Tom Hanks is one of the most celebrated actors of our time, with iconic roles in films like Splash, The Big One, Sleepless in Seattle, Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, and Rogue One. But one of his lesser-known films, the 2002 crime drama Road to Perdition, is an incredibly important movie for the two-time Oscar winner. Directed by Sam Mendes, the film stars Tom Hanks as vengeful killer Michael Sullivan, who seeks revenge on the thugs who killed his family. It also features early-career performances from Jude Law and Daniel Craig, and was the last work of famed cinematographer Conrad Hall before his death in 2003.
The film is a critical and commercial success, receiving multiple award nominations, and is definitely worthy of fan recognition today. During an interview with his own CinemaBlend ReelBlend podcast, Tom Hanks took the time to reflect on the film and highlight its importance. He also shared his thoughts on how a movie can age over time, and how he hopes that Road to Perdition will be remembered and appreciated for years to come.
Anyone can watch the Sam Mendes crime adaptation using an active Netflix subscription. Fans of Tom Hanks can also check out his latest film, A Man Called Otto, which is currently in theaters and part of the 2023 release schedule. With so many great films to his name, it’s clear that Tom Hanks is a master of any genre, and Road to Perdition is a perfect example of his talent.
There are many people who can probably name the best Tom Hanks movies. Whenever his name is mentioned, viewers probably think of popular movies like Splash, The Big One, Sleepless in Seattle, Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, Rogue One, etc. that make them.) But there is one movie that, according to The 66-year-old actor is not mentioned too often. Meanwhile, the two-time Oscar winner took some time to highlight an “incredibly important film” during the chat.
Throughout her career, the star of “A man named Otto” has proven that he can master any genre, be it comedy or drama. While fans refer to a number of his films, Tom Hanks believes that people are not discussing the famous 2002 crime drama Road to Perdition. The underrated gem surfaced during an interview with the star’s own CinemaBlend ReelBlend podcast, when the hosts called the film one of their favorite Hanks films. As soon as this was brought up, the witty actor took time to reflect on the film, highlighting his esteemed collaborators:
You just gave me the chills because I have news for you, for one reason or another no one mentions Road to Perdition. And it was [n] an incredibly important film for me. It was shot by Conrad Hall and you’ve got me, ‘Don Mustache’ in the hat, but you’ve also got two guys who have turned out to be some of the biggest names in the film industry with Jude. Lowe and [Daniel] Craig. And I killed them both…
The film directed by Sam Mendes clearly holds a special place in Tom Hanks’ heart today, and you immediately get the sense that he really wants to be a part of his film legacy. “Road to Destruction” comes at a time when Hanks is racking up hit after hit, and that only solidifies his status in Hollywood. In the film, based on David Self’s graphic novel, Hanks plays vengeful killer Michael Sullivan, seeking revenge on the thugs who killed his family.
This performance was famed cinematographer Conrad Hall’s last work before his death in 2003. As Hanks noted, it featured some stellar early-career performances by Jude Law and Daniel Craig. The film eventually became a critical and commercial success, receiving multiple award nominations and is definitely worthy of fan recognition today.
During the interview, the presenters mentioned a particular scene in which Oscar the winner’s character killed Newman’s gangster, John Rooney, during a torrential downpour. The Toy Game alumni took the opportunity to explain how important this moment was not only to the film, but also to Michael Sullivan:
But the moment you’re talking about right here is the moment when, hopefully, the entire audience will see for the first time what Michael Sullivan has seen everywhere: I’m on this road to destruction because my son can’t be the killer that I am. First, he’s not in there, and second, I won’t condemn him to such a life.
According to the film’s star, the expertly shot kill scene is a moment that encapsulates the film’s story of redemption. Considering how great it is (and the movie as a whole), it’s weird that more people don’t mention it. Tom Hanks then shared his two cents on how a movie can age over time and illustrated it with his personal experience of watching classic movies:
People always ask, “What movies are they going to be talking about years from now?” As someone who watches a lot of classic Turner movies, and the more obscure and unknown the movie is from the 1940s or 1950s, the better, because I don’t have a preconceived opinion of him, I don’t know anything about him, I know , and when you watch these movies, it’s great and it’s incredibly moving, and all I can think is, “I’m so glad this movie went on forever , so I have a chance to review it now. This may be the case with Road to Perdition.
The Road to Perdition is a true classic, and one can definitely see why Tom Hanks (who shot to fame with his role in the polarizing Elvis biopic) feels so strongly about it. We can only hope that more people will be able to find it over the years and give it the respect it rightfully deserves.
Anyone can watch the Sam Mendes crime adaptation using active Netflix subscription. In the meantime, check out the Oscar winner’s latest film, A Man Called Otto, which is currently in theaters and is part of the 2023 release schedule.
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