In My Opinion: Ranking Sam Mendes's First Five Films
Ten years, five solid films, how do they rank?
After enjoying Sam Mendes's latest film, Away We Go, and only mildly enjoying his previous film, Revolutionary Road, I decided to finally go back and revisit two of his films I hadn't seen for a long time, American Beauty and Road to Perdition. When I first saw both of these films neither one of them lived up to expectation based on the praise and acclaim they had received. As a result I dismissed them to the back of my mind as mediocre movies I would likely never return to. That was, of course, before I started writing my own movie-based website, which means in order to keep up with the new you can't forget the old. On top of that, opinions change over time and to make a judgment on a films you haven't seen in seven and ten years is unfair.
So, with Away We Go expanding its theatrical reach to a whopping 132 theaters, and after getting myself straightened out and up to speed I felt why not take a look at Mendes's first five films and open up a little discussion. This comes, I should note, on the heels of an announcement Mendes has made a two-year first-look deal with Focus Features, which includes the acquisition of two projects that could be potential directing vehicles for Mendes. You can read all about that right here, but for now let's head to the list.
 | Revolutionary Road (2008) |
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| Revolutionary Road had its vocal minority last year, championing the film as something fantastic, but I just can't agree. However, when the #5 film on this list is one I gave a "B-" that is saying something about the quality of Mendes's work. What I took away from Revolutionary Road was a skillfully acted film that never really connected as deeply as I thought it should have. |
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 | American Beauty (1999) |
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| Admittedly, I enjoyed this movie more the second time around, and where it beats out Revolutionary Road is in its ability to incorporate its supporting characters. There are many similarities between the two films and where the supporting cast adds very little to the Wheeler's story in Revolutionary Road the same can't be said for those surrounding the Burnham's. After this second viewing I really think this is a film I may actually enjoy more and more over the next few years, but only time will tell. |
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 | Road to Perdition (2002) |
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| I'm still left with a little doubt when it comes to Road to Perdition although it is a tremendously fascinating film that takes you through so many emotions it's hard to actually survive. When I first saw it back in 2002 I remember one of my number one drawbacks was Tom Hanks, not that he didn't turn in a good performance, but I couldn't seem to get myself to believe him in the role of Michael Sullivan. My issue with that still lingers, but it doesn't affect me nearly as much as I almost catapulted Road to Perdition to the #2 slot, but it just missed. |
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 | Jarhead (2005) |
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| I know I am in the vast minority when it comes to liking Jarhead, but it's one of those films I just connected to. I'm not sure if it was my ability to enjoy a war film when everyone else wanted to avoid them, or just the fact I was able to take something out of it others weren't. Whatever it is I truly enjoy this film and its ability to stand on the hill and neither be "for" or "against" war as much as it tries to show you another side of it all with performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard and Jamie Foxx I won't soon forget. |
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 | Away We Go (2009) |
So there you have it. That's my take and I am sure many will disagree with my top choices vying for the more prestigious pictures, American Beauty and Road to Perdition, but one of the great things about Mendes's films is there is hardly a line to be drawn between them. His first five films are all relatively solid works and at only 43-years-old and a brand new deal with Focus I expect we will be hearing his name for many years to come.
1: American Beauty: This is my favorite movie, and from the fantastic performances to the cinematography to the screenplay to the score, I love every aspect of it
2: Road to Perdition: Gangster movie, awesome look, 'nuff said
3: Revolutionary Road: great performances, superb direction
haven't seen Jarhead or Away We Go…
1. Road to Perdition (A)
2. Away We Go (A)
3. Revolutionary Road (A)
4. Jarhead (A-)
5. American Beauty (B+)
I thought American Beauty got a ton of credit for being innovative, but there wasn't much story there. Jarhead is visually and tonally fantastic, but a little disjointed. RevRoad is a great movie, but the one Mendes work I'll probably never watch again. Too jarring.
Away We Go is very well done. Lighthearted, but also with solid depth. I dug it.
