Rating: Summary: Amazing! What a Brilliant Follow Up To 'American Beauty' Review: This film is arguably the best film of 2002(only Gangs Of NY and the Two Towers are even close). Tom Hanks is brilliant as the loving father/mob hitman. Many people think he was improparly cast in this role. These people are terribly wrong. He was a cold, efficient killer, and a loving father.Next up is Tyler Hoechlin, turning in a magnificent performance as one of Hanks' sons.Paul Newman got much deserved credit with his Best Supporting actor nomination, but Hoechlin steals the show.I see nothing but good things coming from this young man in the future. Jude Law turns in a haunting performance as the hitman-for-hire sent to kill Hanks and Hoechlin.Law's character is what every movie psycho should strive to become.This is a truly great film that was overlooked for Best Picture. Sam Mendes is quickly becoming one of the best directors in Hollywood.
Rating: Summary: Below Mediocre Review: I've read that this is a fairy tale gangster movie. That it is meant to be unrealistic. One review saw it as a modern epic. Well, I thought that it was a badly made movie. In a time when movies appeal to the masses and have to give people a happy ending, Road to Perdition fits in well. The story is unbeleivable and ridiculous. The character played by Hanks is flat and a charicature of what he is meant to be. The only character who appealed to me was the killer trying to track down Hanks and his child.If you liked the godfather, goodfellas, or the Sopranos, you will most likely find this movie to be ridiculous, simplistic and supar coated. I am upset that I paid to see this movie and added to it's success.
Rating: Summary: Terrible movie to watch. Fine performance by Tyler Hoechlin Review: No! This definately is not another Bob Hope/Bing Crosby Road picture. I was very disappointed by this Tom Hanks/Paul Newman movie. I will say that Tyler Hoechlin did a fine performance and I hope we will see him in other films as he becomes mature as an actor. It was good to see Paul Newman in a movie again even though he does play a "heavy". Seeing Tom Hanks as a "heavy"/father sends chills up my spine, however one of his early films, he did play a murderer. It was a terrible movie to watch, but it did hold my interest. The DVD contains many deleted scenes which I thought some should have been included in the film. Many scenes with Jennifer Jason Leigh were cut out. Interesting production notes. Best to watch this film in the standard version.
Rating: Summary: Good, but not ground breaking Review: I purchased this movie on DVD before i had a chance to see it in the theater or otherwise, mostly because of the rave reviews i had heard from friends and critics. Well, first of all, i am probably the only person whos tired of seeing tom hanks play the same character in every movie. I mean you hand a guy an oscar and he trys harder. Hand him two oscars and then he no longer thinks he needs to try. I felt as if he walked through this whole movie, without a clue. I am also, completely unsure as to what kind of movie this was supposed to be. A mob flick? A sad ending father-son story....both? Either way i was disappointed. I am a huge Jude Law fan, mostly because of his inate ability to take the more difficult road on a film and pull off the most difficult part. However his lack of screen presence was utterly disappointing. Overall i thought the film was entertaining....however definitely not oscar material, and not worthy of any long-standing praise. For a film that has tom hanks, and paul newman in it...i see no reason for a lack of acting talent anywhere in this picture, so explain to me what happened.
Rating: Summary: Tom Hanks whacking folks? Naw, it doesn't work... Review: I admit I watched all of The Road to Perdition, though I already knew how it ended. No one had to tell me, but after the opening monologue by Michael, Jr., I knew the fate of Michael Sullivan, Sr. Oh, well. It's still a good story of retribution. Hanks tries hard but he's just so well-known that he seems a bit unbelievable as a mob hit man in the '30s. He doesn't overact, don't get me wrong, but each time he'd whack someone I would flash on the scene where he knocks out the bad tooth with the ice skate blades in "Castaway," or the lightness with which he played the single father in "Sleepless in Seattle." Surely, HE couldn't whack someone! So, despite a commendable effort, Hanks' strong presence in Hollywood just doesn't carry through on this movie. It would be like seeing Jimmy Stewart take on a role meant for Bogart. (Jimmy Stewart couldn't even shoot Liberty Valance!!!) The big surprise here is the sharp, on-the-money performance by Paul Newman as the regional mob boss. Forget Butch Cassidy or Slapshot! Newman gets into his Irish hoodlum's character with ease, while Hanks just never quite gets beneath his character's skin. The story's good, not great. I enjoyed it, but I'm glad I was watching a friend's copy and one I'd spent money on... See the movie for Newman. What a performance!
