Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #757 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-03-17
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 112 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A movie with an impeccable pedigree, Road to Perdition is director Sam Mendes' impressive follow-up to American Beauty, and features remarkable contributions from veteran cinematographer Conrad Hall, composer Thomas Newman and a cast of thespian brilliance led by Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Jude Law. Unfortunately, all their fine efforts have been lavished on an essentially predictable story, adapted from the graphic novel, which here unfolds in an overly leisurely fashion. The result is a movie that looks wonderful but feels a little too much like a contrived morality play.

Hanks plays Michael Sullivan, a family man but also a hit man in the employ of mob boss John Rooney (Newman). A surrogate father-figure to Sullivan, Rooney also has a wayward real son, Connor (Daniel Craig), whose duplicity leads to a deadly alienation between the Rooney family and Sullivan. Forced to go on the run with his own 12-year-old son, Michael junior (Tyler Hoechlin), Sullivan seeks both revenge and a way to prevent his boy from one day taking the same dark road as himself. Thus the Road to Perdition becomes both a literal and metaphorical journey for the protagonists.

It wouldn't matter that there's little tension or doubt about the outcome, except that Hanks' character is all too clearly a decent chap at heart, thus undermining from the outset any sense of a real "journey" towards redemption. It remains a delight to see all the principals acting at their peak and so capably directed, but ultimately Road to Perdition seems like a series of magnificently staged set-pieces that doesn't quite add up to the sum of its parts.

On the DVD: Road to Perdition is presented in an anamorphic version of its original theatrical 2.35:1 ratio with accompanying Dolby 5.1 or DTS sound options. Both picture and sound make the most of the impeccable photography and production design. Extras are a feature commentary from Mendes, a series of deleted scenes also with optional commentary, a standard HBO making of featurette, plus photos, text notes and a trailer for the CD soundtrack. --Mark Walker

Special Features
Audio Commentary by the director Sam Mendes
11 Deleted Scenes
HBO Special: The making of Road to Perdition
CD Soundtrack - International Version
Photo Gallery (50 stills)
Cast Biographies
Filmmakers Biographies
Production Notes

Original Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Wide-screen 16x9) Sound & Picture Quality: Dolby 5.1/DTS
Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired, Swedish, Danish, Icelandic, Finnish, Norwegian

Synopsis
Directed by Sam Mendes and based on the graphic novel by Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner, the Depression-era crime epic ROAD TO PERDITION stars Tom Hanks as Michael Sullivan, a quiet hit man who is duty bound to Mafia boss John Rooney (Paul Newman). The mobster's close bond with Sullivan, however, leads Rooney's jealous blood son, Connor (Daniel Craig), to orchestrate a tragic series of events that results in Sullivan on the run with his 12-year-old son, Michael Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin). Soon an unscrupulous crime photographer/assassin named Maguire (Jude Law) is sent after Sullivan and his son, and Sullivan must decide on a course of action as young Michael comes to terms with his father's violent way of life.
Meticulously directed by Mendes and brilliantly photographed by Conrad Hall, each scene of ROAD TO PERDITION has the composition of an expertly rendered painting. Making effective use of rain, snow, and shadows, the filmmakers create a cinematic world that's as dark, cold, and unforgiving as many of its inhabitants. But the film also allows for glimpses of emotional warmth, particularly in Sullivan's relationships with his son and Rooney, his surrogate father. In these roles, the respective actors create complex characters that resonate even in their restraint; Hanks is outstanding as a man of action with little time for words, while newcomer Hoechlin creates an unsentimental portrait of a confused boy, and Newman once again proves why he's a screen legend. And, in a strikingly unflattering role, Law makes the most out of his screen time as a creepy, parasitic hit man. Even in its harshest moments, however, Mendes never fails to remind the audience that ROAD TO PERDITION is a film about fathers and sons; and this is what elevates it from an atmospheric gangster movie to a truly astonishing work of art.

Customer Reviews

Fabulous
My header says it all, I knew it was going to be good, I mean how could it not be? Tom hanks, Paul Newman.....Jude Law? Without giving too much away, Hanks plays a hit man for the mob lead by Newman, whom is also a father figure to Hanks, favouring him over his own son played by Daniel Craig...

The plot thickens when things turn sour due to the immature and irresponsible actions of Craig which have catastrophic consequences for all involved, especially when the terrifyingly deadly skills of Hanks comes to the fore.

The film however is not all violence, and in fact is truly a heart warming stroy of father and son bonding between Hanks and his son, finding themselves thrust into a situation which neither want, they decide to take the mob head on whilst at the same time constantly on the run from the twisted and psychotic hitman played by Law. It truly is beautifuly played, with sadness and joy along the way which really touches the heart strings.

The acting by the entire cast is superb, I believe Hanks is at his absolute best here, with Newman and Craig both turning in excellent performances too. The photography is also fantastic capturing middle America in the 30's beautifully, this also brings me onto the soundtrack which again is first class, I could listen to it all day, and it somehow capsulates the feeling of the film.

I won't give anymore away as it is a film everyone must see, its definatley up there in my top 10 films of all time. Much better than the Godfather as it has so much more feeling. On a par with Goodfellas although a completely different ride.

A great movie with impeccable pedigree
Wunderkind Sam Mendes less-than-feelgood follow-up to American Beauty suffered a critical backlash on release, but its daring gloomy photography is breathtaking, and so also is the soundtrack.
Ton Hanks hitman-with-a-heart is understated, but charismatic Paul Newman still oozes talent, and Jude Law's credibly sinister.
This masterpiece is a bleak, lond dark night of the soul.

Great story with superb acting but a little leisurely
We thoroughly enjoyed this film.Without giving too much away,a village is run by mafia and a boy witnesses a murder leading to dramatic events.The location where filming was shot is great,all the main actors are superb and the story has many twists and turns.If i could make a minor observation,the film is a little drawn out and by half-way,you wish it would have a more action and/or speed.We would recommend this film to all over 16years as it does contain some graphic violence.