Road to Perdition (2002)

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Road to Perdition is a fantastic movie with a very well developed plot and a tremendous cast. It is a deeply engaging film from beginning to end as we follow a devoted father and husband seeking revenge on those who killed his father and son. The relationship that develops between Michael and his other, surviving son is powerful and heart wrenching, as we are at a constant concern for their safety. I did find that it moved a little slowly at times. This is not a huge issue, but I simply felt it did not pick up the pace at certain points. The performances are all around fantastic, Tom Hanks is completely immersed in to this role that is unlike anything else I have seen him in. He owns this dark, dreary character from beginning to end. Tyler Hoechlin is also very engrossed in to his character, certainly being one of the most impressive child stars I have seen in any film or TV show, with the likes of Paul Newman, Daniel Craig and Ciarán Hinds also bringing in top notch acting. Powerful and uplifting. Beautifully acted and edge of your seat suspense, I would recommend Road to Perdition to anyone looking for a good drama or thriller. A hitman seeks revenge on his family's killers along with his surviving son. Best Performance: Tom Hanks

How do you make a depression era American gangster mob crime drama thriller (and breathe...) look visually arresting? You bring in Sam Mendes. No one else can bring haunting tones and visceral imagery quite like Mendes. An adaptation of a graphic novel, Michael Sullivan is a hitman for a powerful Irish mob family when an incident occurs that tests the limits of loyalty between them. This is stuffed to the brim with themes. Loyalty, fatherhood, family, revenge, ambition...Mendes really outdid himself here. The considerable amount of attention between Sullivan Sr and Sullivan Jr, establishing the powerful bond of a son looking up to their father. For inspiration. For guidance. For life. Every little intricacy illuminates the screen. From Sullivan Jr constantly querying Sullivan Sr's job, to him just consistently staring and imitating his body movement. Incredibly powerful and resonating. The balance of action and drama was a perfect equilibrium. Both utterly stylish. Tom Hanks yet again carries out another understated performance. However, what really astonished me was how he held his own against Paul Newman, who owned every single scene. To be working alongside such a legendary and prolific actor in what was one of his last roles, it must've intimidated Hanks...even by the tiniest of margins. The narrative is well structured and slowly transforms into a cat-and-mouse hunt. The dialogue was sharp, witty and quite a few subtle comedic moments that brings a smile. The biggest issue, is Sam Mendes. There is no doubt he is an outstanding director, it shows here. The problem is, that he has a tendency to over-direct. To clarify, his style far exceeds the substance of the plot and starts to detract from the film. Every single frame is over stylised. It works for certain scenes like the street shootout in the rain, but it starts to become tiresome when it's just characters interacting. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather a film be over-directed than not at all.

A stylish period movie where the ever lovable Tom Hanks is a mob enforcer? Bingo. A brilliant and beautiful film that focuses on the father-son relationship with a heavy dose of violence and a heavier dose of compelling performances from a great ensemble cast. Side note: Many people might not know that this is actually based on a graphic novel.

Seemed like a pretty good flic... until... the conclusion, when Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) "lets his guard down," and allows the hit-man to catch him unaware. Given Michael's careful approach to his pursuit of his prey... it is totally inconsistent with his character not to remain vigilant while the mob's hit-man was still alive and pursuing him. Especially, since his wife's sister's house on the beach, was inexplicably empty when he and his son arrived.The flic is ruined by the next to last scene, which is inconsistent and totally predictable, as Michael walks into the empty house on the beach."Bummer."