Sam Mendes’s film with Tom Hanks as “Mike,” a man working for the "Rooney" crime family led by “John” (Paul Newman), is likely my top pick from his work, and definitely my favorite to feature Hanks. It takes a little while to get going, but the suspense increases steadily as the two men on the run form a connection while taking money from those they’re pursuing, getting even with them, and teaching the boy how to dri…

It's important to remember that at its heart, this is a mafia film. It’s framed like a dramatic story of growing up, which suggests something else entirely. There is an element of someone maturing, certainly, but it's a harsh and violent movie firmly grounded in its gangster origins. The relationship between the father and son is central, with attention given to their histories and personalities. The mother and broth…

I'd been hearing praise for Road to Perdition for quite some time, which definitely sparked my curiosity. The presence of actors like Tom Hanks, Daniel Craig, and Stanley Tucci, along with Sam Mendes’ direction, made it seem even more appealing. And the trailer suggested some exciting action sequences, so I was looking forward to watching it. However, the film turned out to be a real letdown. To be upfront, this isn'…

The events of Damnation Alleyway begin when a son sees his father, mob enforcer Michael Sullivan, commit a murder. It turns out the man Sullivan considered a father has ordered a hit on him and his family. Unable to save his wife and youngest child, Sullivan flees with his oldest boy while planning retribution. It’s genuinely welcome to see a gangster film these days, especially one set in the early 1930s that avo…