I've seen this twice now and I must admit, once I got over the initial viewing (where I felt like this was a horror film), the second viewing actually made me quite fond of the performances in 'Revolutionary Road'.
Based on the novel by Richard Yates, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio re-team for the first time since 'Titanic'.
They play April and Frank Wheeler, a young couple who have always set themselves apart from their friends. They try to not be like other suburban dwellers who go to the office every day or stay home with the kids.
Yet, the more time passes, the more they find those type of people are exactly who they are becoming, and it makes them aggressive and mean.
Director Sam Mendes (who happens to be the husband of Kate Winslet) picks apart the American marriage in the 1950's, when sex roles were just beginning to change, as was the definition of the American Dream.
Winslet will find herself receiving a lot of praise for her performance and she definitely deserves it. But DiCaprio is the one who really surprised me as this weakling of a man who can't stand by his convictions or his love and support of his strong wife.
The other standout is Michael Shannon as a mentally disturbed man who is brought to the Wheeler's home to get some needed socialization.
Trust me: his few scenes in the movie are worth the price of admission.
The film as a whole still doesn't sit right for me because of the flat script, but since seeing it a second time, the performances really outshined that flaw.
The turmoil that unfolds between the principles is gut wrenching to watch, but it somehow works.
3 buckets.
