(#11) Road to Perdition (2002) - [8/10]

A father flees from his own mob gang while protecting his son.

An assassin is on the run after his son witnesses a murder committed by his boss. He is torn between being loyal to his boss and saving his own child.

How would I describe this film in one word?

Class.

Note Don't let the title intimidate you, Perdition is simply the name of a place.

Review

This movie follows the journey of how a father must flee away from his own mob gang while protecting his son. The father does a lot of questionable things, things he isn't proud of including theft and murder - all in attempt to erase all the trouble that he's facing, all to sheild his son from the world that he is ashamed of and don't want him to be a part of. Theft and murder may be pretty shallow cliche things to see in a gangster movie but this movie encapsulates the futility of it (the son realises that in the end), which I think is pretty important and the way it is portrayed is beautiful. I love rain and I love movies with it (seven, blade runner) and I looking at the poster, I knew this one did too so I guess that's a part of the reason I wanted to watch it. And man! That scene! Was amazing! It was beautiful. And it could only be done with the timeless, magicalical, cinematographical genius of Conrad W. Hall (DOP of another one of my all-time favorites: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid).

There's a beautiful scene where Tom Hanks says "He killed my wife and child" and Paul Newman (who gives a incredibly heartfelt performance by the way) replies defending his son "Everyone in this room are murderers - we, you and I. One thing's for sure, none of us are seeing heaven". And Tom replies "Michael (his son) can". And that is Tom's entire motive which the movie shows that Michael understood but what Sam Mendes is really trying to say is 'murder is murder' and it is a sin no matter the morality of our heart.

RATING: 8/10

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Director: Sam Mendes Rated: R Runtime: 1 hr 57 min Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller Starring: Tom Hanks, Tyler Hoechlin, Rob Maxey