REVOLUTIONARY ROAD: REVIEW
Twelve
years ago, the overwhelming success of the blockbuster 'Titanic' had a lot to
do with the chemistry between the two magnificent lead actors, Leonardo DiCaprio
and Kate Winslet. Now finally, with much anticipation, they reunite in the turgid
drama, 'Revolutionary Road'. Set during the mid 1950's, they play newlyweds Frank
and April Wheeler who move from Manhattan to the suburbs while promising themselves
it's all just temporary for now.
Paris is the destination
that April aspires to work in one day, while Frank continues to pursue his empty
artistic impulses. Add two children, thwarted ambitions, adultery and an unwanted
third pregnancy, dreams go into freefall mode collapsing around the innocent.
When things seem as if they couldn't get any worse for the unhappy Wheeler's,
during a rare home visit outside the asylum, the institutionalised son of a gossipy
real estate agent decides to spill their secrets around suburbia.
The
inmate lives for drama and what chaos he can inflict on others without remorse
- a truly evil persona that provides many an uncomfortable moment whenever Michael
Shannon as John Givings is on screen. A promotion at work tempts the mundane Frank
to escape his entrapment of the manicured lawns and the faux friendliness of the
burbs that revolve around him. However, an inevitable decision will prove there
is no exit.
The affairs by both spouses, Frank to his secretary
and April to a married neighbour, are just consequential to the already surrounding
bitterness. Unfulfilled dreams inflate a tone of sadness, but the film draws you
in with a degree of voyeurism - on the outside looking in to clean cut 1950's
imagery that is not what it seems.
Detachment takes a front
seat as director Sam Mendes ('American Beauty') crafts a dirty underbelly to the
happiness of marriage through a pair of amazing actors, committed to every emotion.
There is torment behind April's smile, Winslet deservedly picked up a Golden Globe
for her role, while DiCaprio is equal to the task. Amongst their flaws, you do
care for the characters and keep hoping for a happy outcome to arise.
The
draining first ten minutes sets the scene of what gloom is ahead and like the
currently released film 'Doubt', acting is a showcase. Kathy Bates, who incidentally
also appeared in 'Titanic', undersets her role as the scheming realtor and mother
to a crazy son. Also in a minor role, the soon to be seen in 'Confessions Of A
Shopaholic' actress, Kristen Connolly is pivotal to the story as Mrs Brace.
Based
on a rather even more depressing book, if that's possible, there was an earlier
version of the film which went straight to DVD. However, this adaptation is by
far superior. Un-missable, but by the end you want out of the cinema to cleanse
yourself.
Shane A. Bassett
