tellurikwaves Blog : CINEMA :Les blessures narcissiques d'une vie par procuration

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p11

25/06/2014 06:12 par tellurikwaves

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p11

25/06/2014 06:12 par tellurikwaves

A subtle masterwork of a great forthcoming director!
9/10
Author: Chase Bradburn (brooksmurphy-1) from Vancouver, B.C.
9 September 2002

This couldn't have been better. The strong restraints on Mike Sullivan's expressions couldn't have been portrayed in any other way. Tom Hanks delivers the best performance of his career. Young Tyler Hoechlin drives an emotional wheel; playing the basis character for the story. And veteran Paul Newman gives one of his best character performances in a long time.

This film is based on a bold graphic novel by Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner. This is a father/son story which basically employs the two candidates solely unfit for the roles. Mike Sullivan had no father as a child, so John Rooney took him in. Although a generous man, Mr. Rooney involved himself in organized crime. Therefore, the debt of Sullivan was only to be paid off in involving himself in the business. Now, Sullivan has a wife and two children and is trying to keep his children safe, but at the same time pay back his boss. The events to follow, will test Sullivan's loyalty and embrace his family's fate.

With a great adaptation by David Self, the dialogue comes out seldomly, but yet very virtuous. The story unfolds in a beautiful 1930's setting (Brilliant Art Direction by Richard L. Johnson & Nancy Haigh) covered with a dark rainy (snow on the ground) exterior. Driving the story, is Thomas Newman's wonderful Irish score, settling in only when necessary.

But the most important technical element in the film is Conrad L.Hall's beautiful photography This is some of the best cinematography I've seen; and I watch a lot of films. The scene when Mike and Michael are in the car, entering Chicago is quite impressive. The shot starts at the front of the car, revealing Mike(Hanks) through the windshield. It subsequently dollys around to the side of the car, to see Michael(Hoechlin) awakening and peering out his side window. As it continues, it trucks sideways and dollys back, completely around the car and reveals a gorgeous scenic 1930's Chicago.

With a great cast and crew, the principle man creates a brazenly amazing film. I'm talking about Sam Mendes, who made his feature film debut in 1999 with American Beauty. (won him various awards) Before American Beauty, Mendes worked as a play director for the British Theater, but decided that he wanted to move on saying that there was nothing new for him in theater. With only two films, Sam Mendes has marked himself in my book as one of the great directors (In a list of about twenty-five).

The film illuminates a brazen genre that has its hits and misses and expresses the true theme brilliantly. The photography, acting and story is phenominal. I'm still waiting for Scorcesee's Gangs of New York, but for now, I'm fully confident in saying that this is the "Best Film of the Year". Considering it's competition (Signs, Insomnia, Minority Report) thats a strong statement.

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p10

25/06/2014 06:06 par tellurikwaves

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p10

25/06/2014 06:06 par tellurikwaves

Daniel Craig : Connor Rooney

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p9

25/06/2014 06:03 par tellurikwaves

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p9

25/06/2014 06:03 par tellurikwaves

Jennifer Jason Leigh : Annie Sullivan

*

A true masterpiece
10/10
Author: Juni78ukr (juni78ukr@yahoo.com) from Odessa, Ukraine
19 August 2005

Road to Perdition, a movie undeservedly overlooked at that year Oscars is the second work of Sam Mendes (and in my opinion his best work), a director who three years before won Oscar for his widely acclaimed but controversial American Beauty. This is a terrific movie, and at the same time ultimately poignant and sad.

It's a story of a relatively wealthy and happy family from outward appearance during difficult times of Depression when the, Michael Sullivan, a father of two children, played by great Tom Hanks (I'm not his admirer but ought to say that) is a hit-man for local mafia boss, played by Paul Newman. His eldest son, a thirteen years boy Michael Sullivan Jr., perfectly played by young Tyler Hoechlin, after years of blissful ignorance finds out what is his father job and on what money their family live.

Prompted by his curiosity and his aspiration to know truth he accidentally becomes a witness of a murder, committed by John Rooney, son of his father boss. Such discovery strikes an innocent soul and it caused numerous events that changed his life forever. The atmosphere of the period, all the backgrounds and decorations are perfectly created, editing and cinematography are almost flawless while the story is well written.

