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 23 wins & 54 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Michael Sullivan
Tyler Hoechlin	...	Michael Sullivan Jr.
Rob Maxey	...	Drugstore Owner
Paul Newman	...	John Rooney
Liam Aiken	...	Peter Sullivan
Jude Law	...	Harlen Maguire
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Annie Sullivan
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

Storyline

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 he has done Mike Sullivan finds him self on the run trying to save the life of his son and at the same time looking for revenge on those who wronged him. Jude Law co stars as a hit man hired to kill Sullivan.

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Plot Keywords:

revenge | hitman | on the run | rifle | apology | 

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Taglines:

Pray for Michael Sullivan

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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 [us] Fox [uk]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 July 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Camino a la perdición

Filming Locations:

Aurora, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$797,627 (Italy) (20 December 2002)

Gross:

$40,935,560 (Europe) (10 January 2003)

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

Make-up artist Daniel C. Striepeke's first instruction to the cast was to stay out of the sun as much as possible, as the film is set in the mid-winter.

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Goofs

Michael Jr. reads "The Lone Ranger" in 1931. It was created for radio in 1933; the books were published even later.

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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

Featured in Becoming Bond (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Everybody Loves My Baby"
(1924)
Music by Spencer Williams
Lyrics by Jack Palmer
Performed by Sharkey Bonano
Courtesy of Timeless Records

User Reviews

Great Performances Paper Over Any Minor Flaws

ROAD TO PERDITION can be summed up by Thomas Newman's score . It's haunting and beautiful but you're aware that this music is similar to Newman's other work and while listening to the soundtrack you're reminded of SCENT OF A WOMAN , MEETING JOE BLACK and THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION you're reminded of other films as the story unfolds on screen . As the Sullivans drive round America trying to escape from a psychotic hit man you think of THE GETAWAY , Irish gangsters is MILLER'S CROSSING whilst the subtext of guilt and redemption can be summed up by Coppola and Leone's gangster epics. Despite having a seen it all before feel this shouldn't be taken as a heavy criticism of Sam Mendes film which I repeat is haunting and beautiful and the only flaws that work against it is a very slow opening twenty minutes and I was slightly confused as the events that caused Michael Sullivan to be betrayed . But if you stop to consider how much of a sentimental mess Spielberg might have made with the story that revolves around a father and his twelve year old son running for their lives you can't help thinking what a superb director Mendes is

ROAD TO PERDITION is a film where the entire cast give flawless performances . I've never been all that keen on Tom Hanks but he's every bit as good here as he has been in any starring role , probably better . Paul Newman plays a character with an Irish accent but at no point did I believe I was watching an American screen legend putting on a false accent - Newman's performance works due to the subtle body language , his character is torn up by guilt but Newman never milks it or goes over the top . While never upstaging Newman who gives the best performance in the movie the two Brit supporting actors Craig and Law are also very memorable as American gangsters and while Law will still have a long career as a leading actor one wonders how Daniel Craig might have progressed as a character actor if he hadn't decided to become James Bond , a role which heralds the end of an actors career