Road to Perdition is one of my favorites. That Newman/Hanks scene in the pouring rain is all time. As are the conflicts and multilayered villains.
I absolutely love articulate personal testimonials to films, especially when they have the integrity to admit the flaws of those films. I'd say that you proved to me that Sam Mendes is a versatile, creative director who isn't afraid to take a different path. We need more people in the film industry like him.
On a personal note, some of "Road to Perdition" was shot just about a mile from my home so that Tom Hanks and Sam Mendes were breathing my same air for something like a week. 1/2 of my friends spent the time stalking them, but they were filming in the woods so were pretty inaccessible. I stayed away and just breathed deep. Small world, huh?
1. American Beauty
2. Jarhead
3. Away We Go
4. Revolutionary Road
i still need to see Road to Perdition
american beauty iz def #1. great film from direction to casting to cinematography.
except 4 jarhead i haven't seen any of the other 3 2 judge them, but i'm sure 2 chk them out.
i do have to say that your rankings are fairly bold, your top two are probably most peoples bottom two. It's really strange to rank his films, because other than Revolutionary Road and American Beauty they're all really differ vastly from each other.
I actually found Away We Go to be an insult disguised as an endearing comedy…but I could be off the mark. Road to Perdition is a beautiful film, one of my all time favorites and sports some of the greatest cinematography ever. American Beauty is a very good film but I just couldn't connect to it emotionally. Revolutionary Road boasts a great performance from Winslet, some nice camerawork by Deakins but the rest fell flat. Yet to see Jarhead.
1. Road to Perdition
2. American Beauty
3. Revolutionary Road
4. Away We Go
@Chris C: I'm curious what you believe the insult in Away We Go was, you have me intrigued.
@Brad Brevet: I think that, like in American Beauty and Revolutionary Road, Mendes is attacking the state of American marriage. When you look at all of the couples that Krasinki and Rudolph visit, the marriage is always screwed up in one way or another. The brother, Allison Janney's family, the seemingly perfect Montreal family, Maggie Gyllenhaal's family — all married couples, all screwed up in one way or another. And the two leads always leave the married couple with a sour taste, or, a segment never ends with a positive view on marriage. In the end, the unmarried, sort of renegade couple, our two leads, always come out on top — and they always will, as shown by the ending. By remaining unmarried, they can seemingly conquer anything.
It's not insulting in the typical sense of the word, but I keep reading about how the film is affirming and endearing. I actually found it quite dark, and another way for Mendes to flip off the typical American lifestyle. In a way, I felt cheated by the film, because I would rather have a director tell me his point straight up. And I don't mean spell it out — I just think that (what I feel) is the point should not be buried under a pretty funny, sweet comedy (seemingly) about accepting the perils of parenthood.
Now, I could be reading way too far into the film. But for my money, the film subtly, slyly manipulates its audience…
For the record, I really enjoyed the performances and thought the script had some very funny moments.
@Chris C: I don't think that is reading too far into it at all. I mentioned in my post how I saw similarities between American Beauty and RevRoad, but I never thought to look at the couples visited on the road in Away We Go and think you bring up a great point. It doesn't really change my opinion of the film, but I think it is a great observation.
I wonder if any interviews out there have brought it up with Mendes.
I still need to see "Away We Go."
But right now it's:
1) American Beauty
2) Revolutionary Road
3) Road to Perdition
4) Jarhead
@Chris C: I haven't seen this film yet, but I don't think the anti-marriage theme is in any way hidden. I can discern it from the previews. There's also the contrast between laissez faire parenting and controlling parenting.
I wonder if Sam isn't following F. Scott Fitzgerald's view. I'm trying to remember exactly what he wrote but it was something to the effect that all happy people are alike but no two unhappy people are unhappy for the same reason.
@Patricia: No, the anti-marriage from one party is not hidden whatsoever.
I really want to see Away We Go, but it's only playing in one theater in Arizona, where I live, and I don't live anywhere near it.
Sam Mendes is basically a dead boring director. He has the ability to put everyone to sleep. Maybe he should stick to the theatre.