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Road to Perdition (2002)
So the inclusion of this film in the recent Top 100 films from 2000-2012 list compiled by the great Brodinski has certainly raised a few eyebrows, not because of the films’ lack of quality but many members have simply yet to have watched the film, some have not even heard of it and finally those who have seem to have completely forgotten about it.
“Road to Perdition” is a film by Sam Mendes, a director who is largely known for his film that picked up five academy awards – American Beauty. Road to Perdition is a crime film but unlike others in the genre it takes its own unique approach with the great Tom Hanks portraying the lead character Michael Sullivan.
The cast also includes a mixture of other famous names; we have the stellar Paul Newman portraying John Rooney, an old man who is the boss of the criminal organisation that Sullivan worked for. Then we have the opposite to Paul Newman, a star who is better known for his earlier works such as “Cool Hand Luke” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” with Daniel Craig (who will be teaming up with Mendes once again in the highly anticipated Bond film “Skyfall”) portraying John Rooney’s son Connor Rooney who hides behind the protection of his father as he attempts to murder Sullivan following the witness of a murder by his son Michael Sullivan Jr.
The main strength of “Road to Perdition” lies with its cinematography and beautifully artistic world it creates in which its violent characters interact in. It deservedly won an Academy Award for its cinematography and the film has everything you could want from this aspect of filmmaking; beautiful sets, costumes, colours etc. One scene in particular sums up the entire film, a visually superb scene that creates a dark, eerie atmosphere as we see a number of characters face off in a dark street filled with shadows, the rain is pouring down and we can see finely each drop as it soaks them and drips from their hats.
Another famous name that stars in the film is Jude Law. Whilst I am not a massive fan of the actor I felt his role in this film was great, providing us with an emotionally detached, strange and sick character, a manifestation of evil that can compared to that of Javier Bardem in “No Country for Old Men” – of course on a much lesser scale. His character represents the sad and depressing story at the heart of the film for Michael Sullivan and his son and although some criticise the predictability and relatively straightforward plot that the film follows it is this perhaps realistic path and realisation that such involvement in a world filled with crime will inevitably never have a happy ending that brings out the most of Tom Hanks and Tyler Hoechlin as father and son. Also we have the wonderful score of Thomas Newman that is used extremely well where it should be, to amplify the sad and emotional centre of the film.
You can not compare this film to any other films in the genre such as “The Godfather” or “Goodfellas”, to do so would be unfair and wrong. This film is a an absolute joy to watch for what it is, an emotional story shown through brilliant cinematography, individual performances and a fantastic score. As a piece of art, this film is definitely one of the best of the 21st century so far.
RATING:
So the inclusion of this film in the recent Top 100 films from 2000-2012 list compiled by the great Brodinski has certainly raised a few eyebrows, not because of the films’ lack of quality but many members have simply yet to have watched the film, some have not even heard of it and finally those who have seem to have completely forgotten about it.
“Road to Perdition” is a film by Sam Mendes, a director who is largely known for his film that picked up five academy awards – American Beauty. Road to Perdition is a crime film but unlike others in the genre it takes its own unique approach with the great Tom Hanks portraying the lead character Michael Sullivan.
The cast also includes a mixture of other famous names; we have the stellar Paul Newman portraying John Rooney, an old man who is the boss of the criminal organisation that Sullivan worked for. Then we have the opposite to Paul Newman, a star who is better known for his earlier works such as “Cool Hand Luke” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” with Daniel Craig (who will be teaming up with Mendes once again in the highly anticipated Bond film “Skyfall”) portraying John Rooney’s son Connor Rooney who hides behind the protection of his father as he attempts to murder Sullivan following the witness of a murder by his son Michael Sullivan Jr.
The main strength of “Road to Perdition” lies with its cinematography and beautifully artistic world it creates in which its violent characters interact in. It deservedly won an Academy Award for its cinematography and the film has everything you could want from this aspect of filmmaking; beautiful sets, costumes, colours etc. One scene in particular sums up the entire film, a visually superb scene that creates a dark, eerie atmosphere as we see a number of characters face off in a dark street filled with shadows, the rain is pouring down and we can see finely each drop as it soaks them and drips from their hats.
Another famous name that stars in the film is Jude Law. Whilst I am not a massive fan of the actor I felt his role in this film was great, providing us with an emotionally detached, strange and sick character, a manifestation of evil that can compared to that of Javier Bardem in “No Country for Old Men” – of course on a much lesser scale. His character represents the sad and depressing story at the heart of the film for Michael Sullivan and his son and although some criticise the predictability and relatively straightforward plot that the film follows it is this perhaps realistic path and realisation that such involvement in a world filled with crime will inevitably never have a happy ending that brings out the most of Tom Hanks and Tyler Hoechlin as father and son. Also we have the wonderful score of Thomas Newman that is used extremely well where it should be, to amplify the sad and emotional centre of the film.
You can not compare this film to any other films in the genre such as “The Godfather” or “Goodfellas”, to do so would be unfair and wrong. This film is a an absolute joy to watch for what it is, an emotional story shown through brilliant cinematography, individual performances and a fantastic score. As a piece of art, this film is definitely one of the best of the 21st century so far.
RATING: