Road to Perdition

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Road to Perdition
A poster for Road to Perdition
Directed by	Sam Mendes
Produced by	Sam Mendes Dean Zanuck Richard D. Zanuck
Written by	David Self
Starring	Tom Hanks Tyler Hoechlin Paul Newman Jude Law Daniel Craig Stanley Tucci Jennifer Jason Leigh
Cinematography	Conrad L. Hall
Distributed by	USA: DreamWorks non-USA: 20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	July 12, 2002
Running time	117 min
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$80,000,000
IMDb profile

Road to Perdition is a 2002 drama film directed by Sam Mendes and starring Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law, Daniel Craig, Tyler Hoechlin, Stanley Tucci, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Liam Aiken. The film was based on the graphic novel written by Max Allan Collins and illustrated by Richard Piers Rayner. The graphic novel was based on the manga Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Selected cast 2.1 Character Analysis 3 Themes 4 Reception 4.1 Box office 4.2 Critical acclaim 4.3 Awards 4.3.1 Wins 4.3.2 Nominations 5 Deleted/Extended Scenes 6 Differences between novel and film 7 Trivia 8 See also 9 External links

[edit] Plot

Michael Sullivan Sr. (Hanks) is a trusted enforcer to John Rooney (Newman), an Irish American organized crime boss of Rock Island, Illinois. Sullivan, an orphan and a soldier in the Great War, was adopted by the older man as a child, and he has been working with him ever since his late teens. Rooney treats Sullivan as a surrogate son, being closer to him than his own real son and heir, the vain and insecure Connor Rooney (Craig). Further frustrating Connor, his father treats Sullivan's two sons, Peter and Michael Jr. like grandchildren. At a wake of a former business associate, Michael Jr. and Peter notice the subtle friction between their father and Connor begin to grow. Their father seems ambiguous about his occupation, and, despite Peter's inquiries, he still remains quiet of his secret doings. These "missions for Mr. Rooney" intrigue Michael Jr, in particular.

Sullivan Sr. and Connor are instructed by Rooney to deal with Finn McGovern, another employee of Rooney's whose brother was murdered by the Rooney organization as punishment for allegedly stealing from them. Unbeknownst to both Michael Sullivan and Connor Rooney, a curious twelve-year-old Michael Sullivan Jr. hides in the car and witnesses the ensuing scene where Connor, acting against his father's wishes, murders McGovern.

Connor spots Michael Jr spying on them, and after a failed attempt to escape, he is caught by his father and Connor. The shocked Sullivan Sr. swears his son to secrecy, while John Rooney humiliates his son by demanding an apology for his seemingly hotheaded actions. Ostensibly to prevent the threat of Sullivan Jr. divulging the murder he witnessed (but in reality feeling jealous of and threatened by Sullivan Sr.), Connor, again against his father's wishes, attempts to have Sullivan murdered at the same time as personally killing his wife Annie and younger son Peter. His real intention was to kill Michael for spying on them, but he ends up shooting Peter, whereas Michael was staying in detention after starting a fight at school. Sullivan goes to a whorehouse to deliver a message to a dealer, but it turns out the note said "Kill Sullivan and all debts are paid." Thinking that he has killed Michael Jr and not Peter, Connor returns home to face his angry father, who curses "the fucking day" he was born. Both Sullivan Sr. and Jr. survive the attempt on their lives and flee to Chicago.

When it becomes clear that Al Capone's crime syndicate will not countenance Sullivan's goal of taking revenge on the Rooneys, he develops an elaborate scheme to protect his son and to blackmail the mob into giving up Connor by robbing its secret accounts in banks throughout Chicago. Sullivan personally steals the 'dirty money' that Capone is holding, while Michael Jr. provides his assistance in the getaway car. Furthermore, to secure the cooperation of the corrupt bankers, Sullivan allows them to secretly withhold a portion of the stolen money for themselves as an informal kind of handling charge.

This way, Capone will give up Connor, in exchange for the money. During the caper, Sullivan is confused at the fact that in some cases, the money has been taken out prior to his arrival. Even stranger, the accounts were in the name of former gangsters that were killed earlier. Capone; however, is more upset at losing his money, and he will not make any bargains or deals with Sullivan at all. He sets up Harlen Maguire (Law), a voyeuristic, freelance photographer/hit man hired by the Capone organization, to complete the eradication of the Sullivans. Maguire has a habit of taking pictures of his dead victims, much to his pleasure.

