Road To Perdition (2002)

The point of these challenges or what I am doing is to check out films that you never seen before. Unfortunately for me, there have been a lot of films that somehow have fallen through the cracks and I just have not had the chance to see them and the film I picked for today is one of them. The film I chose for today is called Road To Perdition and it was released in 2002 and it was directed by Sam Mendes (1917). The film stars Tom Hanks (Toy Story 4) as Michael Sullivan, a mob enforcer whose son happens to witness a murder that ends up getting Michael's wife and other son killed because of it. This forces Michael to take his son on the road with him as he plans his revenge. The film also stars Tyler Hoechlin (Everybody Wants Some!) as Michael Jr., Jennifer Jason Leigh (Good Time) as Annie Sullivan, Paul Newman (The Hustler) as John Rooney, Daniel Craig (Casino Royale) as Connor Rooney, Ciarán Hinds (Frozen) as Finn McGovern, Dylan Baker (Trick 'r Treat) as Rance,  Stanley Tucci (Captain America: The First Avenger) as Frank Nitti, Jude Law (Captain Marvel) as Maguire, and Liam Aiken (Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events) as Peter Sullivan.

The truth of the matter was that I had only seen the ending of the film so I ultimately knew what was going to happen, I just didn't know how they got there. Jude Law's role wasn't a huge one, but he makes such an impact with the screen time that was given to him. He is instantly a character that you are never going to forget because of how creepy the guy is. He likes to take photographs of the dead and not just the ones that he has killed either which should be enough information for you to know who you are dealing with. There is so much emotion in this film that it's divided and distributed very well throughout the story from the loss of his family to the loss of his other family which hurts just as much to a guy like Michael Sullivan. Tom Hanks was well... Tom Hanks and that means that he was masterful because I don't think that Tom Hanks makes a bad film and if he does its very rare. Tom does an amazing job of keep your attention as he struggles to navigate through the madness because he has to deal with his son and his issues plus deal with the fact that the "family" wants him dead. I love the costumes, the sets, the cars, and of course the Tommy Gun which we get to see in this prohibition era film. Sam Mendes does an unbelievable job with the film and we really shouldn't be surprised at this point. The film is currently available on Netflix as we speak and this is one that you are going to want to check out. So wit that being said, I am going to go ahead and give the film an A- for a final grade.

Toy Story 4 (2019)

We are taking a break this weekend from Sunday at the Classics to check out a film because tonight is the 92ND annual Academy Awards ceremony. Tonight, they'll be handing out Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and so many more. One of the categories that I have always had great luck with is the Best Animated Feature award that I have successfully predicted for the last five years and for today's film I had to check out the film that I am picking for that award in Toy Story 4. The film once again stars Tom Hanks (Philadelphia) as Woody, Tim Allen (Home Improvement) as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack (Working Girl) as Jesse, Kristen Schaal (Toy Story 3) as Trixie, Wallace Shawn (The Princess Bride) as Rex, John Ratzenberger (Cheers) as Hamm, Blake Clark (Waterboy) as Slinky, and Bonnie Hunt (Rain Man) as Dolly. This time around, the gang is trying to get used to Bonnie's routines, but Woody is having a hard time adjusting. One day, he helps her create a new friend in Forky (Tony Hale), but Forky gets lost at an Antique store and it's up to Woody and an old friend to bring him back before it's too late. The film also stars Annie Potts (Ghostbusters) as Bo Peep, Keegan-Michael Key (Keanu) as Ducky, Keanu Reeves (John Wick) as Duke Caboom, Jordan Peele (Keanu) as Bunny, Christina Hendricks (The Neon Demon) as Gabby Gabby, Ally Maki (Cloak & Dagger) as Giggles McDimples, and the film was directed by Josh Cooley (Inside Out).

So, compared to the previous entry in the franchise which I thought was dark towards the end of the film, this was a much lighter film. The film touches on the idea of being an outcast, an undesirable that feels left out in the cold and it tries to teach you that it's OK to feel that way, but nothing is permanent. They try to teach you in the film that you have to accept yourself for who you are and that sometimes you have to take a chance and think outside the four walls of your room or the proverbial box. The film teaches you that sometimes you just need to accept reality and when you can do that you will be OK because you'll value your true closest friends. Disney films have always been very deep as far as the underlying messages that you don't get as a child until you watch it again as an adult. I think they hope that your brain will just subliminally understand what is happening and you'll be a better citizen for it. I have always been a fan of the franchise and I was very much looking forward to this film, but how does it rank with the rest of them? I thought the story was well done, but the film was more centered on Woody this time around then it was about any other character. I definitely believe with all my heart that this was the franchise's swan song and they did it with dignity. I loved seeing all the different new toys and how they included some from Canada with theirs which was great because I loved having Keanu Reeves there. I don't know what else there is to say because Disney Pixar do not make bad movies. So, I am going to go ahead and give this one an A- for a final grade.