Description
Watch The Road to Perdition and submit a 4-6 page critique of the film based on the 6 characteristics of theatre from Aristotle.Break down each section in discussion and research any aspect of the film you feel necessary to support your critique. Follow MLA format for headings and any sources you may use in your writing.
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Explanation & Answer
Attached.
Questions for contemplating in your final film review of Road to Perdition
( One paragraph of your paper must relate to a specific subject, ex. Introduction Paragraph, Plot Paragraph,
Character Paragraph, Theme Paragraph, Diction Paragraph, Music Paragraph, Spectacle Paragraph,
Conclusion Paragraph.)
Plot
1. What event sets the story in motion?
When Michael Sullivan Jr. witnesses his father and Conner shoot Phil Mcgovern and his men, he becomes a
loose end that Conner feels must be tied to ensure their actions are not revealed. Conner attacks Sullivan’s
family killing Sullivan’s wife (Annie) and the last born son (Peter). Fearing for his life Sullivan must go into
hiding to protect the remaining members of his family and at the same time seek vengeance for his dead
family members. These events put the story in motion as the rest of the story is based on Sullivan seeking
revenge against Conner for his actions.
2. How many of the following conflicts apply to Road to Perdition?
(1) person vs. person between Conner and Sullivan Sr., between Sullivan and Allen Maguire after
Maguire is unable to kill Sullivan on his first attempt and returns to seek revenge, Rooney and
Sullivan as Rooney refuses to give up his son’s location.
(2) person vs. society Sullivan and the society after he became a bank robber, Conner and the Chicago
outfit that Rooney was aware would kill Rooney after his death
(3) person vs. nature
(4) person vs. self. Sullivan was feeling guilty for his family’s death, Sullivan was also afraid that his son
would turn into him
3. In terms of rising action, climax, and falling action, describe the structure of the plot, stating when
the action stops rising and reaches a climax and begins to fall.
Rising action: Conner murders Sullivan’s family and ends up killing his wife and last born son Peter. Sullivan
who had been set up for an ambush to kill him by Conner barely escapes with his life and Michael Jr. his
remaining family member.
Climax: Sullivan finally manages to kill Rooney and gets the location of his son Conner and is able to
successfully kill Conner and obtain justice for his dead family members.
Falling action: Sullivan has achieved his justice and takes his son to stay at his Aunt Sarah’s beach house that
was located in Michigan. Disfigured Maguire ambushes Sullivan and manages to shoot him. Sullivan is able to
shoot Maguire dies in the hands of his son.
4. The action in the story must be believable. Detail a particular event or action that causes another
event or has an important effect on a character or a relationship between characters. Describe how
this event or action moves the story forward.
After Michael Jr. Witnesses his father and Conner murder Phil Mcgovern and his men, Conner perceives
Michael Jr. as a loose end that needed to be tied. Consequently he plans an attack on the Sullivan family to kill
them while sending Sulivan on a trail setup to get killed as well. However, Sullivan manages to get away alive
and also Michael Jr. escapes the ordeal alive. After the attack, death of his family members, and the death
threat on his head, Sullivan runs away to protect his remaining family members. However, Sullivan swears to
a revenge mission against Conner for the murder of his family. Eventually, Sullivan is able to murder Rooney
and track down Conner’s hotel location. Sullivan manages to kill Conner and gets justice for his dead family
members.
5. Is there a back-story, and if there is, how does it advance the main plot?
The back-story in this film is the death of Sullivan’s parents that leave him an orphan. This back-story
contributes to the main plot in the case whereby Rooney takes in Michael Sullivan and treats him like his son
and also loves Sullivan more than his blood son. The two are send to handle a disgruntled Phil Mcgovern
whereby Conner shoots Phil Mcgovern forcing Sullivan to take down the entire Finn’s crew. When Michael Jr.
witnesses this killing, Conner seeks to kill Michael that puts the plot into action.
6. What is the key moment in the story, the scene which brings illumination or an "ah-ha" moment?
the ah-ha moment in this movie is when Sullivan finds the ledger books and realizes that Conner had being
stealing from the Chicago Outfit using the names of dead people.
7. Although incidents in the story usually return to the main conflict, they often reveal a pattern
related to the ideas in the story. This pattern causes the viewers to focus sharply on the story itself.
What pattern can be seen in the story?
8. What is the moment of climax, the moment of highest tension, when the solution to the problem is
now in sight?
After Sullivan shoots Rooney, Frank sees no reason in hiding Conner’s location anymore, as a result he gives
up Conner’s hotel location after Sullivan promises to finally end the feud.
9. The film's denouement or falling action establishes a sense of stability. What happens in this
section of the story?
After Maguire ambushes Sullivan and shoots him, Sullivan is able to shoot back killing Maguire before he
himself in his son’s hands as well and all conflict is finally resolved.
Character
Characterization is delineated through: (1) the character's thoughts, words, speech patterns, and actions; (2) the
narrator's description; and (3) the thoughts, words, and actions of other characters. When students analyze
character, they should be reminded to have these three sources in mind.
1. How are the major characters introduced? What does this tell us about what will happen in the
story?
Michael Jr. is first introduced riding a bike and in a span of few weeks is shown to be on the run with his
father and eventually behind the wheels showing his first transformation from childhood to adulthood.
Sullivan isn’t much developed in the film but is initially portrayed as a good man with an outstanding
relationship with his father. He is portrayed to be a family man who is willing to do anything to protect his
family. John Rooney is introduced from a very different angle as a loving father to both his sons but the
circumstances he faces makes it hard to either like or hate him. Conner is introduced as bad guys from the
word go making it very easy for the viewers to hate him as the antagonist. Harlen Maguire is also a bad guy
who is introduced as an assassin. His personality makes it also very easy to hate him.
2. What motivates Michael Sullivan? What did this motivation have to do with the theme of the film?
Sullivan is motivated by the murder of his family and the attempted murder on his life. As a result of the loss
of his family members, Sullivan goes down on a vengeance path to seek retribution for his lost family
members further emphasizing on the relationship of father and son as Rooney further took his son’s side.
3. The characters must be credible; how they act and what they say must make ...