Top SFX shots No.17: The Road To Perdition

You don't have to recreate the whole damned world to 'sell' period, but you do need to pull out the stops on one shot that establishes era. SFX house Cinesite provide Sam Mendes with an unforgettable introduction to 1930s Chicago here, where cinematography, music and first-tier CGI work combine to take one's breath away. The convenient flock of birds throwing the skyscrapers into relief are gilding the lily a little, but otherwise this is flawless.

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