Tom Hanks, the Oscar-winning actor, has recently suggested that one of his most important films, Road to Perdition, is not discussed as much as it should be.
Despite starring in highly-regarded films such as Forrest Gump, Toy Story, Philadelphia, and Saving Private Ryan, Hanks believes his role in the 2002 film may be his most underrated.
In an interview with the ReelBlend podcast, Hanks said, “For one reason or another, no one references Road To Perdition, and that was an incredibly important movie for me to go through.”
He went on to explain that the film was shot by Conrad Hall and featured him alongside other big names in the industry, including Jude Law and Daniel Craig, who he ended up killing in the film.
Hanks also suggested that the film may become an “obscure” part of cinema.
He said, “People always say, ‘What movies will they be talking about years from now?’
“As a guy who watches Turner Classic Movies a lot, the more obscure and unknown a movie from 1940s or 1950s the better, because I have no preconceived notions about it; I don’t know anything about it.”
The actor also compared the film to classic movies from the 1940s and 1950s, saying that they were often better because he had no prior knowledge of them.
He said, “When you watch those movies and it’s crackerjack and it’s incredibly moving, all I can think of is, ‘I’m so glad this movie lasts forever, so I got a chance to revisit it now.’ That might be the case with Road To Perdition.”
Hanks also recently responded to recent criticism of nepotism in Hollywood.
He said, “This is what we’ve been doing forever. It’s what all of our kids grew up in. If we were a plumbing supply business or if we ran the florist shop down the street, the whole family would be putting in time at some point, even if it was just inventory at the end of the year.”
Hanks went on to explain that the most important thing was whether or not the work was good, regardless of the last name of the person doing it.
He said, “The thing that doesn’t change no matter what happens, no matter what your last name is, is whether it works or not.
“That’s the issue anytime any of us go off and try to tell a fresh story or create something that has a beginning and a middle and an end.”
