Monday 21 February 2011

Road to Perdition, an unrecognized classic, maybe one of the greatest films ever made

It took years after the release of Citizen Kane for film lovers to recognize it as the greatest American film ever made.

I predict the same destiny for The Road to Perdition. This 2002 film directed by Sam Mendes and starring Tom Hanks, Daniel Craig, Jude Law, and Paul Newman has all the elements (cast, acting, screenplay, music) of a great film. But, for some reason the powers that be in Hollywood chose to snub the film.

To this day, I can’t figure out why.

But, everything is this 1930s gangster era film screams excellence. Hanks does an excellent job playing against type as Michael Sullivan, Sr., an ultra super hit man on a quest with his young son Michael to avenge the killing of his wife and younger son.

A tremendous film indeed.