For such a famous director, Sam Mendes has made very few films. Only two in fact; the multi-Oscar winning American Beauty and this 2002 follow-up, Road To Perdition. Although follow-up isn't really the right term, as this is completely different. I was surprised to find that this did not win any major Oscars, although it was nominated for about six, because it really is a brilliant film. I was also surprised that for such a great film, it was not advertised very well; I didn't really know anything about this film before I saw it, and I bet lots of people don't know about it at all, which is a shame.

This is a film about family, betrayal and guilt, rather than about crime and violence, as you may have expected from the subject. The plot has lots of twists and turns, and I like the way that there isn't really a hero in the film: although Sullivan is protecting his son at all times, he remains a cold-blooded killer. Just when you think you can guess what's about to happen, the story switches, and you find out that characters are not as they seem. The many subplots all fit together nicely, leaving a very well-rounded story.

The direction from Sam Mendes is fantastic, and I rate the film so highly due to its technical achievements even more than its story. Both of his films have had a lot of visual flair, and with the help of the famous director of photography Connor L Hall (who also worked on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid with Paul Newman), he creates some striking scenes. Everything from the tiniest little details - a puff of cigarette smoke, or a streaky winter sky - right up to a brutal murder and the final rain-soaked showdown, looks fantastic. This cinematography deservedly won an Oscar. Mendes even finds time for a little gun-slinging action scene, which he does equally well. The sets and locations all look stunning, with the buildings of Chicago put to good affect, and everything has an authentic 1930s depression-period feel.

My favourite part of the film was the finale. Not the very last scenes, but when Sullivan confronts those who betrayed him, most notably Paul Newman's character. The scene is shot in heavy rain at night, and it's completely striking and original. John Rooney is standing in the streets surrounded by his henchmen, when suddenly someone opens fire and they are all killed one by one around him, in a kind of slow-motion. You may be thinking this sounds a bit violent, or even a bit Matrix Revolutions, but only because I can't describe it properly. Well it turns out to be Sullivan, and he kills everyone but Rooney, and slowly walks up to him, and it's really tense because you don't know whether he will kill him or not. And I won't tell you.

Directed by: Sam Mendes
Starring: Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law, Daniel Craig, Stanley Tucci, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ciaran Hinds
Running time: 117 minutes
Classification: 15