Films To Watch Before You Die #7 - Road to Perdition (2002)

D.J. Haza presents the next entry in his series of films to watch before you die…

Road to Perdition, 2002.

Directed by Sam Mendes.
Starring Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law, Daniel Craig, Tyler Hoechlin, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Stanley Tucci.

Road to Perdition is the story of Michael Sullivan Snr (Hanks), a hit man for Irish mob boss John Rooney (Newman) during the Great Depression in America. Sullivan, who was raised like a son by Rooney, finds himself on a late night visit to a client with Rooney’s actual son, Connor (Craig). Unknown to Sullivan his eldest son Michael Jnr (Tyler Hoechlin) had snuck into the car and gone along on the ride. When the unstable Connor kills the client in cold blood against Sullivan’s advice Michael Jnr’s presence becomes known.

Connor takes it upon himself to visit Sullivan’s house and silence Michael Jnr by killing him and his Mother, but with Sullivan and Michael Jnr out of the house he kills the wrong son. Sullivan takes off on the road with Michael Jnr and decides to get revenge for his family. As Sullivan gets closer and closer to finding Connor the father and son duo build a bond that was previously absent. The cold and distant Sullivan learns stuff about his son he had never known and in him he sees himself. As the two of them risk everything to get the mob off their back and to kill Connor their lives are at risk as Harlen Maguire (Law) isn’t far behind them.

Road to Perdition is such a beautifully told story of fatherhood and the relationship between father and son. Hanks is superb as the cold and calculated father who learns to show his love for his son. The choices made by each of them being reflected in their relationship and Sullivan teaches his son right from wrong as well as how to drive by passing down the advice given to him as a boy.

Road to Perditon also includes a classic line of film dialogue when Rooney says to Sullivan,

“This is the life we chose, the life we lead… and there is only one guarantee… none of us will see heaven.”

This Sam Mendes masterpiece won an Oscar for Cinematography and it was rightly deserved. Road to Perdition is a film that you must be seen before you die for its sheer beauty. One scene in which Sullivan guns down his father figure Rooney is one of the truly beautiful scenes in cinema. The two men who are too cold hearted and proud to show their emotions stand in the pouring rain as Sullivan points the gun straight at Rooney. The rain lashes down onto the hats and drips off the brim of the hat and in front of their eyes like symbolic tears. A truly stunning piece of cinematography with a beautiful story.