The Road to Perdition (2002)

‘The Road to Perdition’ differs from most mafia films in two regards. First, it is based on a graphic novel, which is like a comic book only thicker and more expensive. Second, the crime family at the centre of the action is Irish-American, not the standard Italian-American version.
The film follows the trek of mob hit man, Michael Sullivan and his young son, to a safe haven in the town of Perdition, Michigan. “Perdition,” for those not familiar with the term, is another word for eternal damnation or hell. Michael’s journey, both literally and figuratively, toward Perdition, makes for some gripping moments and really poignant father/son drama. As a father, it was hard for me to watch this film without thinking about the impact that my actions had and will have on my own son.
Great actors cannot make a bad story into a good movie, but great actors can take a solid film to a higher level. Tom Hanks and supporting actor, Paul Newman, are two of the best in the business. Hanks’ portrayal of the quiet, brooding, ‘Sullivan’, simply leaps off the screen. He is a man of few words and Hanks ably conveys the emotions, beneath his exterior, without saying much at all.
The best mob films are about family and ‘The Road to Perdition’ features two sets of fathers and sons. Each father faces a choice between his extended family and his own flesh and blood son and they both pay dearly for their decisions. This is not a fun, upbeat film, but it is a powerful and dramatic look into a dark world.