Sullivan tracks down Alexander Rance at a hotel, a business associate of John and Connor Rooney, who might contain information on Connor's whereabouts. Maguire, who is 'protecting' Rance across the road, spies Sullivan confronting Rance, and he hurries across the road to finish Sullivan. Rance dawdles with his safe as this is going on. Michael Jr sees Maguire hiding his shotgun under his coat, tries to sound the car alarm to his father, but, inside the hotel, Sullivan cannot hear the warning. Maguire fatally shoots Rance by accident, and Sullivan in turn disfigures him by shattering a lamp near his face. As Sullivan swipes a business ledger from Rance's body and escapes the area, a wounded Maguire shoots him and injures him in the arm. His father nearly delirious from pain and blood loss, Michael Jr. stops at a farm and begs an elderly farm couple to save his father's life. While Sullivan recovers, Michael Jr. seems to take a liking to the couple, who were unable to have children, and Sullivan Sr. makes a startling discovery about his enemy. It is learned in the ledger, which he took from Rance, Connor has been embezzling money from his father, holding the money under the names of gang members that he has murdered.

Returning to Chicago, Sullivan hides his son in a hotel and meets John Rooney during Mass.

Confronted by Sullivan with the evidence that his son has been betraying him, John Rooney refuses to stop protecting Connor. He reminds Sullivan that, they too, are murderers, that this was the life they chose, and that "none of us will see heaven." Wanting his son to avoid traveling the road he has taken in life, Sullivan has a difficult decision to make. In order to gain revenge and protect his son, Sullivan must then kill the members of Rooney's gang, including John Rooney. So on a rainy night, Sullivan takes his Thompson Submachinegun and brutally kills all of John Rooneys bodyguards then he walks up to John rooney to his surprise, Rooney seems glad to be killed by Sullivan and not by Connor or anyone else, who is told by Rooney: "I'm glad it's you." He is then able to track down and avenge himself on Connor who he shoots 3 times in the head with an M1911 pistol in his hotel suite, thanks to a tip by Capone's lieutenant, Frank Nitti. Since Capone protected Connor because he was Rooney's only son, there was no more reason to hide him from Sullivan after his father was dead.

Believing they are free and safe from persecution, Sullivan and Michael Jr. arrive in the town of Perdition. Just then, the disfigured Maguire succeeds in tracking down the Sullivans and murders Michael Sullivan senior, after waiting for them at Annie's sister, Sarah,'s lakeside house. It turns out that he had traced a call from Michael to Sarah at Annie and Peter's wake, and he quickly detemined that is were they were going. Exactly how long he waited there and what he did to Aunt Sarah is unknown, but due to the lack of furniture in her house, a habit of Maguire where he moves furniture out to take pictures of his victims' bodies, it is most likely that he killed her and waited for his real prey. Michael Jr. has the opportunity to shoot Maguire but does not, Maguire is instead killed by the dying Sullivan Sr, thus ensuring that Michael, at least, has a chance "to see Heaven".

He realizes that his father's fear was not dying, but it was that he might become what his father was. As he dies, Sullivan Sr. tells his son how proud he is that he did not shoot Maguire, implying to him not to go seeking revenge against Capone and the mob. With no family left, Michael Jr. returns to the elderly farm couple, where he lives his life under the pretence he grew up there. Looking back, he thinks "I saw my father's fear then, that I would become just like him, and that was the last time I ever held a gun. People always think I grew up on a farm, and I guess, in a way, I did, but I lived a lifetime before that in those six weeks on the road in the winter of 1931. Whenever people ask me if Michael Sullivan was a good man, or if there was no good in him, I always give the same answer. I just tell them he was my father."

[edit] Selected cast

• Tom Hanks as Michael Sullivan, Sr.
• Tyler Hoechlin as Michael Sullivan, Jr.
• Paul Newman as John Rooney
• Jude Law as Harlen Maguire
• Daniel Craig as Connor Rooney
• Stanley Tucci as Frank Nitti
• Jennifer Jason Leigh as Annie Sullivan
• Liam Aiken as Peter Sullivan
• Dylan Baker as Alexander Rance
• Ciarán Hinds as Finn McGovern

[edit] Character Analysis

Main article: List of characters in Road to Perdition

[edit] Themes

The film's central themes include the bond between fathers and sons, betrayal, loyalty, revenge, and the search for redemption. The title is a dual reference, firstly to a town called Perdition, and secondly to the threat of eternal damnation that in Catholic theology accompanies murder.

