"REVOLUTIONARY ROAD": STRONG ACTING, DEPRESSION STORY
Written: Feb 12 '09 (Updated Feb 16 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: DeCaprio, Winslet, Shannon, directing, script and cinematography
Cons: Depressing
The Bottom Line: If you want to see great acting and you're not afraid to see a sad film, this is a great choice
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| mike.holmes's Full Review: Revolutionary Road |
For those of us who grew up in the 1950's, "Revolutionary Road" struck some very familiar, painful chords. While many have looked at that era as the "good ol' days", in reality the '50 contained many of the seeds of discontent that would explode in the next few decades.
Director Sam Mendes teamed with a fine screenwriter and excellent actors capture the harsh reality of that decade in a movie that should have won more nominations in my opinion.
THE PLOT
Frank Wheeler and April Wheeler appear to have it made in Suburbia, USA. Frank (Leonardo DeCaprio-"Blood Diamond",) has a good, if boring job in the city. April (Kate Winslet-"The Reader",) has two children and puts on a good show of being happy.
The couple bought the perfect house on Revolutionary Road away from the hassle of the city. Their realtor, Helen Givings (Kathy Bates-"Misery",) is also a friend along with her husband Howard and their "troubled" adult child John (Micheal Shannon.
Appearances aside, Frank hates his job and has a meaningless affair with a secretary, Milly Campbell (Kathryn Hahn). April had ambitions to be an actress and is bravely trying to look happy. Fearing a stagnation all too frequent in marriages, April convinces Frank to quit his job and move to Paris where he was happy in WWII.
That's the general outline of the plot.
WHY THE MOVIE DESERVES MORE RECOGNITION
I was shocked when DeCaprio did not receive an Oscar nomination. His body of work has shown a continued growth in his ability to re-create himself on the big screen. I think his acting here along with the rest of the ensemble was tremendous.
Winslet also is incredible and could have been nominated here as she was in "The Reader". Her role is a little more complicated but she provides the nuances which match her situation to perfection.
The one acting nomination for the movie went to Michael Shannon who gives one of the best "semi-functionally insane" performances I've ever seen. Along with his mom and dad, the Wheelers belong in a true state of depression.
That may have been the downfall of the film in the eyes of the critics and the public. The movie is depressing but, unfortunately, it represents the reality of much of middle class America in the 50's.
Mendes ("American Beauty",) always brings the best out of his performers. Along with the wonderful cinematography by Roger Deakins ("The Man Who Wasn't There",) and the great music by Thomas Newman ("American Beauty"), they have presented a film which I believe will be looked on as a classic in the future.
FIVE STARS
495 words
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Serious Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
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Epinions.com ID:
mike.holmes
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Member: Mike Holmes
Location: Odessa, Texas
Reviews written: 1249
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