"‘You are an empty, empty, hollow shell of a woman.’"
THE CAST:
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are on top of their game in this film and they have come a long way since their first film together, Titanic. Michael Shannon was equally impressive and his performance earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. The talented and Oscar winning actress Kathy Bates also deserves mention for she is great in every film I have seen her in.
DIRECTION, CINEMATOGRAPHY AND SPECIAL EFFECTS:
The film was also nominated for Oscars in the categories of Best Achievement in Art Direction and Best Achievement in Costume Design and it was deserving of these nominations. Beautifully filmed in Connecticut and New York, the movie gives you the feeling of actually being in the 1950's. Even though there were some little flaws as far as things that were not 'true to the period', for example the electrical plugs were three pronged and in the 1950's they only had two blade style, but nothing glaringly obvious. Not really any special effects to speak of.
Directed by Kate Winslet's real life husband Sam Mendes, he proves why he is an Oscar winning director. Many have compared this film to American Beauty for which he won the Oscar but I do not think that is necessarily fair because that was ten years ago and no one seems to mention Road to Perdition which is another one of his great accomplishments.
THE GOOD:
It is hard to describe why this film is so good because a 'feel good' movie it is not. It is also not what I would consider a masterpiece of film making but it is a well-written, moving and sometimes absorbing film of how a couple is just not satisfied with living a normal sometimes boring life. It is a good look of how neurotic personalities can interfere with a life most would be happy with.
THE BAD:
Without the strong performances by all involved this film would have fallen short of a great film. The script was muddled at points and sometimes downright boring. I have not read the book but I have heard it is a fantastic but complicated novel so I am sure it was hard adapting it to film. However, many scenes could have been done better, especially in the beginning of the film. More development of their relationship or lives before it became bitter would have drawn the viewer into their lives more effectively.
THE STORY (may contain spoilers):
The year is 1955 and Frank and April Wheeler have been married for seven years. Everyone around them think they have a perfect life living in a Connecticut suburb with two young children. Little does anyone know that both of them are miserable and sleep walking through their lives. One day April suggests they pack up and move to Paris where all of their dreams can eventually be realized. This rejuvenates their zest for life and they feel happiness is within reach. Then certain circumstances change and they may have to cancel their plans. Can the Wheeler's relationship withstand this disappointment?
SPECIAL FEATURES: Standard DVD
Commentary with director Sam Mendes and screenwriter Justin Haythe
Deleted scenes with commentary by director Sam Mendes and screenwriter Justin Haythe
Lives of Quiet Desperation: The Making of Revolutionary Road
REPLAY VALUE:
Below average replay for Revolutionary Road, it is a very good movie but because of the subject matter it is not one that I would watch often.
BOTTOM LINE:
This is a very good film and I highly recommend it, however I did not think it was quite a five star film. It is well worth renting, but I would see it before I went out and purchased it. You may not think it is worth the twenty dollars it would currently cost you to own. I am not saying this is a bad film, I just feel it is mildly overrated.
Thanks for reading.
DVD Release Dates
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