Tom Hanks plays a killer in the service of a gangster played by the immense Paul Newman in “The Paths of Perdition”. While filming the Sam Mendes movie, the ‘Philadelphia’ and ‘Forrest Gump’ star suffered from impostor syndrome when confronted by the ‘The Sting’ and ‘Cold Hand Luke’ actor.
The Paths of Perdition : a killer for target
After looking into the implosion of a family in a quiet suburb with American Beauty, Sam Mendes tries his hand at gangster films for his second feature film. Released in 2002, The Paths of Perdition tells the story of Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks), a killer in the service of Irish kingpin John Rooney (Paul Newman), who considers him a member of his family.
One evening, young Michael Sullivan Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin) witnesses a murder committed by Connor Rooney (Daniel Craig), John’s son. Scared that the teenager would talk, Connor decides on a whim to shoot Michael’s entire family. The killer flees with his son in the direction of Chicago, hunted down by his employers and determined to take revenge. They find themselves chased by the psychopath Harlen Maguire (Jude Law), a ruthless murderer.
Stanley Tucci, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Ciarán Hinds complete the cast of this thriller set in the 1930s, the final feature film on which cinematographer Conrad L. Hall, who won a posthumous Oscar for his superb photography, is working. It is also the last project in which appears Paul Newmanwho later voices Doc Hudson in Cars and narrates the documentary The Meerkat Family.
Tom Hanks Imposter Syndrome
During filming, the star of The Scammer and of The color of money does not fail to impress the film crew. During the production of Paths of PerditionTom Hanks has already won two Oscars for his performances in Philadelphia et Forrest Gumpin addition to his notable roles in We have to save the soldier Ryan, The green Line or Alone in the world. This does not prevent him from feeling like a beginner against Paul Newman.
In 2022, the actor returns to this collaboration in the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard and starts by declaring (via IndieWire) :
I did a movie with Mr. Paul Newman. It took me a while to be at peace with this realization: I’m in a film with Paul Newman.
When his host asks him if he suffered from impostor syndrome while filming with the sacred monster, the interpreter of Michael Sullivan responds:
Absolutely.
Tom Hanks then recalls the attitude of Paul Newman, who everything to put his partners at ease noting that they were extremely nervous:
He’s just arrived and he’s the most approachable guy you’ve ever met and easy to talk to. He shoots the scene and after that there is a moment of silence. Then he looks at all of us and says, “Day one feels a little awkward, doesn’t it?” And everyone felt freed from that deference. He was like that.
