this couldn not have be well . the strong restraint on mike sullivan expression couldn not have be portray in any other way . tom hank deliver the best performance of his career . young tyler hoechlin drive an emotional wheel while play the basis character for the story . and veteran paul newman give one of his best character performance in a long time . this film be base on a bold graphic novel by max allan collins and richard pier rayner . this be a father or son story which basically employ the two candidate solely unfit for the role . mike sullivan have no father a a child and so john rooney take him in . although a generous man and mr. rooney involve himself in organize crime . therefore and the debt of sullivan be only to be pay off in involve himself in the business . now and sullivan have a wife and two child and be try to keep his child safe and but at the same time pay back his bos . the event to follow and will test sullivan loyalty and embrace his family fate . with a great adaptation by david self and the dialogue come out seldomly and but yet very virtuous . the story unfolds in a beautiful 1930 setting ( brilliant art direction by richard l. johnson and nancy haigh ) cover with a dark rainy ( snow on the ground ) exterior . drive the story and be thomas newman wonderful irish score and settling in only when necessary . but the most important technical element in the film be conrad l. hall beautiful photography . this be some of the best cinematography i have see while and i watch a lot of film . the scene when mike and michael be in the car and enter chicago be quite impressive . the shot start at the front of the car and reveal mike ( hank ) through the windshield . it subsequently dollys around to the side of the car and to see michael ( hoechlin ) awakening and peer out his side window . a it continue and it truck sideways and dollys back and completely around the car and reveal a gorgeous scenic 1930 chicago . with a great cast and crew and the principle man create a brazenly amazing film . i be talk about sam mendes and who make his feature film debut in 1999 with american beauty . ( win him various award ) before american beauty and mendes work a a play director for the british theater and but decide that he want to move on say that there be nothing new for him in theater . with only two film and sam mendes have mark himself in my book a one of the great director ( in a list of about twenty five ) . the film illuminate a brazen genre that have it hit and miss and express the true theme brilliantly . the photography and acting and story be phenominal . i be still wait for scorcesee gang of new york and but for now and i be fully confident in say that this be the best film of the year . consider it competition ( sign and insomnia and minority report ) thats a strong statement .