Road to Perdition
Published by Kaonashi April 3rd, 2006 in Action, Crime, Film Adaptation, Drama, Period Piece, Thriller, Suspense.
Title: Road to Perdition
Year: 2002
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring Cast: Tom Hanks, Paul Newman
Rated: R
NoFace Rating: 5.5 out of 7
I have to admit, I didn’t want to see Road to Perdition when it first came out because it featured the death of innocent people. I didn’t want to see something like that, even if it featured Tom Hanks, one of my favorite actors. I sometimes don’t like watching really heavy dramas. My boyfriend however, had seen it and absolutely loved it. He kept pestering me to watch it, explaining how beautifully filmed is was and how poignant the story was and how much ass Tom Hanks kicked in the film. Eventually we had a deal- I’d watch Road to Perdition and he’d watch Moulin Rouge, a film that he’s been avoiding for years but that I loved. He has yet to watch the Ewan McGregor-Nicole Kidman love story, but I watched Tom Hanks be a hitman with a son and I rather enjoyed it.
Road to Perdition is based on a graphic novel of the same name. At the same time, the graphic novel is partly based on the manga Lone Wolf and Cub. The story takes place some time a little after the Great Depression, when Al Capone’s long arm of crime extended throughout the big city, and even beyond. In a quite little suburb outside of Chicago lives 12-year old Michael Sullivan Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin). In spite of the sudden poverty that gripped most of the country, Michael and his family are actually doing very well, thanks to his father’s (Hanks) high paying but mysterious job. However, Michael and his younger brother Peter (Liam Aiken) rarely see their father, for he’s always away on “business” and are quite distant from him.
Like many children, Michael is curious as to what his father does for a living. One night his curiosity finally gets the better of him and followed his dad with his “business partner” (the new James Bond, Daniel Craig) on one of their assignments. When the boy finds the truth about his father, his life is tragically turned completely upside down.
Road to Perdition is a beautifully filmed movie. Each scene is like a painting or a photograph that just happens to have people moving in it. It’s so well made, but then again, this was directed by the same guy who directed American Beauty, another beautifully filmed movie. The filming style also reflects the evolving relationship between Michael Jr. and Sr, as mentioned in the IMDB. Near the beginning of the film, we see the world through the eyes of the boy as he watches his father from afar. Michael Sr. is usually framed in a doorway, several feet away, emphasizing the distance felt by his son. However, midway in the film when father and son grow closer, most scenes feature the two of them side by side.
The story seems so simple, but in fact there are so many intricate layers underneath. It’s not just a story of revenge; it’s a story of fathers and sons, of rebuilding a lost family. It’s a story of the hope a father has for his son that he doesn’t grow up to be like him. It’s a story of the promise of redemption- can ruthless, cold men who have spent their lives bathed in the blood and tears of their victims turn away from the road to perdition?
These stories would never have been pulled off well had it not been for the acting. It is simply superb. I’ve always liked Tom Hanks and am always pleasantly surprised to see him challenging himself in various roles. He can play a mentally disabled man, a soldier, an astronaut, and a hit man. That’s what’s really cool about Hanks- he doesn’t get typecast, unlike other certain couch jumping actors named “Tom”. Paul Newman is terrific in his minor role as John Rooney, Michael Sr’s conflicted, morally corrupt boss who loves his own son as much as Michael loves his. Like Michael Sr. and Jr., Rooney also undergoes a transformation in the film; from a powerful, confident man -the most influential man in town- to a disappointed, dejected old man, forced to choose between his pathetic, real son and the son he always wish he had. Young Hoechlin does well holding up against these two screen veterans. Let’s hope that he continues appearing in well made films with brilliant directors and award-winning actors he can learn from, and not fall in the trap of making a lame teen movie.
I heartily recommend Road to Perdition to anyone, and I’m glad that my boyfriend kept pestering me to watch it.
Technorati Tags: Road to Perdition, Sam Mendes, American Beauty, Lone Wolf and Cub, Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Al Capone, hitman, mobster, Chicago
6 Responses to “Road to Perdition”
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I didn’t like Road to Perdition. I found it too preachy and corny. There is a message to this movie that the viewer is continually hit over the head with, especially at the end. I would rather come to my own conclusions than have to them fed to me. There is also a lack of any good female characters in this film which is a shame. The movie does look good though.
Admittedly there are a couple of preachy and corny moments, but overall I thought that they were negligible. You have a point about female characters though- there essentially were none. However, I understand that there was no need for female characters since the focus was on the relationship between fathers and sons.
A good movie about father son relationships is The Bicycle Thief. Check that out for contrast. I’m working on another review for you, either Cinderella Man or Fantastic Four. Do you have a preference? Don’t worry, no spoilers.
I’ve done a review for Cinderella Man, so you can do the Fantastic Four. Thanks!
I loved this movie, for many of the same reasons you did. I saw it in the theater, and strangely, quite a few people got up and left before it was over - right after a certain shocking scene at the end. I won’t explain anymore, since I don’t want to spoil it for your readers who haven’t seen it, but I couldn’t figure out why it made people LEAVE. I didn’t think it was offensive or anything of the sort.
Brooke- I think I know the scene you’re talking about, and I am curious as well as to why people would leave during that moment. I guess they simply didn’t like how the film turned out in the end. Strange.