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Breathtaking Road
Is it just me or do I keep predicting Oscars nominations in this column? We're eight months away and I'm calling them left and right. Mark my words, I'm going to be right. Anyway, today we have my review of Road To Perdition. Next week, we'll have two script reviews: The Core and Shanghai Knights. Have a nice weekend!
My Review of Road To Perdition
MAGUIRE
To get paid for what you love. Is that not the dream?
Seeing movies before anyone else has always been one of my dreams. Watching incredible movies before mass audiences has been an amazing experience. For the second consecutive month, I had the exquisite pleasure of catching a great film before it was released. I still remember seeing Sam Mendes' debut picture, American Beauty, for the first time. That movie hit me like a ton of bricks. It went on to win 5 Academy Awards. I have been waiting anxiously for Mendes' sophomore effort. He finally decided to helm David Self's adaptation of the graphic novel the Road To Perdition. The screenplay attracted a stellar cast headlined by Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Jude Law.
Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) is the enforcer for Mob boss John Rooney (Paul Newman). His job is not always clean and his children have no knowledge of what daddy does. One night, Michael Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin) hides to tag along with his father who is accompanying Rooney's son Connor (Daniel Craig) on a muscle job. In doing so he discovers the truth about his father's profession. Connor had been jealous about his father's affection for Michael for years and he sets in motion a nefarious plan that destroys Michael's family. On the run, the father and son bond, while the older wreaks havoc on Rooney's financial partners. Hot on his tail is the strangest hitman you'll ever meet, Maguire the Reporter (Jude Law). Will Michael be able to fully avenge his lost wife and son before they catch him?
Sam Mendes was no fluke. His second directing assignment was harder but he was able to pull it off. He's the best British director working today. (Take That Guy Ritchie!) Another dysfunctional family. Again the relationships between family members is the center of the movie. Mendes directs those scenes to perfection. The action sequences are very well done. Kudos to legendary cinematographer Conrad L. Hall for a spectacular job. The highlight for me was the sound editing and special effects. I have never heard bullets this loud in a film. Maybe it was because of the theater which was equipped with THX sound. But it was REALLY LOUD. They deserve an Oscar nomination in both Sound categories. The script was tweaked a little from the draft by David Self that I had read. It toned down the violence and fleshed out the father/son relationship. The rewrites definitely helped the story.
This is another great performance by the acting icon of this generation, Tom Hanks. Without a doubt this is his darkest character yet. I had no trouble believing his role. He needs to challenge himself with roles like this on a regular basis. It's good for his acting and his career path. He's definitely the Jimmy Stewart of the second Hollywood Golden Era. Jennifer Jason Leigh is delightful as his wife. It's a very small part but she plays it beautifully.
Quite a few contenders for a possible best supporting actor nomination. Paul Newman is the obvious candidate. This is probably his best work in many years. He commands the screen every time he appears. One of the most powerful scenes in the film is when he asks his son to apologize for killing one of his associates. His last words are haunting. It was riveting to watch the legend at work. Young Tyler Hoechlin gives a very gifted rookie performance. He's a very talented young actor, nothing at all like Haley Joel Osment. He holds his own quite well with Tom Hanks. Jude Law is amazing. He's always entertaining. There's never a boring second on-screen when he's there. His character's arc lacks consistency which might be the reason why he won't be considered for a best supporting nod. Daniel Craig is a genius at playing a psycho. Too bad he disappears quickly in the second half. We could have used a little bit more of his presence.
You cannot miss this movie. It is a gangster film masterpiece for the 21st Century and a strong contender for Best Picture of 2002. There is no sophomore jinx for Sam Mendes.
Stay tuned...
That's all folks...
Jean-François Allaire (aka DeadPool)
Questions, comments, praise etc. Email me at deadpool@tnmc.org
Jean-François Allaire is TNMC's first columnist. At only 24 years old he has become a respected entertainment journalist, with his columns appearing in Corona's Coming Attractions and Scr(i)pt magazine. He also writes a monthly column in Screenwriters Monthly entitled 'The Last Word.' Hailing from Montreal this young writer is determined to dig up all the details on the movies before they hit your local theater. If you're part of a movie production then you really need to be talking to him.
