In association with

Road to Perdition [2002]
from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
starring Tom Hanks|Paul Newman|Jude Law
directed by Sam Mendes

Features:

• Anamorphic
• PAL
• Widescreen

Editorial 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

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

• 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... more info

• 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.

• A moving tale of fatherly love and sibling rivalry
  I enjoyed every bit of this movie of a two-fold father and son tale between Michael Sullivan vs. Michael Jnr and Rooney vs. Michael Sullivan. With a predictable storyline, the film had to depend on the quality of acting, which was nothing short of brilliant. Paul Newman is brilliant in his role in portraying the personal dilemma between his surrogate son and his actual son but Jude Law's portrayal was a bit too comic-book like. a bit too exhibitionist and eccentric to fit in with the rest of the characters... more info

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