Graphic, Novel

Hanks and Newman are on the bloody, brilliant Road to Perdition

Comments (0) By Robert Wilonsky Thursday, Jul 11 2002

Kneel young: Tom Hanks genuflects behind his aging mob boss, a dignified Paul Newman, in Road to Perdition.

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Based on the graphic novel by Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner. Rated R

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Mendes and Self have made but slight alterations to the novel. During a nasty shoot-out with Nitti's accountant and others, Collins' little boy originally shot and killed an assassin, further burdening his father with guilt. The filmmaker never put little Michael in such a position; he's to be kept pure, untarnished by his old man's dirty work 'til the end. Hoechlin, whose narration at the beginning hints at what's to come, plays the lad perfectly as an innocent beyond reproach, as someone forced into action only when it's inevitable and when it's too late. Self also added a vile assassin not found in the book: Maguire (Jude Law), a crime photographer who shoots his subjects well before he loads the film. Law, his whole body reeking of rot, is Michael without the guilt or the rationale — a man who kills for thrills.

It's tempting to celebrate Road to Perditionfor being a smart, emotional film released during the season of the stupid and sunburned. It's tempting to embrace it for what it's not rather than for what it is. But this movie would be worth feting in any season. It's wrenching but never manipulative, stoic but never dull, exhausting but never wearying. Road to Perditionstrikes a haunting note: Fathers and sons can become, for better or worse, blood brothers.