Road to Perdition (Widescreen Edition)

American Beauty director Sam Mendes' powerful drama of Irish-American gangsters in early '30s Illinois features Tom Hanks as a hit man for mob boss Paul Newman. When Hanks' oldest son witnesses a murder in which his father and Newman's hot-tempered own son (Daniel Craig) are involved, a series of terrible circumstances sends Hanks and son on the lam, with hired killer Jude Law on their trail. With Tyler Hoechlin, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Stanley Tucci. 117 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; deleted scenes; "making of" documentary; audio commentary by Mendes; production notes; photo gallery.

In Road to Perdition, Tom Hanks plays a hit man who finds his heart. Michael Sullivan (Hanks) is the right-hand man of crime boss John Rooney (Paul Newman), but when Sullivan's son accidentally witnesses one of his hits, he must choose between his crime family and his real one. The movie has a slow pace, largely because director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) seems to be in love with the gorgeous period locations. Hanks gives a deceptively battened-down performance at first, only opening up toward the very end of the film, making his character's personal transformation all the more convincing. Newman turns in a masterful piece of work, revealing Rooney's advancing age but at the same time, his terrifying power. Jude Law is also a standout, playing a hit man-photographer with chilling creepiness. This movie requires a little patience, but the beautiful cinematography and moving ending make it well worth the wait. --Ali Davis