[edit] Reception

[edit] Box office

Made at a modest budget and marketing campaign of $80 million dollars, Road to Perdition was a success at the box office, making $104 million in North America alone. The overseas gross was $95 million.

[edit] Critical acclaim

Tom Hanks was praised heavily for playing a grim, hardened figure -- a far cry from his memorable performances in Big, Forrest Gump, etc. Paul Newman returned to the screen after a short absence, and was nominated for the 2002 Best Supporting Actor Academy Award, but lost to Chris Cooper. Daniel Craig gave a performance which was, according to Roger Ebert, "of an unloved and bitter child who takes such extreme steps to win his father's love and acceptance." This lead to him being cast in Layer Cake and becoming the next James Bond, replacing Pierce Brosnan in the film Casino Royale. The biggest surprise to critics came from Tyler Hoechlin, who credits the film with him getting the role of Martin Brewer on 7th Heaven.

In addition, smaller supporting characters were praised, including Jennifer Jason Leigh, who despite her small amount of screen time, was given positive reviews for her role as a devoted yet troubled wife of a hitman. Jude Law, renowned for The Talented Mr. Ripley and Enemy at the Gates, was also lauded by critics for his sadistic portrayal of a psychopath and ability to transform himself to play such a character. Liam Aiken, who played Tom Hanks' younger son Peter, impressed many with his small role as the curious and inquistive brother that leads Michael Jr. to discover the truth about his father's world.

[edit] Awards

The film was nominated for 6 Academy Awards.

[edit] Wins

• Best Cinematography (Conrad L. Hall)

[edit] Nominations

• Best Supporting Actor (Paul Newman)
• Best Art Direction
• Best Original Score
• Best Sound
• Best Sound Editing

[edit] Deleted/Extended Scenes

• Before the Sullivans have dinner, Annie watches the boys play while she washes dishes and cuts her finger. Michael Sr bandages it for her, and there is an extended dinner scene in which each member says grace.

• There is a longer scene where Annie drinks with the mobsters' wives at the wake, as well as a longer scene of Rooney and the Sullivan boys' dicegame. Before the part where Michael goes upstairs to retrieve Rooney's jacket, Peter and Rooney have a conversation that implies Peter's curiosity into his father's working life and Rooney's gentler side.

• Connor's introduction is also extended, as Michael Jr watches a man get intoxicated and another couple preparing to have sex, before he walks in on Connor smoking and playing the gramophone.

• Before John Rooney makes his speech of his former associate at the wake, he and Sullivan discuss the deceased man's death, implying it was a mob hit.

• Rooney and Sullivan drink before the speech, the dance, and their piano duet to McGovern's health. Connor comes downstairs to face his father's criticisms of disrespect for the dead.

• According to Sam Mendes, there was a longer dancing scene, mostly focused on Peter (Liam AIken) finding a partner and dancing, while Michael Jr repeatedly turns down offers to dance, while his father stands off to the side.

• The scene before Sullivan learns he was to be killed on his "errand" to the brothel was much longer, showing the place was full of bootleggers, strippers, and prostitutes, indicating that the mob life has degraded into sleaziness since the 1920s.

• A scene where Maguire goes through the boys' room during Annie and Peter's wake. He is amused by the several Catholic icons in their home, implying that he is an atheist. After taking a picture of Peter's toy guns, he hears Sullivan calling Aunt Sarah, which would explain how he traced the Sullivans to Perdition. Using a telephone on the upstairs level, he hears they are headed that way and pretends to be Sullivan, so the operator can make the connection, which points to where they are.

• A four minute scene where the Sullivan men go to a church, where Sullivan Sr tries to pray for forgiveness after killing a man the previous night. Although he is sorry for what he has done in the past, he feels that prayer alone will not save him.

• In a five minute extension to the diner scene, Michael Jr goes to the bathroom, which engages Sullivan in a conversation with Betty the waitress (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh's sister). She remarks on what a man Michael Jr is becoming and inquiries about why they are passing through. Sullivan subtly tells her he lost his wife, and she asks him to dance to a radio song.

