Hey folks, Harry here with one helluva review of ROAD TO PERDITION, the 2nd Sam Mendes film... the movie that makes Tom Hanks a cold-blooded killer. A comic book movie by an Academy Award winning director with a two time Academy Award winning Best Actor in the lead role. This summer has a chance to be one helluva summer and this is one of the top films I'm most excited to see... Along with SPIDER-MAN, REIGN OF FIRE, SIGNS and the others. Here's our look at the film as it is now.... exciting isn't it?
Hey Harry,
I was invited to attend a screening of the new Sam Mendes movie, Road to Perdition this evening. The movie is basically the story of a mob hit-man (played by Tom Hanks) and how the struggles he goes through affect his relationship with his son. Without giving too much away, Hanks and his son are forced to leave their home behind and lash out at the mob kingpin played by Paul Newman. The movie also featured Jude Law as the assassin hired to take out Tom Hanks' character, Michael Sullivan.
Mendes does an excellent job with this movie, set in 1930's Chicago. The moments of action, placed fairly evenly throughout the film are jarring. I can't recall an instance where every shot fired has shaken me so much. Though the action is important, the film steers away from gratuitous violence and focuses, much in the same way American Beauty did, on the aftermath. The plot has what I would call two very shocking surprises which I simply refuse to give away! Save it! Don't read any spoilers anywhere!
Tom Hanks is wonderful here. This is by far the darkest thing I've ever seen him do. He has a cold calculation when he pulls the trigger that chilled me to the bone, coming out of Forest Gump, no less! He's very believable as a violent man, somewhat reminiscent of Al Pacino in the Godfather. He's not at all a reluctant killer until his son become involved. That's what Hanks really puts all his talents on display, showing the way a man is torn between all he's lost and the son who he has to protect at all costs.
The son, played by Tyler Hoechlin, is about as good as child actors get. He plays the 12 year old son who is forced into extraordinary circumstances. Again, excellent work for any child. I found him just as believable as Halley Joel Osmond in the 6th Sense. Also, Jude Law's character is wonderful! He has a maniacal quality that I loved from the moment he appeared on screen!
Of course everyone is going to compare this film to American Beauty. I hesitate to do this because I consider American Beauty to be a black comedy. Road to Perdition is rather a very dark drama. It lacks the otherworldly quality of American Beauty, as it is a much more brutal film. The action is nothing new, but the way it's shot was very unique. The death caused by the killer is focus of the shots, not the killer himself.
The ending is unforgiving, but very satisfying. It ends just as must and just as it began. Again, I don't want to spoil anything for you. Don't read spoilers. They are the devil!
Before the movie started, Sam Mendes came out (Richard Zanuck was also there) and had a little to say. Nothing I haven't already told you, except that he said it was slated to come out in two or three months. As for me, I'll be in line! I loved this film. I wouldn't be surprised if Tom Hanks gets a nomination next year for best actor! Go see it and, again, avoid those spoilers!
Over and Out,
Call me Zigga
