Revolutionary Road (2008)

Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio play April and Frank Wheeler in this depressing drama about a dissolving marriage in the 1950s. The film is dedicated to Joe and Mia, the children of Kate Winslet and this movie's director Sam Mendes. I realize it's because it's Winslet and Mendes' first film collaboration, but if I were them, I'd rather dedicate something much more uplifting to my children. I'd also like to chose one where we don't see at least eighty cigarettes being smoked.

Within the first ten minutes you can see what kind of trouble we're in for - not only with the words but with the visuals. As they walk down that long hall to exit the building, the overhead lights hit Frank while April is in the dark, and then April while Frank is in the dark over and over again until it's clearly evident these two are not on the same wavelength. After their argument on the side of the road, the interior shot of the car makes it look like they're so far away they're not even traveling in the same vehicle.

Mendes had the production rehearse for three and a half weeks before filming and it shows. Every line sounds like it's come out of the moment, every character is clearly thinking something even when they're saying nothing. More of the aforementioned visual metaphors abound and the whole production is beautifully shot. But it's such a tough story to digest as a helpless audience member.

Rating: 3/5
Recommended for: if you're not feeling crappy enough and really want to take yourself down a peg.