Road to Perdition (2002)

Bonds of loyalty are put to the test when a hitman's son witnesses what his father does for a living.

Director:

Sam Mendes

Writers:

Max Allan Collins (graphic novel), Richard Piers Rayner (graphic novel)

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Tyler Hoechlin, Rob Maxey

Won 1 Oscar. Another 20 wins & 75 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tyler Hoechlin	...	Michael Sullivan Jr.
Rob Maxey	...	Drugstore Owner
Liam Aiken	...	Peter Sullivan
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Annie Sullivan
Tom Hanks	...	Michael Sullivan
Paul Newman	...	John Rooney
Daniel Craig	...	Connor Rooney
Ciarán Hinds	...	Finn McGovern
Craig Spidle	...	Rooney's Henchman
Ian Barford	...	Rooney's Henchman
Stephen P. Dunn	...	Finn McGovern's Henchman (as Stephen Dunn)
Paul Turner	...	Finn McGovern's Henchman
Kathleen Keane	...	Irish Musician
Brendan McKinney	...	Irish Musician
Jackie Moran	...	Irish Musician

Storyline

1931. Mike Sullivan and Connor Rooney are two henchmen of elderly Chicago-based Irish-American mobster John Rooney, Connor's father. In many respects, John treats Mike more as his son, who he raised as his own after Mike was orphaned, than the volatile Connor, who nonetheless sees himself as the heir apparent to the family business. One evening, Mike's eldest son, twelve year old Michael Sullivan Jr., who has no idea what his father does for a living, witnesses Connor and his father gun down an associate and his men, the situation gone wrong initiated from an action by Connor. Caught witnessing the incident, Michael is sworn to secrecy about what he saw. Regardless, Connor, not wanting any loose ends, makes an attempt to kill Mike, his wife and their two sons. Mike and the surviving members of his family know that they need to go on the run as Connor, who has gone into hiding, will be protected through mob loyalty, especially by John, who cannot turn on his own flesh and blood. Still,...

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Plot Keywords:

1930s | on the run | blood | gun | revenge | 

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Taglines:

Every father is a hero to his son.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

DreamWorks [United States] Fox [UK]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 July 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Road to Perdition

Filming Locations:

Aurora, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$22,079,481 (USA) (12 July 2002)

Gross:

$104,054,514 (USA) (25 October 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks SKG, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Zanuck Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Michael Sullivan undresses himself to get ready for dinner the pistol that his son sees is a "Colt M 1911 A1 .45". The pistol was used up until 1992 as the US-Army standard pistol.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 4 mins) In the diner scene, a bottle of HP Sauce is on Sullivan's table. HP Sauce is available almost exclusively in the United Kingdom; it wouldn't have been in an average American roadside diner in 1931. Director Sam Mendes used to be the artistic director at the Donmar Warehouse in London and developed a fondness for HP Sauce. He deliberately had that bottle placed there.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Michael Sullivan, Jr.: There are many stories about Michael Sullivan. Some say he was a decent man. Some say there was no good in him at all. But I once spent 6 weeks on the road with him, in the winter of 1931. This is our story.

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Crazy Credits

Thanks to all at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre, London

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Connections

Referenced in Gossip Girl: Rhodes to Perdition (2011)

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Soundtracks

Sidewalk Blues
(1926)
Music by Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton (as Ferd "Jelly Roll" Morton)
Lyrics by Walter Melrose (uncredited)
Performed by The Orbert Davis Sextet

User Reviews

One of the best gangster movies in the new century

I talk with my friend for this film the other day. I liked this film very much the day I watched in the theater & much better when I saw this film another time on DVD. The Conrad L. Hall cinematography is amazing & the colors, shadows a lights are finest. It's very comic, but at the same time very dark & adult cinema. The Sam Mendes direct's are excellent for the second movie he made. The first it's a totally classic. "American Beauty" The Thomas Newman score it's very poetic and complex. The instruments mix are very beautiful. The actors are amazing in different levels. I love the Tom Haks character, Paul Newman are incredible for the boss, & Jude Law looks very lethal. I love this movie a lot & I consider the cult classic of the 2000 movies. I haven't seen a decent gangster movie since Goodfellas by Martin Scorsese & Miller's crossing by Coen Brothers.