Revolutionary Road

A little bit of Mad Men, a little bit of The Feminine Mystique, and a lot of histrionics.

By: Jenni Miller

Wednesday December 24 2008 09:24:00 am

Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in Revolutionary Road

Courtesy of Paramount Vantage

Director

Sam Mendes

Starring

Leonardo DiCaprio , Kate Winslet , Michael Shannon , Kathryn Hahn , David Harbour , Kathy Bates

Studio

Paramount Vantage

Genre

Drama

Movie Rating:

The Pitch: The Wheelers decide to break out of their suburban rut – she wanted to be an actress, he hates his job – and so they move to Paris. Unfortunately, real life intrudes.

The High Points: The directing, acting, set design – it's all top notch; Michael Shannon is especially good as a math genius allowed out on day trips from the local sanitarium – his outbursts act as catalysts for the Wheelers as he inspires them to change their lives.

The Low Points: The current economic crisis makes it's hard to empathize with an upper middle class couple fretting over whether or not they're meant to be "special," especially as they take turns hurling insults and cheating on each other; Revolutionary Road isn't emotionally engaging or moving; it's awfully similar in theme to Winslet's 2006 movie Little Children.

Rhetorical Titanic Brain-Twister: Is this what Rose DeWitt and Jack Dawson would have turned out to be like if that iceberg hadn't ruined everything?

Stumble It

Comments

Hm...

on January 22, 2009

Is this a full review? I would love to hear more what you think about it and more in detail. I agree with all the high points and what you said. Although, I don't feel that anyone should be blamed for the timing of this film...I hate that people use the excuses of a person's financial situation for them not being able to feel things or have any complaints; I think the point is that "money isn't everything," and this shows that even people WITH money and 'everything' can still be discontent...it's natural to want and strive for more. And due to the society pressures, you can feel pressure to conform a certain way, but also feel like you should rebel. I was engaged and moved with this film, if not for Frank and April, The Givings and their neighbors are moving characters. This is a character study and that all of the characters had their ways of escaping, even Mr. Givings and his volume-adjusting hearing aid. I've seen the film three times already and plan to see it again. Rose and Jack? Who cares about that? This is a totally different film and different characters. I don't see the point in wondering. Although it may seem that this film was pushed as "The Kate and Leo Reunion," it's clearly two actors rejoining to make a film that they both feel passionate about.

Revolutionary Road

on January 3, 2009

The chemistry Leo and Rose have is what really made Revolutionary Road and Titanic AMAZING movies. And no Rose and Jack's marriage would not have been the same the passion the character's had for each other was too strong. Rose gives up being able to be with Cal who could give Rose everything she wanted for Jack who only had " 10 Bucks in his pocket"

Revolutionary Road was a major disappointment

on December 30, 2008

Jenni Miller's opinions regarding this film echo those that my wife and I shared after viewing this dreadful movie. The acting was outstanding. Sadly, this isn't enought to save a silly story full of people that you WILL absolutely dispise on the one hand and not care one whit about on the other. We were given free tickets to see this film. I should have been paid.