• While stopping for the night at a motor lodge, Michael Jr reveals his deep fear of his father dying, leaving him at Sarah's, while he goes off to kill Connor. Sullivan Sr explains that he feels responsible for all of this (referring to an earlier scene where he tells his son that all this was not his fault), and he gives his cold son his sweater. Michael Jr then tells his father of how he misses his mother and Peter.

• The infamous Capone scene that takes place after the bank-robbing montage, where Al Capone loses his temper at everyone and demands for the Sullivan-robbing team to be stopped. Frank Nitti suggests they try to reason with Sullivan in exchange for the money, but Capone, who has a bad cold, feverishly refuses to make deals with anybody who touches his money. John Rooney only watches the whole event in silence, until Maguire suggests a way to kill Sullivan, tying into the hotel suite trap scene.

• After Michael Jr stops and convinces the elderly farmers to save his father's life, he feeds the wounded Sullivan Sr soup and play-kills something in the mirror with his father's gun. Sullivan, in a delirious state, awakes and watches his son reenact what he does for a living. It shows his fear of what Michael will become, if he takes that same path in life.

[edit] Differences between novel and film

In the graphic novel, the principal characters' surnames are O'Sullivan and Looney.

In the book, O'Sullivan makes contact with Eliot Ness, the one law enforcement agent he could trust, to supply incriminating information to ensure that The Untouchables would move against the Looneys. Looney is sent to jail in the novel, rather than killed, in order that he live the rest of his life in jail knowing his son is dead.

The graphic novel gives far greater weight to the religious themes of the material. Michael O'Sullivan is dubbed "the Angel" or "the Angel of Death", playing on the angelic connections of his first name. Several key plot elements were also more religious in their depiction than in the film, including the final fate of Michael Jr.

Michael Jr. ends up killing at least twice in the graphic novel.

The scene involving the gambling boat Quinlan is not featured in the film.

Jude Law's character, Harlan Maguire is not a character in the original graphic novel, but an addition to the screenplay by writer David Self. Law later said that he disliked playing the role since he had to undergo the physical transformation of trimming his hairline, staining his teeth and keeping his appearance pale to play such an ugly character^{[citations needed]}.

In addition, Capone's men never made a move against O'Sullivan in the novel. Out of respect for O'Sullivan's work for them, they only hid Connor, and did not try and kill Michael. This arrangement ends with the loss of revenue from the explosion of the Quinlan, due to a fire set by O'Sullivan.

[edit] Trivia

• Australian actor Anthony LaPaglia played notorious mobster Al Capone in the film, but his one and only scene was cut from the theatrical version, removing him from the cast. This was apparently done because the film makers decided it would be more sinister to never actually have Capone grace the screen with his presence. The deleted scene can be found on the DVD of the film.
• A trademark of this film is that water is shown in a scene when a death occurs. Sam Mendes has stated that he puts this in because, '"like death, we cannot control water. It just comes."' In the scene where Connor kills McGovern, it is raining outside, just like it is in the climax where John Rooney and his bodyguards are gunned down in rain. Sullivan's wife Annie and son Peter are killed after Peter finishes his bath, Connor gets killed in the bath, Rance gets shot after he takes a drink from a glass of water, Michael Sr died with the lake as a backdrop etc.
• Paul Newman was the first to be cast by Sam Mendes.
• Tyler Hoechlin won the role of Michael Jr out of a casting call of 2,000 youths in North America.
• Sam Mendes has a cameo as one of Rooney's guards in the final shootout towards the end.
• Apart from Michael Jr, Frank Nitti, and the off-screen Capone, none of the characters mentioned by name survive the film.
• This film and the graphic novel are actually based on a real enforcer for Capone who went on a vendetta with his son for the murder of his family. There was a real mobster family under Capone called the Looneys, as the real influences for John and Connor, but the name was changed to Rooney, at the request of the relatives to the author.
• This is the second film starring Tom Hanks to be released by 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks, the first being Cast Away.

[edit] See also

• John Patrick Looney

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Road to Perdition at the Internet Movie Database
• Road to Perdition at Rotten Tomatoes
• Road to Perdition at Box Office Mojo
• Comic Book Resources interview with Max Collins about Road to Perdition