Editing Road to Perdition (section)

=== Critical response {{Anchor|Critics|Reception}}===
''Road to Perdition'' received positive reviews from critics, with Conrad L. Hall's cinematography, the production design, and the lead performances of Hanks and Newman being praised. Review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gives the film an approval rating of 82% based on 213 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Somber, stately, and beautifully mounted, Sam Mendes' ''Road to Perdition'' is a well-crafted mob movie that explores the ties between fathers and sons."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/road_to_perdition|title=Road to Perdition |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |access-date=2025-05-30}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] gave the film a weighted average score of 72 out of 100, based on 36&nbsp;critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/roadtoperdition|title=Road to Perdition|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=2010-04-24|archive-date=10 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510025922/http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/roadtoperdition|url-status=dead}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com|title=Find CinemaScore|format=Type "Road to Perdition" in the search box|publisher=[[CinemaScore]]|access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' praised Hall's cinematography and the thematic use of water. He also felt emotionally detached from the characters, saying, "I knew I admired it, but I didn't know if I liked it ... It is cold and holds us outside."<ref>{{cite news|author=Ebert, Roger|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020712/REVIEWS/207120304/1023|title=Road to Perdition|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=2002-07-12|access-date=2007-07-25|archive-date=2012-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907201144/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20020712%2FREVIEWS%2F207120304%2F1023|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Kirk Honeycutt of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' praised Hanks, Newman, and Craig but called Law's performance "almost cartoonish".<ref>{{cite news|author=Honeycutt, Kirk|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1530784|title=Road to Perdition|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=2002-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181242/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1530784|archive-date=2007-09-30|access-date=2007-07-25}}</ref> [[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' also complimented Hanks and Newman: "[They] act together with the confidence of titans, their talents in the service of character, never star ego." Travers cited Hall's "breathtaking" cinematography and composer [[Thomas Newman]]'s "evocative" score.<ref>{{cite news|author=Travers, Peter|url=https://www.google.com/search?cd=1&hl=en&gl=us|title=Road to Perdition: Review|date=2002-08-01|access-date=2010-04-24}}{{Dead link|date=January 2011}}</ref>

[[Paul Clinton]] of [[CNN]] said: "While these deeply human issues are touched upon, they're never fully explored, and that undermines the sense of greatness to which this movie obviously aspires." Clinton considered Craig's character "one-dimensional to the extreme". He found the cinematography too overpowering for the film's storyline, which he considered "weak".<ref>{{cite news|author=Clinton, Paul|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/11/ca.s02.review.perdition/index.html|title=Review: 'Road to Perdition' scenic trip nowhere|work=[[CNN]]|date=2002-07-11|access-date=2007-07-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106040249/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/11/ca.s02.review.perdition/index.html|archive-date=2007-11-06}}</ref> J. Hoberman of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' described the film as "grim yet soppy". He added: "The action is stilted and the tabloid energy embalmed."<ref>{{cite news|author=Hoberman, J.|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2002-07-09/film/industrial-symphony|title=Industrial Symphony|work=[[The Village Voice]]|date=2002-07-10|access-date=2010-04-24}}</ref> Stephen Hunter of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' thought that the script lost its path when Sullivan and his son fled their old life.<ref>{{cite news|author=Hunter, Stephen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A58465-2002Jul11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116123815/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A58465-2002Jul11/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-11-16|title=Bedeviled by The Details In 'Perdition'|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=2002-07-12|access-date=2007-07-25}}</ref>

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie of ''[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'' enjoyed the film's cinematography, Depression-era setting, and the performances of Hanks and Newman. Gillespie wished the film lasted a little longer to explore its emotional core further.<ref>{{cite news|author=Eleanor Ringel Gillespie|url=http://www.accessatlanta.com/movies/content/shared/movies/reviews/R/roadtoperdition.html|title=Road to Perdition|work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|access-date=2007-07-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212140617/http://www.accessatlanta.com/movies/content/shared/movies/reviews/R/roadtoperdition.html|archive-date=2006-02-12}}</ref> Eric Harrison of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' considered ''Road to Perdition'' "the most brilliant work in this [gangster] genre" since the uncut ''[[Once Upon a Time in America]]'' (1984). Harrison considered Self's script "so finely honed that the story can change directions in a heartbeat."<ref>{{cite news|author=Harrison, Eric|url=http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ae/movies/reviews/1491161.html|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014091839/http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ae/movies/reviews/1491161.html|archive-date=2007-10-14|title=Road to Perdition|date=May 12, 2004|access-date=2011-01-01}}</ref>