Directed by:
Sam MendesScreenplay:
Justin HaytheCinematography:
Roger DeakinsComposer:
Thomas NewmanCast:
Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kathy Bates, Michael Shannon, Kathryn Hahn, David Harbour, Dylan Baker, Richard Easton, Zoe Kazan, Jay O. Sanders, Max Baker (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) and April Wheeler (Kate Winslet) always see themselves as far-removed from the conventionality of suburbia. Yet that is exactly what creeps up on them when they buy a house in Connecticut. He toils 10 hours a day in a job he hates, while she, as a 1950s homemaker, yearns for fulfillment and passion. Rebelling against the torpor of their lives, the couple plan an escape that may push them to their limits. (Umbrella Entertainment)
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Reviews (8)
Revolutionary Road deals with the same topic as The War of the Roses, which is comedic in tone. It is about the destruction of a marriage mainly caused by the fact that the emancipated wife had greater ambitions than just being a household decoration. The War of the Roses is full of audience-friendly black humor, while Revolutionary Road presents a burdensome chamber drama that can hardly win any sympathy. The story is set in the golden age of American masculinity, framed by the end of World War II and the mid-60s when male social dominance was dismantled under the pressure of women's emancipation, higher education for women, and a cultural transformation characterized by overall liberalization, the rise of beatniks, and the hippie movement. The final blow was dealt by changes in the economy - the oil crisis, rising commodity prices, and competition from third-world countries made it impossible to continue a society composed of families that comfortably managed with only one income. Today, only a very limited sample of society can afford to have a stay-at-home wife. However, it worked perfectly during that happy twenty-year period. Prices concerning incomes allowed the middle class to afford the single breadwinner family model, the economy was growing, and getting a mortgage was possible without worries. Many American retirees still fondly remember that idyllic (and idealized) image. Revolutionary Road shows the dark side of this type of American dream, where the husband pursues a career while the wife goes to the sink to wash dishes and prepare lunch. The chemistry between the main characters is excellent and the story sticks to the main idea without ornamental flourishes like in American Beauty, which I appreciate. Overall impression: 95%.
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Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio should at least get an Oscar nomination for this, that’s for sure. Revolutionary Road it’s not the type of drama that wants to demolish you in the end, the emotions it conveys are not that intense that everyone will feel them, but those who do will be left with a low-key but deep feeling of bitter melancholy for a long time, which for me it’s a lot more impressive than a straightforward emotional explosion. I’d say that Revolutionary Road owes most of its quality to the perfectly chosen soundtrack. IMHO, if the ending had a different score, the entire impression of the film would be different (and, more importantly, much easier to grasp for most of the audience). Personally, it suits me the way it is now. 95%
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Sam Mendes sure knows how to prescribe medication to all relationship optimists, but this time he gave me a really bitter pill. Justin Haythe's script cuts unflinchingly into everything a person can fear in their marriage and evokes a slight despair that far surpasses the usual "relationship enlightenment" attempts in terms of expressive value. However, the one who poured this understanding into my head is mainly Leonardo DiCaprio, who doesn't even seem to act out his despair and each ever more intense moment is a fascinating concert in his portrayal. The only thing I criticize is the character of mentally ill John, who always aptly names everything in an outrageously hurtful way. Such a person would easily be thrown out the door after just two sentences, even with his considerate parents. Due to the character being too utilitarian, I won't ultimately reach for the highest rating, but the story of Revolutionary Road will stay with me forever. After such an anti-gravitational yet absolute ending, it cannot be otherwise.
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The prolog to the War of the Roses wrapped up in a nice little package destined for express delivery to the Academy. Simply family drama of the likes of In the Bedroom. If it weren’t for the last half hour when they are playing a little too hard on that “Oscars for everybody" string too obviously, I would give it full marks. Mendes’ directing reminisces about his theatrical beginnings and Deakins’ camera holds back sensitively this time. He leaves almost everything to the actors and the realistic nature of problems like “and what now with an empty life...". And that’s good. But despite everything, this is Mendes’ weakest movie yet. On the other hand, bring on more “weak" movies like this.
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Sam Mendes is boring again. The emotions are quite strong, the actors are convincing, but it lacks rawness. All scenes and their sequence are precisely lined up and played perfectly, but there isn't a single bit of improvisation or authenticity. Everything is polished exactly “like in a movie”, and it doesn’t look like a realistic drama. This is what a film that wants to collect all the non-technical Oscars looks like. I like the message and what it addresses, but I don't like how the director delivers it. It could have been even better.
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