adrian-43767
From the very first frames showing Terry Hoechlin reminiscing about six weeks with his father, Tom Hanks, in 1931, this film has a classical look and structure, and it consistently adheres to those principles, on the back of a very solid and credible story, superb direction from Sam Mendes, wonderful cinematography, and acting of the highest order by all involved. Tom Hanks and Paul Newman have seldom performed better, and Daniel Craig is unforgettable as Newman's cynical, thieving, and murderous son. The counterweight comes from Jude Law, a professional hit-man, who is completely absorbed by the subject of death, corpses, and photographing them as they perish -- a habit that will have consequences for Law by movie's end.In line with its classical trappings, Road to Perdition is solid and it has only grown in stature since I first watched it. 9/10
Smoreni Zmaj
Review for this movie puts me in dilemma. If I try to be objective I would be hypocritical to praise the movie that bored me to tears. At the other hand, I can not be subjective either because I'm well aware of all qualities this movie has to offer. Although not so original, story is strong, directing good and Best Cinematography Oscar more than deserved. Visually it has no flaws and some scenes are simply divine. Some say this is life achievement of Tom Hanks, but to me he is the weakest spot. He's completely unconvincing and maybe that's the reason that movie with so deep and moving story didn't left any emotional impact on me. Really big names are acting in this flick, still not one of them, except Paul Newman, left positive impression. Beside several really mighty scenes, movie was pretty much boring. I really wanted to like it, but it simply didn't happen. It's probably most fair to say that this is very good movie but not my cup of tea.7/10
jaredpahl
I had a largely mixed reaction to Sam Mendes' sophomore effort, Road to Perdition. The tale of family betrayal and loyalty is an exceptionally well crafted film, populated with a quartet of fantastic performances, and packed with visual style. However, the film's incessant somberness and poor central performance weigh these great elements down. Taken together, Road to Perdition's pros outnumber and overpower its cons, leading to a solid whole.Road to Perdition follows the interconnected Rooney mob family of Chicago in 1931. Michael Sullivan is a mob enforcer, who, as an orphan, was taken in by the patriarch of the mob, John Rooney (Paul Newman). When Sullivan's own son, Michael Jr.(Tyler Hoechlin), witnesses one of his father's mob hits, Rooney takes steps to silence his own extended family.The story is a gripping one. The surface layer plot involving a cat and mouse chase between Sullivan and his son, John Ronney's son Connor (Daniel Craig) and a hired henchman named Maguire (Jude Law) through the Prohibition Era Midwest, is intensely exciting. What's more is that beneath the surface of Road to Perdition lies a poignant family drama. The tension between Rooney's blood and adopted children is palpable, as is the cold distance between Sullivan and his son. The movie is a feast of father and son drama, and it tackles the issues it raises from every possible angle. Road to Perdition is one of the most insightful movies I've seen on the relationships of sons and the men they look up to.The big themes of Road to Perdition stand out thanks to four major performances from Hanks, Craig, Law, and Newman. Hanks is a fine anchor for the story as a distant father who's instinct drives him to do anything to protect his son. Craig's jealous mob heir is a compelling screen presence, who is both empathetic and completely remorseless. It may be the blonde Bond's best performance ever. Jude Law is equally affecting as the hit-man with a thing for photographing dead (or dying) bodies. As good as these performances are, the big scene-stealer is Newman. Even with a limited amount of time on screen, his John Rooney is a commanding figure torn between the lives of his two sons. I can't imagine anyone else in the role, and without him the movie would not have near the impact it does.I should mention the performance that doesn't work, and it's a big one. Tyler Hoechlin is miscast as the protagonist, and for a story that requires him to balance screen time with Tom Hanks, his acting just doesn't cut it. Hoechlin is totally out of place as a Prohibition Era adolescent with his chiseled jawline and budding good looks, as well as his contemporary speech pattern. I never believed Hoechlin in the era, or even as a normal kid. He is so abnormally handsome (Something that makes him perfect as Superman in the Supergirl TV Show) that the seed of the performance he does give is rendered useless. Nothing about him seems genuine, and that almost dooms the entire film.Luckily, Road to Perdition's lush visual style and overflowing craftsmanship overpower the Hoechlin performance. Thanks to Mendes, cinematographer Conrad Hall, and a cast of other talented collaborators, every shot of Road to Perdition is a triumph of lighting, set design, and cinematography. The deep shadows, inventive camera angles, and artistic art direction are all evocative of the graphic novel from which the story is based. The film is an absolute marvel to look at -- a rich, heightened world of fedoras, tommy guns, and rain that comes down in buckets. Mendes' direction is also more than admirable. The scenes of suspense rival the best of Coppola or the Coen brothers, and the shootouts are frenetic, exciting, and tense as all Hell. There are a few shots here that are masterpieces of staging -- literal works of moving art.Sam Mendes has enjoyed an interesting career, coming out of the gate with a modern masterpiece and slowly transforming into a 007 fixture. Road to Perdition lands somewhere in between the sharp suburban drama of American Beauty and the mature action of Skyfall. Mendes can't help but lather on the drama in Road to Perdition, and often it is too much. Sometimes you just want the film to play the family dynamics straight, without the unnecessary flairs, specifically in the dialogue. Even with flaws that would sink most pictures, Road to Perdition continually succeeds in telling what is a genuinely engaging story. Taken on a scene-by-scene basis, Road to Perdition has enough Oscar-caliber performances and cinematography to lesson the impact of the miscast lead and relentlessly somber tone. There's a Hollywood classic lying somewhere inside Road to Perdition, and even if it never fully lives up to its potential, it is still an incredibly stylish and exciting father and son story.74/100
