"Graphic novel" is just a term which was invented by the industry so that adults wouldn't have to say, "I read comic books." The whole thing is really pretty goofy.
Everything on screen was beautiful.
Directing-yes, 'American Beauty' was well done but this movie blows everything away this year so far. Mendes and the cinematographer deserve the highest kudos. You know the shot in 'Minority Report' where tom cruise and the precog hug(for lack of a better word), that was 'Minority Reports' money shot. Road to Perdition is jam packed with those that blow you away but never distract from what your supposed to be following.
Acting-The cast blows you away, its all in the details. Watch the way everyone walks in this film, they tell you who these characters are. The diner scene-perfect.
Presentation- It may be just me but this film is beautiful, the tones are perfect. Great. Sound mix ruled, no problems on reel 2.
Music- Thomas Newman's score is just crazily good. Any other composer would have written a huge score, his defines how a score should be. It does not carry the film but its there at the right time in proper respect to whats on-screen.
Needless to say I enjoyed this film to no end, am I going to see it again soon, no. I'm going to give it time to settle in my bones and then run it again.
My top-pick so far this year.
There are only about a half dozen or so that may top it later this year.
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I believe comic heroes walk the earth
It's been a couple years since I've read the comic, and I might not get all of the facts straight, but the thing which stood out to me was that whole catholic morality loop-hole thing. I found that very intriguing. Michael O'Sullivan is protecting his son. He kills people and then immediately confesses his sins in order to have a clean slate. At the end, he is shot, and while he's dying, his son bursts in and kills the other hitman without hesitation. Since he died with a clean slate, he gets to go to Heaven. And the son, who's telling the story as an adult, has become a priest. So, in essence, the father saves the son's life, and the son saves the father's soul.
But in the movie, it's all about the father saving the son. They said what they were doing earlier in the film (it's also in all of the trailers). Michael Sullivan has killed so many people that he's going to Hell, no matter what. However, he can still save his son, both physically and morally. That's fine if that's the point that Mendes wanted to make, but I think the added dimension which the comic had made it more interesting and morally ambiguous in some ways.
As for how it's Disney-fied, well, it's like all the Disney movies where the hero (in this case, Mike, Jr.) can't kill the villain, because that would be wrong. But the villain still has to die. I hate that. It's so two-faced. It's like saying, "It's wrong to kill, but it's good that he's dead." Granted, this is not as bad as most Disney movies because, unlike those movies, Jude Law's character logically had to die. But he still wasn't killed by the hero.
Another definite Oscar-contender for Sam Mendes and Tom Hanks. Top-notch in every respect: acting, writing, cinematography, sound. Thomas Newman's score is wonderful without being intrusive. There's plenty to ponder after the show ends. It's not perfect, but it's very good and worth seeing.
Michael, don't apologize for saying "comic book!" That's what it is! Besides, comic books are cool! "Graphic novel" is just a term which was invented by the industry so that adults wouldn't have to say, "I read comic books." The whole thing is really pretty goofy.
Did you get the whole "comic book to Graphic novel" bit from the MST3K episode "Cave Dwellers"? (that's what that reminded me of)
You could always tell when someone who didn't read many comics would come in, because they'd always say, "Do you have the graphic novel...." We'd usually make fun of them behind their backs (or to their faces), because we were a bunch of comic book snobs. Regular comic readers would usually refer to these as trade paperbacks because, with very few exceptions, they usually aren't technically "graphic novels." They're just a collection of individual issues. I don't think I've seen that episode of MST3K but it sounds funny. I'll have to check it out. By the way, it makes me very happy that MST3K would come up in a discussion about ROAD TO PERDITION.
I bet my manager 10 bucks that this will take best picture....yea, I liked it.
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3% Body Fat. 1% Brain Activity.