Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
Mike Sullivan works as a hit man for crime boss John Rooney. Sullivan views Rooney as a father figure, however after his son is witness to a killing, Mike Sullivan finds himself on the run in attempt to save the life of his son and at the same time looking for revenge on those who wronged him.
Road to Perdition is elevated primarily by Conrad Hall's Oscar-winning cinematography — moody, rain-soaked Depression-era imagery that ranks among the finest of the decade — and a powerhouse cast led by Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, and Jude Law. The plot, while emotionally resonant, follows a fairly familiar revenge/road-trip arc that doesn't surprise greatly, and the father-son dynamic, though well-executed, covers well-trodden ground. Novelty is moderate: the graphic novel source and Sam Mendes's restrained, elegiac tone give it a distinctive feel, but it doesn't reinvent the gangster genre. The ending is affecting but somewhat telegraphed.