Road to Perdition
Assess the effectiveness of Sam Mendes’ portrayal of journeys in his film
Road to Perdition.
A journey, whether it be physical, spiritual or emotional, is a journey that many of us will encounter at one stage of our lives. 2002 film, Road to Perdition directed by Samuel Mendes, is a film that explores these journeys as well as the journeys of fathers and sons, children and men, and the inevitable trait-passing from generation to generation that some men, fear most of all. Road to Perdition is abundant in visual richness, captured by the many different camera shots, an intense music score composed by, Thomas Newman and the setting of the film itself. The journey that both Michael Sullivan and his son face, is one of great feat.
Michael Sullivan is a man who knows his future is bleak, and wants so much more for his son, whose survival he now finds himself literally fighting to uphold. Through out the entire film, the relationship between Sullivan and his eldest son, Michael Jr, grows and develops. The two embark on a quest for revenge and redemption and experience not only a physical journey but also a personal and emotional journey within themselves and between each other. After the loss of Michael Sullivan’s wife and younger son, Peter, to the murder committed by Connor Rooney, Sullivan is left to lead a life with the only son he has left; the one he fears for most because he sees’ so much of himself in him. The physical distance between the two males, is highlighted in a scene inside a car, where Sullivan Senior is in the front seat, and Sullivan Junior is in the back. Not only does this physical separation of the two characters tell the audience that their relationship is not strong, it also heightens the importance of power, which is another strong theme through out the film. At this stage in the film, Michael Sullivan is portrayed as the powerful one, being seated in the front, leading the way and taking control as well as the use of a low angled shot
Road to Perdition.
A journey, whether it be physical, spiritual or emotional, is a journey that many of us will encounter at one stage of our lives. 2002 film, Road to Perdition directed by Samuel Mendes, is a film that explores these journeys as well as the journeys of fathers and sons, children and men, and the inevitable trait-passing from generation to generation that some men, fear most of all. Road to Perdition is abundant in visual richness, captured by the many different camera shots, an intense music score composed by, Thomas Newman and the setting of the film itself. The journey that both Michael Sullivan and his son face, is one of great feat.
Michael Sullivan is a man who knows his future is bleak, and wants so much more for his son, whose survival he now finds himself literally fighting to uphold. Through out the entire film, the relationship between Sullivan and his eldest son, Michael Jr, grows and develops. The two embark on a quest for revenge and redemption and experience not only a physical journey but also a personal and emotional journey within themselves and between each other. After the loss of Michael Sullivan’s wife and younger son, Peter, to the murder committed by Connor Rooney, Sullivan is left to lead a life with the only son he has left; the one he fears for most because he sees’ so much of himself in him. The physical distance between the two males, is highlighted in a scene inside a car, where Sullivan Senior is in the front seat, and Sullivan Junior is in the back. Not only does this physical separation of the two characters tell the audience that their relationship is not strong, it also heightens the importance of power, which is another strong theme through out the film. At this stage in the film, Michael Sullivan is portrayed as the powerful one, being seated in the front, leading the way and taking control as well as the use of a low angled shot