Average Rating: 
Rating: - Perdition¿s Road is Quite the Journey
Even now, I don't really know how to sum up this movie. All I knew before I went to see it was that 1) it featured Tom Hanks, one of my favorite actors; 2) people were raving that it was Paul Newman's best performance in years; and 3) that it was an excellent movie, one worth looking into. But now that I have actually seen it, now that I have had the great fortune to sit through two hours of such an engrossing movie, all I can find to say is this: what an incredibly well-done piece of work.Tom Hanks plays the character of Michael Sullivan, a hit-man of sorts of who works for John Rooney (played startlingly well by Paul Newman). The story travels at a very leisurely pace, until Sullivan, along with Rooney's son, silence a man who was speaking out against Rooney. In what should be just another day at the office turns out to be the key turning point in the film. Seconds after Sullivan and his partner-in-crime do their dirty work, it is discovered that Sullivan's son, also named Michael, saw the whole thing. Rooney and his son are doubtful that young Michael will be able to keep this dark secret under wraps, so Rooney orders Sullivan's family to be murdered. This sets the rest of the movie in motion - Sullivan and his son skip town so as to avoid the rest of Rooney's wrath. Tom Hanks, again, serves up another great performance. He is stiffer than a board at first, but as the movie opens up, so does his character, making his transformation from cold-hearted gunman to a guy just trying to protect what little he has left all the more convincing. You've never quite seen Hanks like this before, and I applaud him for stepping out of his familiar "the guy everybody loves" role. Paul Newman is electric - the screen crackles with energy every time he is on screen. His eyes, his barely-controlled rage, his suffering; I can see why people claim that this is his most riveting character portrayal in years. Jude Law, a photographer who likes to "shoot the dead" is also a stand-out. He's just creepy enough, and just weasel-like enough, to make you both fear and hate him. Everyone points out that Hanks and Newman are great, but many also fail to point out just what a talented actor they found in Law. Sam Mendes, who also directed the standout movie "American Beauty," does another fine job behind the camera here. There are a number of shots he took that reminded me of "American Beauty," and that's not necessarily a bad thing, since I really like that movie. The cinematographer is also wonderful - from the gray and black hues that wash over the screen, to the way the rain cascades down windows and reflects onto characters' faces and walls, to the way candles light up a room, this movie is simply gorgeous to look at. And I can't forget Thomas Newman, who impresses me more and more with each score that he produces. He is developing quite a reputation for himself, with such great scores for "American Beauty" and "The Green Mile." The score he produced for this film is terrific, and it has all the trademark Newman aspects in it. I really can't say more about this movie without giving it away. I liked this movie a lot more than I thought I would - there were scary elements, there was humor, there was a heartwarming portrayal of father-son relationships. This is one movie that needs to be seen to be appreciated. Do yourself a favor and check out "Road to Perdition." It is definitely worth your time.
Rating: - Tom Hanks pulled it off.
I was a little skeptical at first about Tom Hanks playing a gangster, but he did a very good job of doing so. When I popped this DVD in my player, I really didn't know what to expect, I haven't heard anything about the movie, all I knew was that I am a pretty big Tom Hanks fan (beside Cast Away). The movie is about a gangster (Tom Hanks) and his son that are on the road for six weeks running from the people that killed their family and at the same time trying to get revenge on the people that killed their family. At the climax of the movie I couldn't help but wonder why I ever doubted it, it was terrific. A must watch.
Rating: - Why a different end than the book?
I loved the movie, I thought iy was visually stunning and well acted. I picked up the original book after seeing the movie, and was suprised to find out the ending of the novel was so much more poignant. Was the director more concerned with commercial appeal?I understand some of the changes, as they were made for time, streamlining and condensing. Easier to have one hitmanetc... but why change the end, why deviate form the book there? The ending seemed predictable but at the end of such a well crafted movie I was not disapointed, but after reading the novel, by comparrison the movie's end seems to lack the impact of the novel's. The director played it safe.
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