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April 14th, 2004

Script Review: ROAD TO PERDITION

(Draft date: 7/13/2000), written by David Self

Reviewed by Christopher Wehner

WARNING: SPOILERS!
(7/9/01)

NOTE: The screenplays we review are often in development and may experience many rewrites, some could end
up being completely different than what is reviewed here. It is our hope that our reviews generate more interest in
the film. Thank you.

David Selfs rst produced credit was for the remake of The Haunting. He followed that up with the
Screenwrite
historical drama Thirteen Days, and now Road to Perdition is his third produced script. 310 likes

Road to Perdition is being touting as a "watershed" lm for Tom Hanks. A movie where he plays, for once,
Like Page
a real bad guy who kills unmercifully. A character with a dark side and one who openly embraces it.

The script is by David Self and is based on the graphic novel by Max Allan Collins and Richard P. Rayner. Self Be the first of your friends t
has crafted a poetic and poignant story of deception, revenge, and redemption.

Heres the gist of the story without giving away any major plot elements: Set in Prohibition-era Illinois, a
poverty stricken, decadent and violent era when gangsters like Al Capone and Frank Nitti ruled Chicago Latest Community Articles
and its underworld like emperors. The Italians didnt own a monopoly on organized crime however. An Irish
Scre
expatriate known as "Old Man" John Looney (Paul Newman) runs the rackets in Rock Island, IL. He has his
hands in everything, from the newspapers to the unions. He considers the town, which appears to be made Fina
up of mostly Irish immigrants, his very own. His agitious and unscrupulous son Connor and his "adopted Rem
son," Michael O'Sullivan (Hanks) are his most trusted cohorts. O'Sullivan is affectionately called "The Angel First
of Death," and is the most feared hitman in organized crime. As a World War I veteran with no family, abou
obst
Looney took OSullivan under his wing and gave him a purpose and a place in life. OSullivan has a wife
and y
(Annie) and two sons, and on the surface appears to be a normal everyday family man. resolved. Additionally, this
often comes to signify their
The script opens with an "Old Man" who appears to be in a "CELL-LIKE ROOM." He is recounting the story
of his father, Michael O'Sullivan. We will come to know of this man as Michael O'Sullivan, Jr. He tells us of Read more

his father that, "Some called him a monster. A demon. A killer of men," and that others called him "an
avenging Angel." He then asks the question, "Which was he? Neither? Both?"
Gen
And with this voice over starts the recollection of a story about innocence lost, at least, for Michael I rea
O'Sullivan, Jr. Two or three scenes into the script and little Michael is suspicious of what his father does for scrip
a living. He and his younger brother Peter are not sure what exactly their father does for Mr. Looney. They a fem
this.
know he carries a gun. Little Michael surmises that his father, "goes on missions for Mr. Looney. Theyre
alrea
very exciting and dangerous, thats why he brings his gun. Sometimes the President sends him on missions reco
too. To ght bad guys and save people. Because hes a war hero and all." with such widespread inue
those old beliefs.
Clearly Tom Hanks isnt playing a truly mean, down and dirty, bad guy. Hes a anti-hero to a degree, and as
Read more
the story unfolds he does become a cold and calculating killer bent on revenge. Act one comes to an end

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11/14/2017 ROAD TO PERDITION - Screenwriter's Utopia
with a tragic event. Michael Jr., curious as to what his father really does, stows away one evening in the How
back of his fathers car while he goes on a "mission" for Mr. Looney with his son Conner. He witnesses a EL C
brutal shooting (Conner is made to be the aggressor, as Michael OSullivan Sr. only res in self-defense.)
Chr
Little Michael is discovered by Conner, who nearly shoots him. OSullivan intervenes and assures Conner
Mov
that his son will keep the secret. Now Michael must tell his son everything, and in a effect, wipes way all
innocence the boy had about life in Rock Island and his father. A few days later OSullivan is asked to Twen
deliver a note to Tony Lococo, an arm of the Irish Mob. OSullivan is told, "no violence," and he can even go wrot
he dreamed of seeing his w
"unarmed." The note OSullivan delivers is his own death sentence. (Which was telegraphed by his
many struggles, rejections,
instructions to go "unarmed.") He of course senses it and in the last moments, before it is too late, kills of his dream. When you go
Lococo and his henchmen. Realizing what is happening he rushes home, only to nd his wife and his CHRISTMASas his sole writ
youngest son Peter shot to death. Michael Jr. arrived as the events were unfolding and was able to hide, might considered him an ov
but not before seeing who the assassin was. two year in the making one
success stories it took chan
The title "Road to Perdition" is meant as a metaphor for the choices we makethe "Roads" as OSullivan perseverance.
Sr. eventually tells us, one chooses to travel (from page 114 of the script): Read more

The
All we are is a million choices. You can choose right a million times. Until the day comes and you have no
choice but evil. Its then you know youre not an angel. All you are is a man. Scen
scree
plot
story
OSullivan clearly has a warped view of the world, which helps to explain his character. This is a story of scrip
their
OSullivans road to ruin. The choices he has made, and consequences of those choices. His only hope is
scenes might not even cont
that his son can avoid his fate. Im not sure I entirely buy the storys explanations, but it confronts the still provide information ab
moral and social issues it raises, and it does so without too much premeditation or contrivances. The nish lives and actions. There is n
line for the OSullivans is Perdition, Kansas where Annies family lives. But it shouldnt be confused with paragraphs, or pages consti
the title, for theres a deeper meaning here.
Read more

The main nemesis of the story is an interesting character called "The Reporter," who will be played by Jude
Law. A character that needs to be beefed up for the movie, and if subsequent rewrites have done this, so WET
much the better. "The Reporter" is hired to hunt OSullivan, and his son, and kill them. The way he
The
methodically chases them, and the reasons for his nickname, were fairly inventive I think. (I assume this
shirt
character is from the graphic novel by Max Allan Collins and Richard P. Rayner, as my understanding is that scree
Selfs script follows the novel pretty closely.) How he hunts OSullivan was very weak and also needs more marq
substance. categ
box i
This could be a really dark story, and I think theres enough here (especially in the second and third acts) to over and over, I believe that
back the claim that this is a "different" kind of role for Hanks. I suspect hell be nominated for another fee. Some - like the Nicholl a
Oscar for this performance. Sam Mendes is the director, and thats an interesting choice. His work on reputable and have launche
American Beauty was so fantastic, and he certainly has a unique visual style. He seems to be a lmmaker of how reputable any conte
with something to say, which is refreshing. Im really looking forward to seeing what these ne lmmakers most seems tenuous. Low f
scripts guarantees a sloppy
do with David Selfs solid and engrossing script.

-- Chris Read more

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