Road to Perdition (Blu-ray)

As the right hand man to mob boss Joe Rooney (Paul Newman), Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks) struggles with balancing his family life and the guilt he carries with his career choice. Unbeknownst to Sullivan, his son Tyler Hoechlin) stows away on a business trip and witnesses a shootout that eventually leads to the death of his sibling and mother. Now father and son must go on the run and in the process form a unique bond.

Director Sam Mendes adaptation of Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Raynar's graphic novel features beautiful cinematography but the story lacks heart. It's hard to root for Hanks' flawed character given his past and the scenes he shares with his onscreen son aren't very compelling.

Video Highlights

  • AVC/1080p encode on a BD-50 disc
  • Soft presentation
  • Inky blacks and revealing shadows
  • Muted color palette
  • Close-ups reveal fine detail

Audio Highlights

  • DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack
  • Enveloping soundstage
  • Excellent dynamics
  • Action scenes pack a lot of punch

There are times when the video encode is extremely impressive but the occasional soft shot spoils the beautiful cinematography. The audio track is the star of the show with an enveloping surround experience.

Bonus Materials

  • Introduction by Sam Mendes
  • Commentary by Sam Mendes
  • Three Behind-the-Scenes featurettes
  • Deleted scenes
  • Theatrical trailer

My expectations have always been high for this film due to the strong resume's of Hanks and Mendes. While it's entertaining, I don't feel that it reaches the heights of their other projects. The video presentation is commendable but it's the audio track that's worth the price of admission. Recommended for fans.

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Release Date: August 3, 2010
Studio: Dreamworks

Movie: 7/10
Picture: 8/10
Sound: 9/10

Review System

Source
Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray player

Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Onkyo Pro PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 power amplifier
Panamax M5400PM power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector

Acoustical treatments from GIK Acoustics

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