With gangsters you figure this: that what they do to each other is only what the cocksuckers deserve. But when a kid gets all tangled up in it it gets considerably more problematic. Especially when the kid doesn’t have a clue regarding what “business” his father is in. And then when he finds out the hard way. In the interim though he sees a lot of things that he really doesn’t understand much at all. And then one day he does.
How does he find this out? Just plain curiousity about his dad. He needed to confirm that is dad was a hero. And then [just like that] it all comes to revolve around the consequences of this one fortuitous incident. But this is what fascinates some more than others: the butterfly effect in human interaction.
Then the part about family conflicts. One family being your own flesh and blood kin and the other family being, well, you know which one. And sometimes your obligations here can get really, really fuzzy. As in, say, when they become a matter of life and death. And you never really know what will finally push a man over the edge among folks like this. You never really know where to draw the lines. Stress begets more stress still. And that begets consequences.
And [obviously] some of these thugs are more inclined to be honorable than are others. Yes, even a thug can have a code. But there is always a hierarchy in crime. And some are allowed to be more honorable than others.
And what does all of this ultimately come down to? The fucking money of course.
On the other hand, the events here all unfold in the early years of the Great Depression. And that was a time when there were a lot more desparate men stumbling around willing to do whatever it took to, among other things, sustain their very existence. And that of their loved ones. It’s just that these slimey bastards took things to the extreme. Or were ordered to. All we can do then is bet on the least contemptible ones.
Personal observation: This would have been a better film had it not decided to become a situation comedy [for about 15 minutes] once the father and the son were out on the road. And the end could have been better.
IMDb
[b]The movie is loosely based on actual events and a real enforcer for mobster John Looney, who was betrayed by him.
Notice that Michael Jr. isn’t eating his pie and ice cream in the diner when he and his father are talking about the money. According to Sam Mendes, in earlier takes Tyler Hoechlin gobbled up his pie, not considering that he would have to perform the scene again and again. By the time they got to the take that’s in the film Hoechlin was stuffed and couldn’t take another bite. Tom Hanks by contrast knew to put small amounts of food into his mouth and eat slowly.
One of the locations for one of the bank robberies was physically perfect but the wrong way round. There was only room to shoot from right to left and not vice versa. So production designer Dennis Gassner and his team had to dress the location, reversing street signs, license plates and even switching steering wheels on all the cars.[/b]
at wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_to_Perdition
trailer: youtu.be/IjbSYkY5hVA
ROAD TO PERDITION [2004]
Directed by Sam Mendes
[b]Michael Jr. [voiceover]: There are many stories about Michael Sullivan. Some say he was a decent man. Some say there was no good in him at all. But I once spent 6 weeks on the road with him, in the winter of 1931. This is our story.
…
Peter: Why are you always smiling?
Connor: ‘Cause it’s all so fuckin’ hysterical.
…
Peter: What’s Papa’s job?
Michael Jr.: He works for Mr. Rooney.
Peter: Why?
Michael Jr.: Well, Papa didn’t have a father…so Mr. Rooney looked after him.
Peter: I know that, but what’s his job?
Michael Jr: He goes on missions for Mr. Rooney. They’re very dangerous. That’s why he brings his gun.
…
Michael Sr: We’re just talking to him, right?
Connor: Sure.
…
Michael Sr [looking down at Michael Jr]: Oh, Jesus…You saw everything?
[Michael Jr. nods]
Michael Sr: Jesus.
…
Michael Jr: Does Mama know?
Michael Sr: Your mother knows I love Mr. Rooney. When we had nothing, he gave us a home…a life…and we owe him.
…
Jack: Mr. Rance met with John and me earlier to make another bid for our involvement in the unions.
John: And I told Mr. Rance what I told him before: What men do after work is what made us rich. No need to screw them at work as well.
…
Michael Sr: You gonna frisk me?
Frank the Bouncer: Should I?
Michael Sr: It might be a good idea.
…
Note written to Tony Calvino: KILL SULLIVAN AND ALL DEBTS ARE PAID
Michael Sr [knowing what that means]: Michael…
…
Connor: Pa, I’m sorry.
John: What did you do?! Stupid!
Connor: The kid would’ve talked. I’m sorry.
John: Goddamn you! Goddamn you! I curse!..The fucking day!..You were born! I curse it!
…
Michael sr [to Michael Jr]: This house is not our home anymore. It’s just an empty building.
…
Kelly: You have friends in Ireland, Mike. Why don’t you take Peter and leave?
Michael Sr: I can’t take Peter. He’s dead. So where’s Connor?
Kelly: He’s in hiding.
Michael Sr: Where?
