Road to Perdition (2002)

Very Cool!!!

Sorry, this movie sucks

One of my all time favorites.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

3 years after American Beauty, Sam Mendes brings us Road To Perdition-which I personally think is even better. And this is the best Tom Hanks movie, or for any other actor in this movie. In a way, this is a lot LIKE American Beauty. If you read my review of it, you know I give that a 10 because it has a moral with a man who has a desire to do something amoral, and it makes you want to be the opposite. Road, on the other hand, is about a man who does what is wrong for a living and he himself wishes he could be the opposite. In case you don't know, Perdition is a word of going to Hell. Hanks's character kills for a living, and there is a scene where a co-worker says that you can't go to Heaven if you do this job. So Hanks, therefore, is headed for Hell for his actions. But it's his cross to bear. What else is there to say? The acting is great, and so is everything else. Few movies I have seen are this compelling. I should also mention if you are going to watch it-actually WATCH it! I missed a scene and it ended up being the most essential scene to the plot! Also, my Grandma kept asking questions because she was on her Tablet. And I missed a few lines because of that. So watch it and enjoy! Tom Hanks is on the Road To Perdition, but the movie will take you on a road to paradise!

How do you make a depression era American gangster mob crime drama thriller (and breathe...) look visually arresting? You bring in Sam Mendes. No one else can bring haunting tones and visceral imagery quite like Mendes. An adaptation of a graphic novel, Michael Sullivan is a hitman for a powerful Irish mob family when an incident occurs that tests the limits of loyalty between them. This is stuffed to the brim with themes. Loyalty, fatherhood, family, revenge, ambition...Mendes really outdid himself here. The considerable amount of attention between Sullivan Sr and Sullivan Jr, establishing the powerful bond of a son looking up to their father. For inspiration. For guidance. For life. Every little intricacy illuminates the screen. From Sullivan Jr constantly querying Sullivan Sr's job, to him just consistently staring and imitating his body movement. Incredibly powerful and resonating. The balance of action and drama was a perfect equilibrium. Both utterly stylish. Tom Hanks yet again carries out another understated performance. However, what really astonished me was how he held his own against Paul Newman, who owned every single scene. To be working alongside such a legendary and prolific actor in what was one of his last roles, it must've intimidated Hanks...even by the tiniest of margins. The narrative is well structured and slowly transforms into a cat-and-mouse hunt. The dialogue was sharp, witty and quite a few subtle comedic moments that brings a smile. The biggest issue, is Sam Mendes. There is no doubt he is an outstanding director, it shows here. The problem is, that he has a tendency to over-direct. To clarify, his style far exceeds the substance of the plot and starts to detract from the film. Every single frame is over stylised. It works for certain scenes like the street shootout in the rain, but it starts to become tiresome when it's just characters interacting. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather a film be over-directed than not at all.

A stylish period movie where the ever lovable Tom Hanks is a mob enforcer? Bingo. A brilliant and beautiful film that focuses on the father-son relationship with a heavy dose of violence and a heavier dose of compelling performances from a great ensemble cast. Side note: Many people might not know that this is actually based on a graphic novel.

Seemed like a pretty good flic... until... the conclusion, when Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) "lets his guard down," and allows the hit-man to catch him unaware. Given Michael's careful approach to his pursuit of his prey... it is totally inconsistent with his character not to remain vigilant while the mob's hit-man was still alive and pursuing him. Especially, since his wife's sister's house on the beach, was inexplicably empty when he and his son arrived.The flic is ruined by the next to last scene, which is inconsistent and totally predictable, as Michael walks into the empty house on the beach."Bummer."