Take it at your own risk

"Road to Perdition" is as original as "American Beauty" in its own way, and both films prove Sam Mendes to be a director of immense talents. He creates a mood of relentless solemnity in this film, broken only (or enhanced by) moments of the blackest humor, and he manages to sustain this grim mood throughout. He also manages to get superbly restrained performances from all his actors, particularly Hanks and Hoechlin (as Michael Sullivan Sr. and Jr., respectively). And he manages to tell a timeworn story in a thoroughly unique manner.

"Road to Perdition" goes deep, hits hard and leaves you reeling, but it's done in such a masterfully subtle and sublimely restrained way that you might not realize it until you've departed the theatre.