Kelly: You know I can’t tell you that. You think sticking a gun to my head is gonna make any difference to me? If I tell you, I’m a dead man anyway. We both are. Think, Mike. Don’t be stupid. I’m just the messenger.
Michael Sr [lowers his gun]: Then give Mr. Rooney a message for me.
Kelly [relieved]: What is it?
[Sullivan shoots him dead]
…
Frank Nitti [after Michael Sr. requests a sanctioned reprisal against Conner Rooney]: All these years you’ve been living under the protection of people who care about you, and those same people are protecting you now, including me. So, if you go ahead with this, if you open that door, you’re walking through it alone, and all that loyalty, and all that trust will no longer exist for you. And Mike, you won’t make it. Not on your own, and not with a little boy.
Michael Sr: You’re protecting him already?
Frank Nitti: We’re protecting our interests, Mike.
…
Nitti: You heard?
Connor: Dad, listen to me. He’s in the building. You can end this now. Take him now.
John: Connor, get upstairs.
[Connor leaves the room]
John [aloud to himself]: God help me. God help me. What do I do?
Nitti: You think objectively. And you make your choice. What would you do if Sullivan were just some guy?
John: God help me. Make it quick.
Nitti: And the kid?
John [anguished]: Oh, Christ. No, no.
Nitti: One day the kid becomes a man…Think he won’t remember?
John: I said not the kid.
Nitti: All right. I know who to call…There’s a guy who’s done some work for us in the past. He’s gifted.
…
Michael Sr [as Maguire loads his camera]: Is that, uh…your profession or…your pleasure?
Maguire: Both, I guess. To be paid to do what you love…ain’t that the dream?
…
Maguire [to Michael Sr]: I shoot the dead. Dead bodies, that is. I don’t kill them. [/b]
…
[b]Michael Jr: So, what are you gonna do?
Michael Sr: Something I can’t do alone. You have to listen to me now, okay? Or else both of us are dead. I have to make Capone give up Connor. There’s one thing Chicago loves more than anything…and that’s their money.
…
Mr. McDougal: Well this is a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting another deposit until the end of the month.
Michael Sr: Actually, I’m making a withdrawal.
…
Michael Sr: And I want dirty money only, everything you’re holding for Capone that’s off the books. Open the safe.
Mr. McDougal: You’re insane. You know they’ll find out who you are.
Michael Sr: The name’s Sullivan. You want me to spell it?
…
Betty the Waitress: So what brings you guys to the middle of nowhere?
Michael Jr.: We’re bank robbers.
…
Michael Jr: So when do I get my share of the money?
Michael Sr: Well… how much do you want?
Michael Jr: Two hundred dollars.
Michael Sr: Okay. Deal.
[Michael Jr stops eating and thinks for awhile]
Michael Jr: Could I have had more?
Michael Sr: You’ll never know.
…
Rance: What do you think you’re going to accomplish by interfering with our business, Mr. Sullivan?
Michael Sr: This has nothing to do with your business.
Rance: It’s all business. That’s what you fail to grasp. And in business, you must have something to trade. And you, Mr. Sullivan, have nothing to trade. Especially not for anyone as valuable as Connor Rooney.
…
Michael Jr.: Did you like Peter more than me?
Michael Sr: No. I loved you both the same.
Michael Jr.: You were always… different with me.
Michael Sr: Was I?
[the father thinks for a while]
Michael Sr: Well, I suppose it was because Peter was just such a sweet little boy, you know? And you…you were more like me. And I…I didn’t want you to be.
…
Michael Sr: He murdered Annie and Peter!
John: There are only murderers in this room! Michael! Open your eyes! This is the life we chose, the life we lead. And there is only one guarantee: none of us will see heaven.
…
Michael Sr: Think. Think. They’re protecting him now, but when you’re gone, they won’t need him. This ends with Connor dead regardless.
John: That may be…but you are asking me to give you the key to his room so you can walk in put a gun to his head and pull the trigger. I can’t do that.
…
Michael Jr.: What are you going to do?
Michael Sr: Just one last thing, and then it’s done.
…
John [to Michael Sr.]: I’m glad it’s you.
…
Nitti [on phone to Michael Sr]: I understand. But then Al wants your assurance that after that, it’s over. The Lexington Hotel, room 1432.
…
Michael Jr [voiceover]: I saw then that my father’s only fear was that his son would follow the same road. And that was the last time I ever held a gun. People always thought I grew up on a farm. And I guess, in a way, I did. But I lived a lifetime before that, in those six weeks on the road in the winter of 1931. When people ask me if Michael Sullivan was a good man, or if there was just no good in him at all, I always give the same answer. I just tell them…he was my father. [/b]