Random Movie Review- #12 "The Road to Perdition"

If you haven't seen this movie- see it. Tom Hanks plays, to me, his most underrated character in all of his movie roles. The story of Michael Sullivan in "The Road to Perdition" is one of the most heartwarming, yet morbid stories to ever hit the silver screen. The star studded cast also includes Paul Newman, Jude Law, and the new James Bond, Daniel Craig. The story starts out at a wake for a member of John Rooney's (Newman) crime group. It turns out that Rooney had him killed because he believed he was stealing money from him. At the wake, his brother begins to speak and says that "Mr. Rooney runs the town with an iron fist." Before he can go on, Michael Sullivan (Hanks) pulls him from the stage and the party goes on as usual. Rooney then tells Sullivan and his son (Craig) to go to his house that night to "talk to him". However, curious about his dad's "adventures" and really not knowing what his job is, Michael Sullivan, Jr. (played by Tyler Hoechlin- Sullivan, Jr. is also the narrator of the story and it begins with a flashback) hides in the backseat of his father's car to see what is going to happen. When his father and Rooney get out of the car, he peaks in the window and sees Rooney kill the man and his father kill the two men he has there with him. Afraid that the boy would talk, Connor Rooney then breaks into Sullivan's house and murders Sullivan's wife, and who he believes is Michael, Jr. It was, however, his younger son. At this exact time, John Rooney, in order to cover his own ass, attempts to have a local pimp kill Sullivan to have his debts paid off. Sullivan survives this attempt and then takes his son and flees town. Connor Rooney is sent into hiding where Michael Sullivan can't touch him. In order to get the mob to give up Connor Rooney, Michael Sullivan goes all over Illinois mainly in the Chicago area robbing banks of "dirty money" that they are holding for Al Capone as a "blackmail" for the mob to give up Connor. When Capone finds out about this, he sends Harlen Maguire (Jude Law) , a hitman/photographer who sold photos of the people he killed. Michael Sullivan winds up killing John Rooney so the mob would have no reason to protect Connor Rooney. This bonechilling scene ends with the line from Rooney saying "I'm glad it's you". After this, the mob lets Sullivan kill Connor, and that seems to be the end of it, but not so much. Watch the movie to get the rest. This movie would be in the top 10, but the very depressing and morbid mood throughout the whole movie keeps it from making you feel good. While the rewatchability is great (you always notice something different because the plot has so many twists)., the depressing yet heartwarming story puts you on an emotional rollercoaster. It's also a rare movie (along with #20 "The Rock") where all the characters are somewhat likeable, but in the end, they mostly all turn out bad, which makes it kinda dissapointing. Also, any movie where every major cast member but one dies is a huge bummer (huge spoiler). Anyway, check it out sometime and watch it late at night to add to the effect- just pay attention.