Director Sam Mendes has taken a leaf out of Peter Weir with stunning cinematography and a view taken from a Childs perception.  Like in Peter Weir's "Witness" that sees a chap protecting a young Amish boy after seeing something he should not have seen, this film has the same dark plot and twists.  This time the knight is not as shinny as Harrison Ford was.  Tom Hanks plays Michael Sullivan a shadowy father who works for the mob and his son witnesses what his father does for a living.  The rest of the film is set around the boys interpretation of the events that followed.  The plot is poor at times and the screen play lacking in momentum, but the acting and cinematography keeps this film above water.   Due to the slow nature of the film, the ambience helps to overcome it, but if distracted in anyway your mind soon wanders and looses the feel for the film.  It is a fantastic film, well worth a view, if you are a serious film buff.    Our verdict Four out of Five.

Film Review by Patrick Trollope

Runtime:- 117 min

Images:-© 2002 - Dreamworks LLC - All Rights Reserved

Cast credits. First credits only:- 

• Tom Hanks as Michael Sullivan, Paul Newman as John Rooney, Jude Law as Harlen Maguire, Jennifer Jason Leigh as Annie Sullivan, Stanley Tucci as Frank Nitti, Daniel Craig as Connor Rooney, Tyler Hoechlin as Michael Sullivan, Jr., Liam Aiken as Peter Sullivan, Ciarán Hinds as Finn McGovern, Dylan Baker as Alexander Rance, David Darlow as Jack Kelly, Doug Spinuzza as Calvino, Rob Maxey as Drugstore Owner & Nicholas Cade as Boy Michael Fights.