Although I don’t put much stock in Academy Awards, it is probably worth noting the attention this largely forgotten picture received just a few years ago. Road to Perdition received Academy Award nominations for Supporting Actor [Paul Newman]; Art Direction; Cinematography [Won]; Original Score; Achievement in Sound; and Achievement in Sound Editing. The casting is excellent: Tom Hanks creates a noble stoic who is also deeply troubled by the life of crime that supports his family. He creates this tension without dialogue, just facial muscles. Paul Newman is dynamic, icy, devoted, and complicated as the Irish gang boss down the chain of command from Frank Nitti and Al Capone. Jude Law is perfectly creepy and realistic as the hired killer. The point of all this artistry is not action, not a fast-paced gangster movie, but more a study of father-son relationships. The cinematography is outstanding, and the veteran Conrad Hall deserved to win the Academy Award.
posted on Friday, May 11, 2007 1:42 PM by JimBell