| Road to Perdition | | Cast : | Tyler Hoechlin, Tom Hanks | | Director : | Sam Mendes | | Studio : | Universal Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | July 12, 2002 | | DVD Released Date : | August 24, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 15, 2005 | | Summary | "He's my son....." | Content
 | Road to Perdition is a story of betrayal, affection, respect, and heartbreak, as Tom Hanks, Jude Law, Paul Newman, and Tyler Hoechlin [the young kid] come together in this intriguing film.....
Tom Hanks stars as Michale Sullivan, a hit man who works for an older man named John Rooney [Paul Newman] in the early 1930's. When Sullivan's oldest son [Tyler Hoechlin] witnesses an unplanned murder on one of Sullivan's mob hits, Sullivan is determined to have his son keep it to himself.
However Hanks character's world is turned upside down as he is betrayed by his mob family and his wife and youngest son are killed in fear that the kid will tell the police of the mob hit. Sullivan takes his remaining son and goes on the run, always looking over his shoulder and swearing revenge on the man who killed his family [Who also was Rooney's son in the first place.]
Paul Newman portrays John Rooney, the mob boss himself, a man who is nearing the end of his time, but is still intimidating and powerful none the less. He himself has great respect for Sullivan, and even cares for him like a father would for a son [Ironic, isn't it?]
The main plotline is both Sullivan and his son on the run, looking for a new safe place to live. There are other littler plot lines that keep the movie entertaining:
From Sullivan teaching his son to drive the car so he can rob banks to get money to keep them alive, to even Rooney hiring a hit man/photographer [Jude Law]to track down the two runaways and kill them. So many great actors, one movie that will assure you the acting will never get dull.
Not to let too much info get out [in case you haven't seen the movie yet] I will say that the interaction between Newman and Hanks near the end in the church is absolute gold, where both men have their final respects and say what they think about each other.
Jude Law gives a chilling performance as a photographer who takes pictures of the dead because he was always captivated by the way they looked like and how they lay still. His interaction with Hanks in the diner is chilling, telling Hanks what he thinks of his line of work as a photographer as he loads a camera [and also a gun under the bench.]
The ending is surprsing [At least I thought so] and a powerful message from the son gives this movie a 5 star rating.
The extras include commentary by the director, Sam Mendes, and also some of the actors. Deleted scenes, with alternate commentary, a photo gallery, and also HBO's "Making of Documentary." of the movie. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 09, 2005 | | Summary | I'm glad it's you | Content
| I LOVE TOM HANKS! Does this sound familiar? I'm certain that I've said this before, but it's because I truly do!
Michael Sullivan Sr. (Tom Hanks) puts food on the table by working for John Rooney (Paul Newman), a crime boss.
Sullivan is sent with Conner, Rooney's son to go and work some issues out. Unsuspectingly Michael Jr. is interested in what father does for a living. He stows away in the backseat to observe first hand. Conner, being the sick bastard that he is decides TALKING just isn't doing it for him! Unknowingly, Michael Jr. becomes a witness to what exactly is done to provide for The Sullivan family.
TALK ABOUT EYE OPENERS....
Connor is made to apologize for his lack of discretion. Michael Jr. becomes reticent.
Sullivan convinces his wife that his talk with their son will make matters okay. But there is serious doubt causing others to be edgy.
Sullivan rushes home from a business trip, which was to be his demise. He finds that his mob family has taken the life of his wife, and their youngest son. Sullivan now realizes that he's in a race to not only avenge his family, but save his only son Michael Jr. from the life that he's lead.
"It is a natural law; sons were put on earth to trouble their fathers."
Expressively we see as Sullivan's character undergoes a major change. He races from city to city in search of work, with one exception. UNFORTUNATELY Frank Nitti (Chicago) can't grant him that exception.
Harlan Maguire, a peculiar photographing hit man is hired to stub out Sullivan Sr.
At the risk of getting Michael Jr. safely to PERDITION. Sullivan is forced to step on major toes. Although its not what one would consider a "normal" father & son relationship. Sullivan and Michael Jr. bond as he teaches him to be observant, how to drive, and how to rob banks. Michael Jr. now knows the love, and fear that his father has in his heart.
