Opens July 12th

perdition (pehr-DISH-en) noun. The utter loss of the soul; eternal damnation; hell.

      With a meaning like that, it's easy to get the impression that Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes' follow-up to 1999's "American Beauty" would be a harrowing moviegoing experience. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Boasting lavish production values, glorious cinematography, genuine suspense and a great cast toplined by a never better Tom Hanks, the spectacular "Road to Perdition" proves that even a hellacious destination can have some beautiful scenery along the way.

Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) is a dedicated husband, a father of two...and a loyal hitman for John Rooney (Paul Newman), one of the most powerful crime bosses in 1930's Chicago. Sullivan and Rooney share an almost paternal relationship, which makes Rooney's real son and heir apparent Connor (Daniel Craig) extremely jealous. When Connor betrays Sullivan by killing his wife (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and youngest son (Peter Aiken), Sullivan goes into hiding with plans to avenge their death. Since he needs the help of his oldest son Michael Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin) in order to do it, he has to look deep within his soul to determine how far he's willing to go before justice is finally served.

Adapted from the 1998 graphic novel of the same name, "Road to Perdition" is filled with many of the same family-laden themes that made "The Godfather" such a classic of the gangster genre. Sam Mendes makes it his own with an atmospheric, mesmerizing and intense nail-biter that gives new meaning to the words "poetic justice," and with the help of his "American Beauty" Director of Photography Conrad L. Hall, he gives each scene the deep, lush and detailed look of a meticulously crafted painting.

After winning back-to-back Oscars for "Philadelphia" and "Forrest Gump," it's getting to the point where Tom Hanks can do no wrong. In "Road to Perdition," he continues his streak with a focused, understated performance that's easily his strongest since...well, since his last movie ("Cast Away"). He may seem like he's playing against type, but beneath the surface, he is still faced with the same kind of internal conflict that has always brought out the best in him. You can feel his moral struggle as he sets out to kill the son of his paternal boss while finally embracing his own son after a lifetime of shutting him out for his own protection.

At 77, screen legend Paul Newman proves that he is still at the top of his game. Recalling Marlon Brando's Don Corleone from "The Godfather," Newman is filled with so much respect and dignity, it's hard to remember that he is playing a powerfully corrupt man who can kill people with the snap of his fingers. At the other end of the spectrum, Jude Law follows his scene stealing performance in last year's underrated "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" with another strong turn as a deplorable, deranged and dentally-challenged crime photographer who would literally kill for a good picture.

As for the rest of the supporting cast, newcomer Tyler Hoechlin holds his own and is remarkable as Hanks oldest son who sees his father as a veritable Lone Ranger, while Jennifer Jason Leigh does her best with her short-but-sweet role as Hanks doomed wife. As Newman's loose cannon of a son, Daniel Craig gives an effectively evil performance that recalls a toned down version of Joaquin Phoenix's similar turn in "Gladiator."

Where "American Beauty" dealt with a family man who was out to save his soul, "Road to Perdition" deals with a family man whose soul is clearly beyond saving. He still has a chance to save his son, which just goes to prove that while the apple may not fall far from the tree, sometimes the tree can push the apple a little further away so it can have a field of its own. At a time when movie theaters are filled to the rim with super heroes and Jedi Knights, the chance to see such a poetic, haunting and ultimately moving character study is an offer you can't refuse.

Scott Mantz, 2002