Signs:

Synopsis: One fateful day a gang enforcer's son sees his dad at work, this sparks a chain of events which ends with the father on the run trying to protect his son from his former employers.

This a simple premise that is handled in a simple and effective way. In a different directors hand this would have descended in an orgy of violence and destruction, but Mendes knows how to tell a story without resorting to the usual cliches.

Tom Hanks portrays Mike Sullivan, an enforcer for John Rooney an Irish ganglord ably depicted by Paul Newman, Mike is an enigma to his children who wonder what their dad does for a living but have to make do with the vague answer that he works for John Rooney.

Ome of the children Micheal decides to find out what his dad actually does and this leads to massive repurcussions not only for himself but for the whole family and the Irish gangs.

The whole film is based on the relationships between fathers and sons, Little Micheal has to deal with the fact that his dad is a hoodlum which is far from the fantasy he had built around his dad, will his love survive this? In addition John Rooney has to deal with a bad egg for a son (Daniel Craig), inspite of his knowledge of his son's shortcomings can he love him any less?

The film's catchline should have been blood is thicker than water as this theme seems to run throughout the film.

Sam Mendes' direction keeps this film involving without going over the top. It is obvious to see the Godfather influences in this movie, watchout for the silent massacre of John Rooney's crew.

Somehow Mendes makes us care for Tom's character who when you think about it is nothing more than a hoodlum,maybe it is the fact that we all can relate to the bond of family ties and how it can transcend almost any other bond. In the long run no matter is day job Tom is a father trying to protect his son.

This a good decent film with excellent performances from all involved including Jude Law as a nasty assassin. I am not sure this ranks up there with the great gangster movies as some critics would have you believe but it is not to be sniffed at.

Tom Hanks for an Oscar? Maybe more likely Paul Newman may get one for best supporting role.

My movie rating is : 7/10

See ya later,

Shazam!