It is often forgotten that Sam Mendes’ Oscar winning depression-era gangster movie is actually based upon Max Allan Collins’ graphic novel of the same name. A sombre story of one man’s quest for revenge, it sees Tom Hanks shedding his nice-guy persona for the role of former mob enforcer Sullivan. After his family are brutally murdered by his own employers, Sullivan makes plans for payback whilst bonding with his remaining son, whom he seeks to steer clear of the dangerous career path he chose. It’s an incredibly atmospheric movie and one which quite rightly won an Oscar for its cinematography. Paul Newman and Tom Hanks are both on fine form as the ageing mob boss Rooney and his surrogate son/enforcer respectively, and Daniel Craig is a more than able supporting player as Rooney’s unstable son.
Mendes creates a rich and captivating world that, while not as obviously comic-book as other movies on this list, is still rich in period detail. The dialogue is kept deliberately minimal with the stunning visuals designed to speak volumes in their own right. The movie does make several changes from the novel, with Hanks’ character, known as ‘The Angel of Death’ in the books, toned down slightly, as is in fact the level of violence in general. Collins himself was a consultant on the movie and while he criticised some decisions, such as Mendes’ use of profanity in the script, he was on the whole pleased with the end result. Despite some minor tweaks, the book’s overarching themes that see Sullivan seeking to ensure his son doesn’t follow him on the metaphorical road to hell, is expertly carried out.
