Cinema review 'Road to Perdition' (From Penarth Times)

Cinema review 'Road to Perdition'

ROAD TO PERDITION (15) ***

AFTER the critical success of American Beauty, that won director Sam Mendes an Oscar in 1999, he is now back at it, hoping to impress the critics with his artistic framing and narratives. But can he do it again?

Michael Sullivan is a hitman for John Rooney in Chicago, 1931. However, when his son witnesses him at work, Rooney orders the killing of Sullivan.

Only his wife and younger son is killed and so Sullivan and son set out for revenge on Rooney and seek answers. But another hitman, who is cold and sick at heart, is after Sullivan.

When the film begins there is a voice-over spoiler which pretty much sums up the ending of the film.

Then the film becomes immensely boring that you wonder what Mendes was thinking when he directed it all - you're so bored and you know the ending, so what is point in watching the rest? Let's go home!

Thankfully enough, as soon as Tyler Hoechlin (Sullivan's son) witnesses Tom Hanks' (Sullivan) 'work' it all starts to glue together nicely. But all this happens after 40 minutes so you are already aching from being slumped, bored in your chair.

What keeps the film going, is Thomas Newman's perfect score and more than anything, Tom Hanks' wonderful performance. Without these two things, Mendes would have lose his audience.

This is clearly one of the best roles Hanks has taken throughout his career. If he doesn't get an Oscar nomination, then something outrageous in going on behind the scenes of the Oscars.

Also if Hoechlin keeps up with his acting career, then someday he should be giving his 'thank you speech' at a hopefully near future Oscar ceremony.

If only there was more of Paul Newman and the excellent Jude Law in the film though.

However, David Self's often smart script and Mendes' stylish camera work and meaningful shots makes the film worth watching.

At the end of the day, this film is a strict 'Love, Hate or Not Bad' film. I would go for 'Not Bad Film' because Hanks keeps it all together despite many themes being a bit muddled up and some lengthy bits being so boring.

But that is why Tom Hanks is one of cinema's finest ever actors.