road to perdition

Filming took place in the Chicago area. Mendes, having recently finished 1999’s acclaimed American Beauty, pursued a film that had minimal dialogue and conveyed emotion in the imagery. A “cold look” was created for the locations to emphasize the characters’ emotional states. Cinematographer Conrad L. Hall took advantage of the lighting and the environment to create symbolism for the film, for which he won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Road to Perdition explored the themes of the consequences of violence and the relationship between father and son.

Road to Perdition is a 2002 period drama directed by Sam Mendes. The screenplay was adapted by David Self, from the graphic novel of the same name by Max Allan Collins. The film stars Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law, Tyler Hoechlin and Daniel Craig. Hanks stars as Michael Sullivan, an assassin who is forced to flee with his son from the crime syndicate for whom he had worked.

The film was released on July 12, 2002, and received mostly positive reviews. The cinematography, setting, and the lead performances by Newman (in his final theatrical screen appearance) and Hanks were well-received, though the film was criticized for not creating a strong emotional attachment for its audience.