ROAD TO PERDITION
Released: July 12, 2002
Director Sam Mendes wisely waited three years after his 1999 Best Picture Oscar winner "American Beauty" to create his second film. Bringing in big guns like Tom Hanks, Paul Newman with solid actors like Stanley Tucci, Jude Law and Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mendes has created a period piece soaked in atmosphere. Bonds of loyalty are put to the test when a hitman's son witnesses what his father does for a living. Hanks plays the hitman and he does so with a restrained power. New actor Tyler Hoechlin play's the hitman's son who discovers the ugly truth of his father's day job. It's after the discovery that "Road To Perdition" really takes off. The name of the game is betrayal, running, robbing and surviving. It's almost decided from the get go what the resolution will be but it's still effective regardless because of Mendes' command for the material. Poor Jennifer Jason Leigh has maybe two lines throughout the entire movie and the relentless raining on the obviously painted on fake snow were minor quips but otherwise I can see why this was getting all the good reviews. I still prefer Mendes' "American Beauty" over this one but it still has that must-see quality to it and if it doesn't win at least a Cinematography Oscar then the Academy needs better glasses...
119 Minutes
DreamWorks/20th Century Fox