Review of Road to Perdition (2002) by Amit N — 26 Jan 2011

EVERY FATHER IS A HERO TO HIS SON !!!!

Road to Perdition, a movie undeservedly overlooked at that year Oscars is the second work of Sam Mendes (and in my opinion his best work), a director who three years before won Oscar for his widely acclaimed but controversial American Beauty. This is a terrific movie, and at the same time ultimately affecting and sad.

It's a story of a relatively wealthy and happy family from outward appearance during difficult times of Depression when the, Michael Sullivan, a father of two children,(played by Tom Hanks) is a hit-man for local mafia boss John Rooney (played by Late Paul Newman). His eldest son, a thirteen years boy Michael Sullivan Jr., perfectly played by young Tyler Hoechlin, after years of blissful ignorance finds out what is his father job and on what money their family live. Prompted by his curiosity and his aspiration to know truth he accidentally becomes a witness of a murder, committed by Connor Rooney, son of his father boss. Such Disastrous event changed his life forever.

The backgrounds Score and decorations are perfectly created, editing and cinematography are almost flawless while the story is well written. But the main line of the movie, the most important moments and points of the movie and the key factor of the movie success are difficult father-son relations in BAD TIMES. They are shown so deeply, strong and believable. Tom Hanks does excellent and has one of the best performances of his career in a quite unusual role for him and all acting across the board is superb. Finally worth to mention a very nice score by Paul Newman and in the result we get an outstanding work of all people involved in making this beautiful sad masterpiece. I believe Road to Perdition belongs to greatest achievements of film-making of this decade and undoubtedly one of the best films of the year.

So Finally m giving Sam Mendes's 'ROAD TO PERDITION' liberally 4 on 5 stars...A profound film about Fathers and Sons, Perdition and Salvation...