I loved this movie. Yes there was a lot of violence, and Jude Law scared the hell out of me! With all of that said, ROAD TO PERDITION is a beautiful movie about the love that is between each father & son.
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| Rating | | | Date | June 27, 2005 | | Summary | A masterpiece | Content
| Wow, this movie was absolutely brilliant. I really don't know why everyone says it has a slow pace. I thought the pace was perfect. The movie is about Michael Sullivan played by Tom Hanks with perfection who is a sort of hitman/ killer working for John Rooney (Paul Newman). He disslikes this job but does it because Rooney payed for his house and helps him financially. He had nothing and Mr. Rooney gave him everything. But, his children are unaware that this is his job, and when one witnesses a cold blooded murder by him, he is placed in an awkward position. And when an atrocity occurs, he leaves with his son and is bent on revenge. They rob abanks and much more and build a bond. They're the perfect team. Hanks does a great job as always as well as Jude Law who plays his creepy role to perfection. This drama is highly recommended as it shows a beautiful story and greatly shows how the 1930s were. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 21, 2005 | | Summary | Angel of Death? | Content
| This is an extraordinary movie about fathers and sons, a rarity in this politically correct world. It is a contrast between Mr. Rooney (Paul Newman) and his son Conner (Daniel Craig) and Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) and his son Michael (Tyler Hoechlin). No more poignantly put than when Mr. Rooney spoke to Michael Sullivan and said: It is a natural law, sons were put on earth to trouble their fathers. In a sense, this is true. It is a father's mandate to help his sons grow up to be men and to have a moral center. In this respect Mr. Rooney failed his son Conner who became an undisciplined bully; whereas, Michael, a hired killer, gives his son a legacy of a father who gave his all for his son.
Not only does the story draw me back again and again, the pure beauty of the cinematography makes watching the movie an enjoyable event. It is simply breathtaking. Whether it is Michael Jr. riding his bike against the tide of factory workers, or the slaughter of Mr. Rooney and his henchmen is the driving rain, one would be hard pressed to find a more beautiful movie.
The beauty of this movie hides the inherent violence of organized crime. To be sure, violence is shown, but it is shown in such a way that one does not realize the depth and extent of it without some reflection. It wasn't until my third or fourth viewing that I began to realize just how many people were killed in this movie- Michael Sullivan guns down at least twelve, leaving a total body count of seventeen or more. The innocent (Michaels wife, younger son, and the policeman); the naïve (the bodyguard at the speakeasy), as well as the evil (Mr. Rooney, Conner and other henchmen) die violent deaths. Yet, evil is not portrayed simply. Conner Rooney and Harlen Maguire (Jude Law) are quintessential villains; whereas Mr. Rooney and Michael Sullivan, though killers have redeeming, if not endearing qualities about them.
There is an unspoken theme that weaves itself through this film, namely, the judgment of God. Mr. Rooney said, that the only certainty they can expect is that they all are going to hell. Especially telling is the scene where Michael Sullivan assembles his Thompson machine gun in preparation for killing of Mr. Rooney and his henchmen. As he assembles his gun, there in the background is a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As Sullivan turns and talks to his son, the picture remains with us, just over Michael's shoulder. Could it be that in his fight to save his son, and to avenge the murder of his wife and youngest son that Michael becomes the angel of death, the harbinger of the judgment of God upon the Rooney family? Interesting thought. Think about it.
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| Rating | | | Date | May 01, 2005 | | Summary | Road to salvation | Content
| This movie is so absolutely heartbreaking, the ending did nothing to lighten the mood of the film. Even so, Road to Perdition is a wonderful movie of how one mans decisions can decide the future of his family and those surrounding him.
Tom Hanks is wonderful as the hitman working to feed his family while keeping his two boys from finding out what he does. Out of curiousity, the elder of the two decides to follow his father to work, just to discover the horrible truth of his work. To keep the secret safe, the boss's son is sent to kill the son, but ends up killing the younger son along with his mother. So begins a race to stay ahead of death and destruction, and Tom Hank's ultimate goal to save the soul of his son.
Jude Law plays the crazy hitman who has a passion for photagraphing his dead victims to grace his walls, and who is sent after Micheal Sullivan and his son. What transpires between these three is the height and ending purpose to the entire movie. Sad, but with shades of hope as the sons life is forever changed for the better.
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