1931. Mike Sullivan and Connor Rooney are two henchmen of elderly Chicago-based Irish-American mobster John Rooney, Connor’s father. In many respects, John treats Mike more as his son, who he raised as his own after Mike was orphaned, than the volatile Connor, who nonetheless sees himself as the heir apparent to the family business. One evening, Mike’s eldest son, twelve year old Michael Sullivan Jr., who has no idea what his father does for a living, witnesses Connor and his father gun down an associate and his men, the situation gone wrong initiated from an action by Connor. Caught witnessing the incident, Michael is sworn to secrecy about what he saw.
Regardless, Connor, not wanting any loose ends, makes an attempt to kill Mike, his wife and their two sons. Mike and the surviving members of his family know that they need to go on the run as Connor, who has gone into hiding, will be protected through mob loyalty, especially by John, who cannot turn on his own flesh and blood. Still, Mike has to figure out a way for retribution for what Connor did, while still protecting him and his family, not only from Connor, but from John and his fellow associates. Through it all, Mike wants those in his family that had no say in what he chose as a living, to have some redemption for their eternal souls.
Road to Perdition is a 2002 American crime film directed by Sam Mendes. The screenplay was adapted by David Self from the graphic novel of the same name by Max Allan Collins. The film stars Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law, and Daniel Craig. The plot takes place in 1931, during the Great Depression, following a mob enforcer and his son as they seek vengeance against a mobster who murdered the rest of their family.
Filming took place in the Chicago area. Mendes, having recently finished 1999’s acclaimed American Beauty, pursued a story that had minimal dialogue and conveyed emotion in the imagery. Cinematographer Conrad L. Hall took advantage of the environment to create symbolism for the film, for which he won several awards, including a posthumous Academy Award for Best Cinematography. The film explores several themes, including the consequence of violence and father-son relationships.
When filming concluded in June 2001, the studio intended a United States release for the following Christmas. But by September 2001, Mendes requested more time. It was rescheduled for release on July 12, 2002, an unconventional move that placed the drama among the action-oriented summer films.
Road to Perdition opened in 1,798 theaters over its opening weekend, competing against several other new releases including Reign of Fire, Halloween: Resurrection and The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, and grossed $22,079,481, placing second to Men in Black II, which was in its second week of release. It eventually grossed $104.5 million in the United States and $76.5 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $181 million.
Road to Perdition (2002)
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Starring: Tyler Hoechlin, Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jude Law, Daniel Craig, Ciarán Hinds, Craig Spidle, Liam Aiken, Kathleen Keane
Screenplay by: Max Allan Collins, Richard Piers Rayner, David Self
Production Design by: Dennis Gassner
Cinematography by: Conrad L. Hall
Film Editing by: Jill Bilcock
Costume Design by: Albert Wolsky
Set Decoration by: Nancy Haigh
Art Direction by: Richard L. Johnson
Makeup Department: Audrey L., Kathryn Blondell, Suzi Ostos
Music by: Thomas Newman, John M. Williams
MPAA Rating: R for violence and language.
Distributed by: DreamWorks Pictures (North America), 20th Century Fox (International)
Release Date: July 12, 2002
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