Road to Perdition review

Mendes, Sam. Road to perdition. 2002. United States: DreamWorks Pictures / 20th Century Fox. 117”.

1931, one of the firsts years of the Great Depression, the Irish Mob dominates Rock Island, the Prohibition is in force and gangsters, specially Al Capone in Chicago, are at the pinnacle of power. That’s the scenario in which this crime story, based on the graphic novel from crime writer Max Allan Collins, takes place.  

Mike Sullivan, the main character played by Tom Hanks, is a mob hit man at the service of John Rooney (Paul Newman), the head of the Irish mob, who has raised him as a son. Mike’s son, Michael Sullivan Jr., witnesses how his father and Connor, Rooney’s natural son, murder a man one night. So Connor, moved by his jealousy of Mike, who was always been more loved by Rooney, and fearing the little Michael could denounce what he saw, kills Mike’s wife and youngest son. Then, Mike starts to struggle for keep his son safe and take revenge of Connor.

When Mike father and son are escaping from Connor, they decide to go to Perdition, the town where the sister of Mike’s wife lives. Therefore the title of the film has a double meaning: on the one hand, is the name of the town. But, one the other hand, Perdition is considered a euphemism of Hell. Sullivan regrets his lifestyle (he’s never been proud of killing people, but he did it due to his duty and gratitude to Rooney for providing him with a secure and comfortable life) and he doesn’t want his son to choose the same “road” he did because, after his wife’s and son’s death, he realizes that all acts of violence have their own consequences not only on victims, but on the responsible person and witnesses too.

In spite of violence is the main theme we notice when we watch the film, is not the only one. Road to perdition also is about relationships between fathers and sons, not only between Mike Sullivan and his son, but between Sullivan and his boss, John Rooney. Mike simultaneously idolizes and fears Rooney, and Mike’s son feels the same for his own father. But during the 6 weeks they spend travelling to Perdition, their relationship becomes stronger. Michael had always thought his father loved his younger brother more than him, but Mike explains him that was because Michael reminded him of himself, so he was afraid he could choose the same lifestyle.  

The problem between Sullivan, Connor and Rooney is, like I said before, Romney has always loved Mike as he was his own son, so despite he decides to protect Connor, when Sullivan comes to kill him he says “I’m glad it’s you”. I think this is when he faces his acts, as Mike realizes the violence he had committed in his name.

As for the making of the film, I have to say I liked a lot the music and how the different scenes are connected. I saw the film at night and at the beginning I thought I’d fell asleep because the scenes were very slow, but finally I couldn’t take my attention of the screen and I was wondering all the time what would it happen next.