Rating: 
Summary: A Great Film About Fathers and Sons
Review: In "Road to Predition" one of the characters comments that "sons were put on this earth to trouble their fathers." That seems to be very true as this 1930's era gangster melodrama starts to unfold. It is a convoluted story of two sets of fathers and sons.Tom Hanks (playing against his usual Jimmy Stewart persona) is Michael Sullivan, a hitman for the irish mob.One night while he's out on a job, his stowaway son, Michael Jr.(Tyler Hoechlin)witnesses a killing. In the eyes of the mob, Sullivan and his whole family must pay the ultimate price.On the other side of the equation is the Mob's patriarical boss (masterfully played by Paul Newman) and his own hateful, grown son(Daniel Craig), who has started all this trouble.Both fathers must now protect their sons (physically and spiritually). Both fathers must try to kill their adversaries and their kin.This film starts out as a story about violence and distruction, but in the end it becomes a tale of redemption as the doomed, elder Sullivan attempts to put his son on on the right path.Director, Sam Mendes (of American Beauty fame) has masterfully crafted a morality tale (written by Max Allen Collins & Richard Piers Raynor) that seems to touch all emotions.Everyone in this cast is at the top of their craft.Tom Hanks is wonderful in his reserved and studied reading of the hitman/father. Paul Neuman gives one of the best performances of his career as the torn mob boss.Juvenile actor, Tyler Hoechlin more then holds his own among these award winning actors.Kudos also for the supporting role from Jude Law, who gives a scary peformance as a psychotic photographer/killer on Sullivan's tail.This movie is just so well done in every way.The cinematography of this film is fantastic. The late Conrad L. Hall, won the Oscar in Cinematography for this picture and he roundly deserved it. It is a amazing looking movie (check out the beautiful, yet violent scene, where Hanks finally confronts Newman in the rain).Also well done are the costumes, set design and art direction.They totally complete this artful film.Why this movie was pretty much ignored by the Motion Picture Academy is beyond me. This film is definitely Oscar calibur material in my eyes.The DVD for this film is well done with both a clear picture and sound. There are plenty of extras including a HBO 'Making of' documentry, a commentary track and deleted scenes. If you are a fan of good drama then I would highly recommend this well made film.
Rating: 
Summary: Crime and Punishment
Review: Director Sam Mendes' highly anticipated follow-up to 1999's American Beauty didn't reach the level of excellence of the Oscar-winning masterpiece; nevertheless, it certainly delivered. The film boasts an Academy Award-winning team both on and off screen. It is a story about crime, guilt, redemption, and, above all, family.
Tom Hanks plays Michael Sullivan, a depression-era father of two and hitman for mob boss and surrogate father John Rooney (Paul Newman), who has always loved him more than his real son, Connor.
Their lives are changed forever when Sullivan's older son, Michael Jr., witnesses one of his father's hits, which leads Connor to kill Sullivan's wife and little kid.
What follows is a wonderful tale of love and survival, in which Sullivan and his son must save their lives.
The reunion of Sam Mendes and legendary DP Conrad Hall gives the film an unprecedented visual flair, a true feast for the eyes. The grayish monochromatic cinematography, the reflex of rain on the faces and walls (in a Sam Mendes film, rain marks the anticipation of death) and the touching Thomas Newman score are all works of genius. Not to mention Hanks' remarkable performance of a mysterious and mythic father figure.
One could point to the melodramatic ending or to the fact that Michael Jr. is immune to violence in the midst of all the bloodshed that ensues.
In my opinion, the scene of the murders in the rain is one of the best shot scenes in recent film history.
I can't wait for what Mendes is up to next.
Rating: 
Summary: Dark and Moody
Review: Whether or not Tom Hanks and Paul Newman fall into the great actors category for their roles in this film seems irrelevant when measuring the film's overall ability to entertain. Sadly, this 30s period piece involving murderous Irish gangsters flops miserably. The plot although reasonable is predictable from the moment the young son appears and begins his monologue against the backdrop of the roiling surf. Actually watching the trailer and drawing your own conclusions sufficiently will convey the film's complete content. Jude Law's lesser but equally grim appearance pushes the negative aspects of the plot to a dark precipice which no healthy mind wishes to go. This is no study of amorality like the much more entertaining and thought-provoking "Talented Mr. Ripley". This one makes you wish you hadn't bothered.
Don't waste your time on a story and atmosphere that depresses rather than engages.
Rating: 
Summary: pretty good but predictable
Review: the thought of having Tom Hanks&Paul Newman in the same Film is reason enough to create a huge buzz afterall they are a couple of the Greatest Actors Ever&whatnot.but while they each give Solid Performances here for a Gangster Film it's to Soft for my taste&the pacing&overall Writing Script is rather to tame&just there for a kinda long film with predictable Action.Newman&Hanks do really well even though this film is figured out by the first hour.
Rating:
Summary: Huge disappointment
Review: I don't know where I got the idea that this was supposed to be a good movie...Lots of advertising hype? I love Tom Hanks, and I enjoy watching Jude Law's development, but this film is seriously bad. The plot is impeneterably confusing until it finally becomes clear that the Hanks character is trying to save his surviving son's life, and from then on it was a simple and predictable formula. The only thing remotely interesting here is the '30s mood, and even that was thin. A miserable yawn, literally: my husband and I actually fell asleep watching it.
Rating:
Summary: Good but some what shallow
Review: The Road to Perdition is a fine film, but for a film of such cinematic beauty, it feels very hollow in the center of it. Tom Hanks is always a great screen presence as well as Paul Newman, but even with their combine star power, the movie falls flat with out some kind of internal dialog. It's a great artistic achievement in the sense of mood and setting but lacks the conviction to put the story it had into focus. Which is a shame because the story trying to be told here is a fine one but it needed to be focus a pond more instead of just focusing on set pieces to fit a certain mood. It's by no means a bad film, but it's pretty shallow for what it's trying to put a cross.
Rating:
Summary: Hanks is a legend
Review: Tom Hanks represents to me the only lving legend today In "Castaway" he wad a geniouos and he did not have to prove himself anymore, howeber in this film he just want to how versatile he was playing a gangster.The relationship between him and his son was moving, and the stoey developed into a an examination of human nature and how fast the impresions seldom count for anything. To me this film use go to show how a genious can play a completly different characters. For me Toma Hanks is ranked up the with the likes of John Wayne and so on .]
James
Rating:
Summary: Dark Tom Hanks Materpiece!
Review: Tom Hanks does it again!!! Paul Newman was excellent also.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, Best
Review: This is one of the best movies I have ever seen!! The plot is beautiful and the actors are great. I am not a big fan of mob movies but this one is great. I don't know much about movie directors, the cinematography, and other technical theatre, but I do know the basics (music, lighting, sound, coustume, etc.). This movie is great on all those points. The movie was not too bloody in a certain sence. The movies overall production, content, and theme were stupendous!
Rating:
Summary: A Different Tom Hanks
Review: This was a good change of pace for Tom Hanks. He was able to show his versatility - instead of always being a goody goody guy. And, of course, Paul Newman was wonderful as he always is and, of course, he got ripped off at the Academy Awards - AGAIN! It's a very good picture - very dark and sad. But if you want some wonderful acting and a good script - this is the picture for you!
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