But the main line of the movie, the most important moments and points of the movie and the key factor of the movie success are difficult father-son relations in bad times. They are shown so deeply, strong and believable. Tom Hanks does excellent and has one of the best performances of his career in a quite unusual role for him and all acting across the board is superb.

Finally worth to mention a very nice score by Paul Newman and in the result we get an outstanding work of all people involved in making this beautiful (but one more time sad) masterpiece. I believe Road to Perdition belongs to greatest achievements of film-making of this decade and undoubtedly one of the best films of the year. My grade 10 out of 10

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p8

25/06/2014 05:56 par tellurikwaves

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p8

25/06/2014 05:56 par tellurikwaves

Commentaires

*
Dans une scène finalement coupée au montage et qui figure dans les bonus du DVD, Al Capone, incarné par Anthony LaPaglia, apparait en personne, furieux que Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) n'ait pas encore été mis hors d'état de nuire. Le réalisateur Sam Mendes avait décidé pour cette scène de s'éloigner du cliché habituel du Capone en costume à rayures impeccable, un chapeau vissé sur la tête.

Le célèbre parrain apparaît donc à l'écran en tenue négligée et en chaussettes. Mais lors du montage, et malgré sa qualité, cette scène fut écartée car elle nuisait à la tension dramatique du film : l'image de Capone qu'elle véhiculait le rendait aux yeux du public beaucoup moins dangereux pour le héros.

Le réalisateur Sam Mendes fait un caméo en tant que garde du corps de John Rooney lors du massacre sous la pluie.

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p7

25/06/2014 05:20 par tellurikwaves

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p7

25/06/2014 05:20 par tellurikwaves

Sites externes

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Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p6

25/06/2014 05:11 par tellurikwaves

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p6

25/06/2014 05:11 par tellurikwaves

Fiche technique
Titre original : Road to Perdition
Titre français : Les Sentiers de la perdition
Réalisation : Sam Mendes
Scénario : David Self, d'après la bande dessinée
de Max Allan Collins et Richard Piers Rayner
Direction artistique : Dennis Gassner
Photographie : Conrad L. Hall
Musique : Thomas Newman
Production : Sam Mendes, Dean Zanuck, Richard D. Zanuck
Sociétés de production : DreamWorks,
20th Century Fox et The Zanuck Company
Sociétés de distribution : DreamWorks SKG (USA) ;
UGC Fox Distribution (France) ; 20th Century Fox (Monde)
Budget : 80 000 000 USD
Pays :États-Unis
Langue : anglais
Format : Couleur (Eastmancolor) – Super 35 –
2,35:1 (CinemaScope) – Son
Genre : Thriller dramatique, Film de gangsters
Durée : 125 min
Dates de sortie: États-Unis : 12 juillet 2002 ;
France : 11 septembre 2002
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p5

25/06/2014 05:09 par tellurikwaves

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p5

25/06/2014 05:09 par tellurikwaves

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p4

25/06/2014 05:07 par tellurikwaves

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p4

25/06/2014 05:07 par tellurikwaves

Résumé

Hiver 1931 à Rock Island, dans l'Illinois. Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) est un tueur professionnel. Il travaille pour le compte de John Rooney (Paul Newman), chef de la pègre irlandaise, qu'il considère comme son père spirituel. Mais un jour, l'un des fils de Michael assiste à un meurtre commis par Connor (Daniel Craig), le fils de Rooney. Connor, qui a toujours été jaloux de l'affection de son père pour Michael, décide alors d'assassiner Michael et toute sa famille pour qu'aucun d'entre eux ne puisse le dénoncer. Contraint de fuir à Chicago avec son seul fils survivant, Michael va vouloir se venger mais surtout mettre son fils en sécurité et lui offrir une vie différente de la sienne...

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p3

25/06/2014 04:40 par tellurikwaves

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p3

25/06/2014 04:40 par tellurikwaves

Tyler Hoechlin : Michael Sullivan Jr. et Liam Aiken : Peter Sullivan

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p2

25/06/2014 04:34 par tellurikwaves

Š-DR-LES SENTIERS DE LA PERDITION de Sam Mendes (2002) p2

25/06/2014 04:34 par tellurikwaves

Paul Newman : John Rooney