The film is really interesting. The story reminds a little bit of The Godfather who is played in this movie by the famous Paul Newman. John Rooney is a head of the mobster clan. His sun Connor is not quite up to his father's expectations: he is stupid and reckless. This Connor kills one of the man and was doing it against his father's wishes. Michael (Tom Hanks) was with him and the scene ended up with a massacre.
The story concentrates around Michael Sullivan, a man who works for Rooney. In fact Rooney helped him very much long ago and got him into his business.
It happened that Michael's son Mike saw the whole scene since he became curious about his father's job. So Connor decided to get rid of Michael and his son as of witnesses of his shameful deed.
Yet Michael's long termed work as a liquidator helped him to develop certain instincts and quick reactions and he quickly guessed Connor's plans. But the latter started to kill his family and then Michael decided to play for himself. He wanted revenge. So he and his son set for a trip, a road to Perdition. This is a pun like The Arlington Road.
His plan for revenge gets a plan and he gets Mike help him. He teaches him how to drive a car. But the mobsters do not sleep either. They send a killer Maguire (Jude Law) after them and a game of cat and mice begins. The scenes how Michael guesses who Maguire is are masterfully done, their first meeting is one of the best scenes in the movie. Other episodes when Sullivan escapes traps are also well done. But the film has its flaws too. Some scenes are rather weak and sentimental and the end of the movie is quite weak too in my opinion. Also you can't help feeling the influence of American Beauty: the style of the both films are quite the same.
Nevertheless it is very good. The actors are superb, especially Hanks and Law. Hanks plays a role that is not typical for him: a moody guy who after he had lost his family suddenly saw all the mean reality of his environment and developed love for his son whom he had hardly seen before. Hanks gives an excellent psychological portrait. Law also plays a very interesting character: he is a killer who likes to photograph dead people. later he sells the pictures to the press. Tyler Hoechlin who plays Micheal Jr. should also be mentioned. His play is really good.
Decorations, cars and costumes deserve a special mentioning, they masterfully create the atmosphere of that time. Men's capes and hats are very stylish and old cars catch a spectator's attention. In a word an interesting story and dramatic tension makes this film superb drama.
Back to Movie Reviews Back to Home Page
