Tom Hanks the gangster? (Road to Perdition (DVD))

Member Name: JonathanS

Product:	Road to Perdition (DVD)
Date:	05/10/02 (129 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful cinematography, Generally well made and acted

Disadvantages: Tom Hanks is unconvincing, Storyline pacing problems and a little shallow

Sam Mendes' first feature film was American Beauty, a film that met with universal acclaim. Aadapted from a graphic novel, and boasting an impressive cast, Road to Perdition is his second.

Set in the Chicago area in the 1930s, a time of prohibition and gangsters, this is the story of Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks), a man with a wife Annie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), and two sons Michael Jr (Tyle Hoechlin) and the younger Peter. It is told mostly from the viewpoint of the younger Michael who, after being asked by his younger brother what exactly their father does for a living, hides in the back of a car and so witnesses his father accompanying Connor Rooney (Daniel Craig), the hot-headed son of local businessman John Rooney (Paul Newman), to a meeting with another business associate, a meeting which ends in gunfire and murder. As the young Michael is now a witness, the situation rapidly escalates until father and son are on the run from the mob, with eccentric hitman Harlen Maguire (Jude Law) on their trail.

As perhaps indicated from the graphic novel roots, this is a very strongly visual film that uses darkness and light and shadow to evoke the mood of the time. It seems almost certain to be recognised for cinematography at Oscar nomination time. The acting is generally fine throughout, as you'd expect from such a cast. The one problem though is quite a major one - Tom Hanks seems fundamentally miscast in what is the main role. He is, as you'd expect, perfectly fine at the father son relationship which is at the core of the film, however he totally fails to exude any menace, despite the addition of a moustache. When you see other characters react in fear when they find out who he is it just seems totally incongruous. Perhaps this is unfair on Hanks, and it is merely his previous roles that colour the perception of his character, but nontheless it does cause a problem with the film.

The story takes a little while to get going, the
start of the film definitely drags, and towards the end it becomes a little predictable. It does overall manage to hold your attention, though it does seem to shy away a little from the fundamental moral problems of a supposed 'good father' who makes his living the way he does. It seems that wanting better for his son is enough to make Tom Hanks' character 'good', which seems a little shallow compared to the possiblities that could have been explored given the storyline.

Although Road To Perdition is fairly entertaining and undoubtedly well made, it is far from being the great film that it seems to be trying to be, and certainly isn't in the same league as the Godfather films.

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