So I don't really watch many movies at home. I don't even own a DVD player yet (the reason for that is more money related vs. not actually wanting one). However, I really enjoy going to see movies at the theater. The loud surround sound systems, the big screen, the dark and the lack of conversation are all reasons why. That's not the point though. The point is that I went to see Road to Perdition last night.
Now I admit. Before I went to see it, I didn't know what the word perdition meant. Today though, I looked it up and it means utter destruction. Fitting, no? (that question will make sense once you've seen the movie)
I liked it a lot. Hanks was excellent. I enjoyed Changing Lanes a lot, and I think this movie is in the same vein. What vein is that you ask? Well, both movies are psychological dramas. They're about people who you can relate to in situations you can relate to doing things you might consider doing were you in that situation. They're about relationships and people. They're not action flicks unless you count the action in your head as you think about what they must be going through. They're movies about people for people who enjoy thinking about people.
In Perdition, Hanks plays a man who works for the mob. His son, curious as to what his father does, follows his dad and sees him murder two men. This sets up a whole series of nasty events forcing Hanks to protect his son.
The directorial style was excellent, as was the camera work. There were some really nice focus effects. Hanks had a stellar performance, even though it was difficult at first to see him in the role of a killer. On the flip-side, I could easily associate with him as a dad trying to figure out his relationship with his son. The story was tight, moved at a good pace, and kept me interested. The score was good; I'm actually considering purchasing the soundtrack. I enjoyed the movie greatly and highly recommend it.
I give Road to Perdition an A.