Road to perdition; my surprise of the week!!
03-19-03, 08:36 PM
#1
DVD Talk Special Edition
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Road to perdition; my surprise of the week!!
Just finished watching it on DVD and I was pleasantly surprised!! This movie for me kinda went under the radar when it came out, but when I had a chance to rent it I took a chance.
My only gripes with the movie:
Nice try for Tom Hanks in playing a "bad guy" but I still found him endearing in some way (if you know the story then you know why), but I still think Tom Hanks would portray a serial rapist and people would still cheer for him
.
Paul Newman's performance was good but I was surprised he got an Oscar nomination.
Frank Nitti should have been played by Billy Drago !! No offense to Stanley Tucci but I kept on having "The Untouchables" flashbacks ("Nice house! I said... Nice house!!)
But overall a good movie that I am buying for sure!
What are your thoughts?
My only gripes with the movie:
Nice try for Tom Hanks in playing a "bad guy" but I still found him endearing in some way (if you know the story then you know why), but I still think Tom Hanks would portray a serial rapist and people would still cheer for him
.Paul Newman's performance was good but I was surprised he got an Oscar nomination.
Frank Nitti should have been played by Billy Drago !! No offense to Stanley Tucci but I kept on having "The Untouchables" flashbacks ("Nice house! I said... Nice house!!)
But overall a good movie that I am buying for sure!
What are your thoughts?
03-19-03, 08:44 PM
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Great movie and one of my favorites of last year. A more interesting and original story than Gangs of New York, a more coherent and satisfying third act than Adaptation, and a hell of a lot LESS boring than The Pianist and Two Towers. 
Hanks deserved a nod for Best Actor, in my opinion.
Hanks deserved a nod for Best Actor, in my opinion.
03-19-03, 09:04 PM
#3
Moderator
Wonderful film. At its core, it's a great story about the relationship between a father and his son. Beautiful cinematography and a fantastic score.
from me.
from me.
03-20-03, 01:32 AM
#7
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Sitting on a beach, earning 20%
Posts: 9,917
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
While I think the film is excellent on its own merits, I'd love to have seen the comic book translated more literally. Tom Hanks, regardless of how good his performance is, has a history of likability that I sadly can't shake off - never mind the fact that his character was toned down in the film's story, too.
Some events in the comic book would have been epic on screen, and would not have threatened the central theme, flow, or soul of the film. I'd love to have seen Eliot Ness come in with his gangbusters, and any time I read of the last-minute writeout of LaPaglia's Al Capone, I think "oh, what could have been"...
Still: it's the film we're talking about, not how good an adaptation it is. And it's a great film. With his adaptation of stage effects and direction to screen, I think it's safe to say that as a director, Sam Mendes is akin to Orson Welles in skill.
Some events in the comic book would have been epic on screen, and would not have threatened the central theme, flow, or soul of the film. I'd love to have seen Eliot Ness come in with his gangbusters, and any time I read of the last-minute writeout of LaPaglia's Al Capone, I think "oh, what could have been"...
Still: it's the film we're talking about, not how good an adaptation it is. And it's a great film. With his adaptation of stage effects and direction to screen, I think it's safe to say that as a director, Sam Mendes is akin to Orson Welles in skill.
03-20-03, 08:13 AM
#8
Moderator
Originally posted by tanman
A very good movie. The part where he doesn't
(jude law) still really bothers me.
A very good movie. The part where he doesn't
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
03-20-03, 09:36 AM
#9
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by Geofferson
That's the most crucial point in the movie, IMO.
That's the most crucial point in the movie, IMO.
Spoiler:
nononononono....the earlier part when Tom Hanks is harrassing the the bank guy and he
Spoiler:
03-20-03, 12:03 PM
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Formerly known as Groucho AND Bandoman/Death Moans, Iowa
Posts: 18,159
Received 320 Likes
on
230 Posts
Originally posted by Geofferson
That's the most crucial point in the movie, IMO.
That's the most crucial point in the movie, IMO.
Spoiler:
My problem with this is that in the comic he makes the opposite choice, it's probably the biggest change from the movie to book.
03-20-03, 12:24 PM
#12
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,851
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I bought the DVD as a blind buy, and it's one of my best purchases ever. I love the mood and feel of this film. The cinematography is indeed excellent, and the costume design was incredible IMO.
03-20-03, 05:49 PM
#14
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,851
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by ncmojo
Umm... you guys didn't think that the movie was a little bit, well, slow and ponderous? I liked the movie well enough, but it really should have picked up the pace a bit in parts.
Umm... you guys didn't think that the movie was a little bit, well, slow and ponderous? I liked the movie well enough, but it really should have picked up the pace a bit in parts.
03-20-03, 06:43 PM
#15
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I bought it as a blind buy as well, but I wanted to see it in theaters. I thought it was excellent, but I'm a fan of Hanks anyway. I didn't think his role was all that different from previous roles, I mean, he may have been a "bad guy" per se, but he was still kind hearted I'd say. It was a little twist I suppose though. I was kind of
, but I knew it was coming.
Spoiler:
