Many people think Sam Mendes's first movie American Beauty was his best as it won all the oscars including Best Director for himself. But I disagree.
The story is about Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks), a lifelong gangster who is on the run with his son with a sadistic hitman (Jude Law) on hot pursuit. John Rooney (Paul Newman) has got the very thing he wants but Nitti (Stanley Tucci) is heading the operation. The film also stars Daniel Craig, Jeniffer Jason Leigh and Tyler Hoechlin.
Two of hollywood's greatest actors (Tom Hanks and oscar -nominated Paul Newman) lead the all-star cast but in my personal opinion Jude Law gave the best performance as the clever, sly, sadisitc hitman Maguire. It's good to see him in a role where he does not play one of his type-cast characters from a chick-flick. Paul Newman deserved his oscar nomination as John Rooney, a father-like figure to Michael. Tom Hanks is good as always, the brilliant way his character could not show his emotions was greatly portrayed by him.
Thomas Newman provided us with another fine score, haunting at times and depressing at other times. The score should have won the oscar that year but sadly he missed just like in American Beauty (which he should have also won that year).
I love the way Conrad L. Hall did the lighting in the scene between Tom Hanks and Paul Newman near the end of the film, a sister scene to the one between Kevin Spacey and Chris Cooper in American Beauty. He deserved the oscar 100%. So surreal, but dark and disturbing which really leant itself to the film.
DVD was a bit disappointing, it has deleted scenes but no proper making of. It has a HBO making-of which isn't particulary good.
Anyone who is looking for a happy, funny, joyful movie should not even consider this movie. It is dark and very depressing. You may be wondering why I even like it if it's like that, you have to see it for yourself.
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: John Duigan - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsend, Penelope Cruz
Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
A movie with an impeccable pedigree,Road to Perditionis director Sam Mendes' impressive ... more
follow-up toAmerican Beauty, and features remarkable contributions from veteran cinematographer Conrad Hall, composer Thomas Newman and a cast of thespian brillianc...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
He shouldn't have been there. But in the moment that Michael Sullivan's son witnessed a ... more
brutal slaying, the lives of this 12 year old and his gangster father are shattered irrevocably. Now, targeted by the mob he's devoted his life to, Sullivan and his...
Advantages: The soundtrack was amazing, and so were the actors and direction. Disadvantages: I felt the film did not actually go anywhere, it had no intriguing plot, and went no where new in terms of cinema.
Skeptik 19.11.2002 (19.11.2002)
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Review of Road To Perdition (DVD)
![Road to Perdition [2002] [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78530874.jpg "Road to Perdition [2002] [DVD]")
Jan 31st, 2007
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