Review: ‘Revolutionary Road’

Jeremy:

“Cope† is a word that best describes the feelings surrounding ‘Revolutionary Road’. The divorce rate in 1955, when the film takes place, was significantly lower than it is today, and the main reasoning for it has to be that people just coped with their miseries better than they do today. They coped, much like someone would cope with this film. ‘Revolutionary Road’ is beautifully shot. It’s well-acted. It is a finely pieced together film that tells a real, hard-lived story, and it is a film that, after writing this review, I don’t think I ever want to think about again.

Frank and April Wheeler (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) are a seemingly happy couple. Under the surface, though, we know there is a storm brewing. Frank is miserable at his job. April has given up her aspirations as an actress, and she is slowly growing contemptuous being stuck at home. After April comes up with the idea that the two, along with their two children, should give up everything and move to Paris, their lives begin a slight upturn. It doesn’t last, and the unraveling begins.

Going into the film, I was nervous that ‘Revolutionary Road’ would be two hours of DiCaprio and Winslet screaming at one another. That’s what we got two years ago with ‘The Breakup’, and that film was about as miserable a movie-going experience as you can expect.

However, the screenplay by Justin Haythe, an adaptation of the 1961 novel by Richard Yates, doesn’t seem to dig itself out of writer’s block-induced ruts by throwing these two characters at one another. There is a genuine sense of hope that plays throughout much of the middle section of the film. If we didn’t know full well that it was all about to go off the deep end, we might actually convince ourselves that this couple is going to move to Paris and live happily ever after. But, we know better, don’t we?

We see all the warning signs that lead up to the film’s second half. Before the film’s title is even given to us, we are exposed to the hatred and awfulness that Frank and April Wheeler can spew at each other. The opening few scenes set them up. They meet. They fall in love. The film jumps to years down the line, but it doesn’t give us any indication as to where it’s at. We start to think that there is no way these two could ever fall in love, but we shortly realize that they already have and they have been married for years.

This is the fault of director Sam Mendes, who doesn’t seem to think he needs to give us any indication where we are in the story. In fact, Mendes never throws us any kind of life vest whatsoever, and once the film begins delving into the couples’ depression, we are left to just sit back and try to deal with it.

Mendes also has a way of slapping us in the face with his imagery. The film looks stunning. Cinematographer Roger Deakins is arguably the best working today and he confidently shoots ‘Revolutionary Road’ from star to finish. Every shot in the film is masterfully put together. Even in the carelessly contrived imagery, such as Frank walking through a train station wearing the exact same suit as all the other working men, it is impossible to deny how striking it looks. Early in the film, Frank and April are walking next to one another down a high school hallway. They are feet apart from each other, and the indication of the divide between them is much more forceful than it needs to be, but Deakin’s camera work almost makes it look subtle in nature.

Winslet is spectacular as April. She can turn her emotions on like a faucet, and it never feels forced or bogus. DiCaprio tries his hardest, but the guy has two speeds that he hops between like a jumping bean. He is either calm and collected, or he’s raging like Bruce Banner in line at the DMV. There is no in-between in his performance.

However, the real star of the film is Michael Shannon. He plays a mentally unstable man who comes into the couple’s lives. It is an exquisitely written character (he’s probably the sanest person in the story), and Shannon plays him with perfectly. Shannon is a very underrated actor, and, hopefully, his performance here will stamp his place on the map of recognized actors.

‘Revolutionary Road’ is a challenging film that borderlines tediousness throughout. The abhorrence that the two main characters have for each other is almost smothered by the abhorrence we feel for each of them. They really aren’t very likeable people, and it is very difficult to care where the story is going from early on. Regardless, it is a stunning film to look at. The acting throughout is decent, and certain performances move into the amazing category. If you think you can deal with the subject matter, it is a worthy film to look into. If there are doubts, don’t worry about it. It’s not amazing enough to be considered a “can’t miss†.

[Overall: 2.75 stars out of 5]

Melissa:

eh… Travis, Jeremy and I were talking after the movie and that was the best that all of us could say. eh doesn’t even get to be capitalized!

Kate Winslet and Leonardo DeCaprio play April and Frank Wheeler. A couple who once dreamed that the sky was the limit, and have now found themselves engulfed in the suburban American dream in the 1950’s. The feeling of being stuck causes turmoil between the two of them. They are at each others throats because their lives didn’t go exactly how they had planned. April, once dreamed of being an actress, is now a suburban housewife. Frank, once thought he was destined for greatness, now works as a suit in a sales company. The two blame each other for where they ended up. The American dream with two children and the perfect home in a quite community where everyone is perfect.

What this movie really is… one hundred and nineteen minutes of fighting and depression. Sure, there are some happy times where the couple is happy and in love, but there are far more fighting scenes. If you are not married, then this movie will kill all dreams of wanting to one day walk down the aisle. The arguing doesn’t even stay exciting… it sort of drags on.

Let’s talk about the two sex scenes in the movie for a second. No foreplay, no passion. Instead it’s just pull your pants down and get it over with. The sex is maybe 30 seconds in both, and is completely unrealistic. I get that the woman wasn’t necessarily the priority in the 50’s, but come on! No man does his deed that fast unless he has some serious problems. To have both scenes start and end like that was just stupid. They could have taken a few minutes out of the fighting. I don’t think that the audience would mind. Actually, I looked around to faces all around me with a confused look on their faces after both scenes. Not a good move.

The only reason to watch this movie is Michael Shannon as John Givings. He plays the son of the Givings, close friends of the Wheelers. He has had several electroshock therapy sessions, and now speaks his mind in a harsh fashion whether people want to hear it or not. He is definitely the comic relief.

Overall, you can’t really contribute the movie to bad acting or a bad story. It was played out well. It’s just missing something. Winslet played her character well, but even her and DiCaprio’s acting talents couldn’t make this a “must see”. Maybe if they charmed us more with the original romance between the two… That is why my final opinion is…eh…

[Overall: 2.5 stars out of 5]