framed beautifully. Lighting is used to set the mood in scene after scene. Many are shot in darkness and rain, with very good shadow detail using a palette of gray upon gray upon black with the occasional burst of color from deep red lipstick or arterial blood, to the gold and white flash of a gunshot. The attention to detail is fantastic. Chicago streets lined with period cars, the original Colt 1911 45's, the Thompson submachine guns, the wardrobes all shout "authentic"!
The soundtrack is very active with gunshots that have a hard, cracking edge to them that is reminiscent of Saving Private Ryan and Windtalkers. Dialog is clean - thank goodness - as small tonal inflections add their own weight to the tale. Surrounds are fairly active, especially during the gun battles, and with a good bit of ambient sound present such as crowded rooms, rain and road noise. The musical portion of the soundtrack should get an acting nomination in its own right. At times, melancholy, haunting, soothing, or threatening, it is one I HAVE to have. It tells part of the story in its own right.
Not being a fan of spoilers, I'm not going any further on this amazing, excellent film. You'll have to find out the rest for yourself. Oh, have I mentioned how much I liked this movie?
It's not the easiest film to watch at points, but IMO it's a great movie. Give this one your undivided attention. You won't be disappointed. David - HTGuide flunky
Our "Theater"
Our DVDs on DVD Tracker
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