ROAD TO PERDITION (2002, Blu-ray released August 3, 2010 – MSRP $29.99)
It’s a rare occasion that a studio is able to assemble the perfect cast and crew for a project and see it through to the end, to craft a perfect film. I believe Road to Perdition is one of those rare gems, fortunate enough to benefit from such a confluence of events and abilities. It’s a near-perfect film now presented on a nearly perfect Blu-ray.
As I sat watching Sam Mendes‘ brilliant Road to Perdition last night, I sat in awe, wondering how I could’ve possibly missed out on this film for so many years. It’s a well written adaptation of a not-too-popular comic book by author Max Allan Collins and illustrator Richard Piers Rayner, starring an A-list cast (Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law) shot by one of the best photographers in the biz (the late, great Conrad Hall) and scored by a very talented composer (Thomas Newman) known for his ability to accentuate the melancholy in just about any scene. One wonders what exactly director Sam Mendes was able to add to such a gifted mix? Well, if there’s any doubt about his contribution to the film or his absolute knowledge of every aspect of its assembly, his wonderful, engaging and comprehensive commentary track will put it to rest. This is Mendes’ film. And it is wonderful in just about every way!
Perdition is a familiar tale of family and bloody vengeance – like The Godfather in theme, echoing Gordon Willis‘ imagery from Coppola‘s film in the dark cut of Hall’s every shadowy composition. Hanks plays Michael Sullivan, betrayed by the jealous, murdering son (Daniel Craig) of his mob-boss employer/surrogate-father (Newman.) Now, after the cold blooded murder of his family, Michael is on the run with his surviving son, fighting to survive and desperate for revenge in prohibition era Chicago. The story doesn’t hit a single sour note, as all characters caught up in a sea of violence and despair are forced into actions they would otherwise have avoided. And their internal struggle, knowing how much happier they would be if they didn’t have to pull the trigger, is captivating from beginning to end. All the way down the Road.
The bleak colour pallet and rigid, emotive shadows of Conrad Hall’s photography are wonderfully rendered on the damn-near perfect transfer of the Road to Perdition Blu-ray. This thing is stunning! It’s a Blu-ray that exemplifies the finest aspects of the medium, providing a very true, film-like experience on the small home theatre screen. This isn’t one of those colour popping, eye gouging, three-dimensional images. Hall’s work here is dark, desaturated and very textured. And the disc delivers on every level – deep, dark, inky blacks, clear yet subtle details and a vivid sheen of film grain. If you want to see how close Blu can come to the cinematic experience, this is the disc to watch.
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio mix is, without question, a reference quality track, presenting a seamless soundstage with a sense of fidelity that’s tough to match. I haven’t been as immersed in an audio track for a long time. Newman’s score sounds full and rich, with a dynamic range that’s bound to impress.
Road to Perdition arrives on Blu-ray with an incredible set of special features, highlighted by the afore mentioned director’s commentary track. Mendes also provides a new introduction to the film on Blu-ray, praising the transfer and lamenting that Hall is no longer alive to see how well his photography has been translated onto disc. Speaking of Hall, there is a truly wonderful 30-minute tribute to the man and his work, wherein just about every single surviving master of the art praises his cinematography! “The Library: A Further Exploration of the World of ‘Road to Perdition‘” is an interactive experience that allows users to dig deeper into the film via branching featurettes. This wonderful Blu-ray disc release is rounded out with a run-of-the-mill, half-hour “making-of” featurette and a collection of deleted scenes with optional director’s commentary.
Highly recommended!
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