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Reviewed by Ivana Redwine
Tagline:
"Pray for Michael Sullivan." Length:
117 minutes Tom Hanks and Paul Newman star in "Road to Perdition," a drama about Illinois mobsters that has been nominated for six Academy Awards. The movie has been recently released on a DVD that includes a number of extras, which I have listed below. "Road to Perdition" takes place in the winter of 1931 in Chicago and surrounding areas. Although the Great Depression is on, the major characters in the film live well because they're associated with organized crime during Prohibition. The central relationships in the movie all involve fathers and sons. The protagonist in "Road to Perdition" is Michael Sullivan (Hanks). He lives in Rock Island, Illinois, with his wife and two sons, the 12-year-old Michael Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin) and the slightly younger Peter. Sullivan is a top lieutenant for local mob boss John Rooney (Newman). Because Sullivan had no father and Rooney took him in when he had nothing, he thinks of Rooney as his father. The key relationships in the film then are (1) Sullivan and his surrogate father Rooney; and (2) Sullivan and his 12-year-old son Michael Jr. The story is set in motion when Michael Jr. witnesses the volatile Connor, Rooney's biological son, kill another mobster without having a good reason. In a botched attempt to cover up his mistake, Connor kills Sullivan's wife and younger son Peter. That's when Sullivan and Michael Jr. go on the lam. Sullivan sets out to get revenge for the murders of his wife and son, but he also wants to protect Michael Jr. As things turn out, Sullivan and Michael Jr. spend six weeks on the road, having a series of experiences that draw them closer together. Meanwhile, the mob dispatches a hit man (Jude Law) to track Sullivan down and kill him. The film goes on to deal with issues that include how Sullivan comes to terms with his surrogate father Rooney and whether or not young Michael Jr. will follow in his father's footsteps in a life of crime. After a number of mobsters are shot to death, the film comes to a very tidy conclusion. What I like best about "Road to Perdition" is the moody cinematography by the late Conrad L. Hall. I was also very impressed with the early 1930s sets and costumes. To my way of thinking, Tom Hanks gives the best performance of his career, and I think Paul Newman's Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his role in the movie is well deserved. I was a little disappointed that "Road to Perdition" didn't have the deep emotional resonance I had hoped for, although it's possible that the combination of Hanks, Newman, Conrad Hall, and director Sam Mendes ("American Beauty") set my expectations way too high. I expected more complex characters, more development of the personal relationships between the characters, and more information about the inner workings of the mob. Instead, the film seems closer to a genre piece. But in spite of its weaknesses, I think "Road to Perdition" is well worth seeing, and I do recommend it. Special Features of the DVD: • Anamorphic
Widescreen (2.35:1)
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