The Road To Perdition Movie Review:


As fun as it may be to get out of the sun on a hot summer day and watch the latest big budget blockbuster sequel, for some people film is something more than that. Those rare few go to the movies for something more than to be just purely entertained. Those are the people that see film as an art and for those people there are movies like Road To Perdition.

A breath of fresh air amidst the summer films, Road To Perdition is a dark period piece taking place mostly in Chicago in the late 30's. It is the story of Michael O'Sullivan, a hitman who is attempting to be a family man despite his line of work. When his older son witnesses one of his jobs, O'Sullivan's life is torn apart. The son of the boss takes it upon himself to kill the kid for what he has seen but mistakingly kills O'Sullivan's other son and his wife instead. Then begins the journey O'Sullivan and his son take to avenge their deaths. Soon they are being tailed by Maguire, a hitman played by Jude Law.

Road To Perdition is not a light film, and at times it is not fun to watch, but I don't have to hesitate in saying that it is the most brilliant film to come out all year. Sam Mendes, director of American Beauty, has a style that is apparent and although American Beauty and Road To Perdition are very different films, Road To Perdition is as good if not better than Beauty. It helps that Mendes once again used Conrad Hall Sr. as his cinematographer. Every scene seems poetically and breathtakingly shot. With incredible sets and great locations, not one scene is boring visually.

Although it is a little soon to be talking awards already, it's safe to say that the performances in Perdition were of Oscar calibar. Paul Newman is amazing in the role of the boss who must struggle to choose between his son who is trigger happy and the son he never had, in O'Sullivan. Knowing the Academy's love to recognize a long working actor, I'm sure Newman will be noticed, and deservingly so. Jude Law breaks out of his usual roles as Maguire, a creepy photographer who also happens to be a killer. This is not the Jude Law that we are used to seeing and he too is deserving of attention for his performance. And of course there is the much loved Tom Hanks in a departure from his normal roles as well. Hanks pulls off possibly the best performance of his career in the subtle O'Sullivan. Never showing much emotion in his expressions, we must gather all that he is feeling and thinking from his eyes.Basically, Hanks plays a hardened killer in such a way that we know he really is trying to be the best he can be.

Road To Perdition may not be at the top of the box office, at least not for very long, but it will get it's day in the not too distant future

Ryan Izay

Site Contents Copyright© The Z Review, unless used with permission.This site has no intention to infringe on the rights of the film owners of The Road To Perdition and intellectual copyright holders of the movies mentioned herein & hold copyright over the movie, characters, merchandise & storyline.