Revolutionary Road: Review By Soylent Green:The Devil's Eyes

Jan 3rd, 2009 by Soylent Green:The Devil's Eyes
We Can Be Happy Here. I Can Make You Happy Here.
  • OVERALL
    5.0
    SUPERB
  • Story
  • Acting
  • Directing
  • Visuals
Revolutionary Road is one of the greatest films I have ever seen (At least in my top 15). No doubt about it. When I saw it yesterday I had high hopes about it considering it had two phenomenal actors in the leads. My hopes were FAR surpassed. An incredible film and an incredible adaptation.

It is based on the terrific novel by Richard Yates. Set in 1955, it is the story of Frank and April Wheeler (Leonardo DiCaprio & Kate Winslet who were last seen together in "Titanic"), a married couple who live in the suburbs but had hoped for a better and more adventurous life.

The film's tagline is "How do you break free without breaking apart?". That is the basic core of the film. When April comes up with the idea to move the family to Paris, they capitalize on it and get ready to go. However, when the idea begins to fall apart, tensions arise and the couple begins to break apart in their efforts to break free, hence the tagline.

The film is directed by Sam Mendes ("American Beauty", "Road to Perdition") who puts all of his talents into this one. I think he should win or at least be nominated for the Best Director Oscar.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet give the strongest performances of their careers. They gave one of the best opening scenes I've ever seen. It is a scene in which Frank and April pull over to the side of the highway and begin one of the most passionate and well-performed arguments I have ever seen. They pour it all out in this film. The Academy should just hand them the Oscars.

Michael Shannon, ("World Trade Center", "8 Mile") in my opinion, should get the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. He plays John Givings, the clinically insane son of local realtor Helen (Kathy Bates, also great) and her husband Howard (Richard Easton). He is the only person in the film who truly sees what is simmering beneath the surface in the Wheeler Family and he lets it be known to them, letting them see who they really are.

5 out of 5

P.S.- I apologize for not posting my Friday the 13th reviews lately. I promise, they'll be up shortly.

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Comments (13)

  1. Soylent Green:The Devil's Eyes

    Thank you.

    3 years agoby @jcisawesomeFlag

  2. RavenX5 God of Light

    Brilliant review,Sam Mendes also directed Jarhead

    3 years agoby @hackx9Flag

  3. Soylent Green:The Devil's Eyes

    Damn right.

    3 years agoby @jcisawesomeFlag

  4. Rama's SCREEN

    That one year,... he should've got nominated for The Departed instead of for Blood Diamond

    3 years agoby @ramasscreen-comFlag

  5. Soylent Green:The Devil's Eyes

    He was absolutely great in that.

    3 years agoby @jcisawesomeFlag

  6. Vamp

    Nope. Haven't seen it. LOLZ!

    3 years agoby @vampire2000Flag

  7. Soylent Green:The Devil's Eyes

    Thanks man

    But did you forget about the Departed???

    3 years agoby @jcisawesomeFlag

  8. Vamp

    Great review, I'll have to check this one out when it hits DVD. I wouldn't go as far as calling Leonardo DiCaprio a PHENOMENAL actor, he's only done three good movies that I know of, and those are "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "The Man in the Iron Mask," and "Titanic." Since he's got good movies, I will DEFINITELY give this movie a fair try, since I DO like Kate Winslet, and Kathy Bates has been a favorite ever since I saw her in "Stephen King's Misery" as Annie Wilkes. She was also great in "The Waterboy." :)

    So I'll DEFINITELY have to give this one a try since you hold it in such high esteem.

    Again, great review, man! LOLZ!

    3 years agoby @vampire2000Flag

  9. GK

    Good review.

    3 years agoby @indianajonesFlag

  10. Soylent Green:The Devil's Eyes

    It is.

    3 years agoby @jcisawesomeFlag

  11. The CryptKeeper

    Nice review. I know next to nothing about this movie, but I might see it. You make it sound good.

    3 years agoby @catwomanFlag

  12. Soylent Green:The Devil's Eyes

    Thanks

    3 years agoby @jcisawesomeFlag

  13. MovieNerd

    Good review. I wasn't really planing on seeing this but now I might reconsider.

    3 years agoby @nickoFlag