#16: Road to Perdition

Sam Mendes' period piece drama Road To Perdition brings a heart to the profession of murder. It's also story of the relationship between sons and fathers. A well crafted story of a man and his son on the run, the film does nothing shocking with its plot, but tells the story with a solid and well paced touch with Mendes at the helm.

Traditionally a protagonist, Tom Hanks as Michael Sullivan is pitted against the law as a hitman, yet his love for his son makes him a sympathetic character. It is here that Road to Perdition finds its core theme; in testing the viewer's ability to feel compassion despite the wrongdoings of one man, and exploring the idea of redemption within this context. Much of this internal conflict can be attributed to a stellar performance by Tom Hanks, showing the pain and turmoil that he undergoes with a warmth and care that only Hanks can bring. He's backed up in his performance by the character of John Rooney, played by Paul Newman.

Beautiful cinematography from Conrad Hall and a great soundtrack from Thomas Newman add to the atmosphere, keeping with the film's industrial look. At times the film is slow, especially early on, however the building tension pays off in dividends.

An all-around solid film propelled by a multi-faceted performance from Hanks makes Road to Perdition stick around in the mind of the viewer long after the curtain closes.