Rating: Summary: Near-perfect filmmaking Review: Road To Perdition was easily one of the best films of 2002. Sam Mendes' direction is outstanding, and the film is visually stunning. Great acting performances are turned in by Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, and Jude Law. At the heart of the film is the relationship between Michael Sullivan and his 12-year-old son Michael Jr. Forced to take to the road to avoid his ruthless mobster boss, Michael is also forced to reconcile his violent line of work with his love for his family. Michael Jr., the son who worships his father, struggles with the harsh reality of what his father does for a living. This dynamic relationship between father and son is made especially poignant set against the midwest in the midst of the great depression. Just as in their prior collaborative effort, American Beauty, Director Mendes' visuals and Composer Thomas Newman's score perfectly complement one another. Finally, although the film deals with particularly violent themes, Mendes' direction takes on a poetic and surrealistic quality at the films' most violent points, and the violence is so artfully-rendered (and so central to the story) that it comes off as not at all gratuitous. Make it a point to watch Road To Perdition. You will not be disappointed.
Rating: Summary: Good if your patient Review: I first watched this movie expecting a stinker but I was pleasently supprised. You will love this movie unless you are expecting an action movie in the vein of Untouchables or Die Hard.Both of which I loved.This movie doesnt have large action scenes and if they do happen its usually between two people or someone is unexpectingly mowed down. In other words, if you want something thats action packed dont watch this movie. If you like a little more thought provoking material in your ganster flick than you will enjoy this movie. Excellent pacing is what makes this movie unique and brialliant. Also, kudos to the acting which is excellent. Movie Score-10/10
Rating: Summary: road to perdition Review: good movie but not tom hanks type o character
Rating: Summary: Road to Perdition Shines Review: I doubt this review will prove helpful to anyone considering whether or not to watch and/or buy "Road to Perdition", because my reaction to the film is partly emotional. You see I'm the father of three young sons, and though this may seem like a prototypical gangster/mafia movie, it's far from that. It's about relationships between men who can't or won't express their feelings, and the sons who crave approval from fathers. The dynamics of the movie click on so many different levels for me it's hard to understand how anyone can't appreciate the masterful direction of Sam Mendes. The movie clicks musically, visually, emotionally, and the story is simply one of the best portraits of dissonant behavior I've seen on film. Yes, the film is cliched, and yes it can be occasionally plodding, but the character studies put forth by Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law and Tyler Hoechlin are brilliantly captivating, and allow the viewer to understand the motivating factors which lead to the awful, if predestined climax. This is not your father's gangster flick. One last kudo- the art direction and visuals in "Road to Perdition" were, in my opinion, the fifth major character in the movie. Dark, forboding, mysterious, cold and wet, and incredibly effective as mood setting elements. Perhpas it's ironic (and perhaps not) that the sunniest, brightest moment for the entire movie comes 10 minutes from the end. This is a brilliant film.
Rating: Summary: ONE OF THE BEST OF 2002 Review: Road to Perdition was hands down one of the best movies of 2002. In a year that saw most of the movie going publics dollars being taken by bad super hero movies and stale romantic comedies ROAD stood above it all.I am still scratching my head as to why this movie has not nabbed more oscar nbods besides Best Supporting Actor and Best Score. This is perhaps Tom Hanks best role. Insted of playing the good guy all the way through the movie Hanks starts out as the bad guy,a hit man for the mob,who through the course of the movie finds some sort of salvation in his son. Jude law also turns in a very creepy performance as a hit man sent after Hanks. I only gave the DVD a 4 becasue I was hoping for alot more extras than the few come with the DVD. But the movies itself is incredible.But it,rent it, watch it through a neightbors window, just don`t do you yourself a diservice and not watch the movie
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