Road To Perdition (2002)
While Tom Hanks has always shown a great range in his portrayals of characters onscreen, he does have a trademark effusiveness. Even in his most celebrated dramatic roles – such as Philadelphia – there are moments of greatly animated behaviours and exuberance. For this reason, Road To Perdition is a career stand out, because it is entirely the opposite of that liveliness.
It is a depression-era tale, adapted from a graphic novel, in which Hanks plays Michael Sullivan – a skilled enforcer for powerful Irish mob boss, John Rooney (Paul Newman). Rooney has a son, Connor (Daniel Craig), but raised Sullivan as his own – leading to an intense resentment between the two young men. Sullivan is married with two sons of his own, and his older son – Michael Sullivan Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin) – hides in his car one night to see what he does for a living.
Sullivan Jr. witnesses Connor killing a man, and his father having to kill a group of men to protect Connor. As a result of this incident, and of Connor’s volatile nature, Sullivan Sr. and his eldest son are marked men. In his eagerness to kill Sullivan Jr., Connor murders Sullivan Sr.’s wife and youngest son by mistake, setting in motion a violent chain of events.
This is a huge departure for Hanks. Firstly, it has him in the role of a hitman – killing people for payment and loyalty – which is something we had never really seen from him before at this point. Secondly, the story is told largely from the perspective of Sullivan Jr., which means that Sullivan Sr. is a distant, mysterious figure, rather than the open, approachable character Hanks usually plays. While a lot of that coldness is generated by the directing of Sam Mendes – using camera angles that keep Hanks partly obscured – it is equally created by Hanks’ performance, which sees him emotionally removed from proceedings. Even his reaction to the sight of his slain spouse and child takes place quietly, out of sight.
And yet, the performance still trades on Hanks’ reliability. He cuts a stoic figure here – the provider and protector. Although his business is violence and intimidation, his motivation is still the welfare of his nearest and dearest. We are purposefully shut out of this character’s inner life, to reflect the position of Sullivan Jr., but we are still reassured by Sullivan Sr.’s quiet presence – just like Sullivan Jr.
