Revolutionary Road (2008)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Louis R

  
  Although flawed, this is an immensely powerful and moving film, thanks to outstanding acting, directing and intensely atmospheric cinematography. Mendes, Winslet and DiCaprio all outdo themselves here, and a typically understated and poignant score from Thomas Newman wraps the whole… More
  Although flawed, this is an immensely powerful and moving film, thanks to outstanding acting, directing and intensely atmospheric cinematography. Mendes, Winslet and DiCaprio all outdo themselves here, and a typically understated and poignant score from Thomas Newman wraps the whole thing up.

• Ken S

  
  Acting is top notch, screenplay is amazingly depressing and well written. Worth a watch.

• Aditya G

  
  Films with subjects close to home, dealing with true to life, "real" domestic issues concerning a typical bourgeois family are very rare. Once in a while comes a well-made film in the form "Revolutionary Road", written by Justin Haythe (based on the novel by… More
  Films with subjects close to home, dealing with true to life, "real" domestic issues concerning a typical bourgeois family are very rare. Once in a while comes a well-made film in the form "Revolutionary Road", written by Justin Haythe (based on the novel by Richard Yates) and directed by Sam Mendes. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio star (together for the first time after "Titanic") in this sensitive drama, set in the 50s, that is capable of striking a chord with any married couple. So while the marriage could very well "look" happy: a perfect couple, a well paying job, a nice house, children, the works...and the "bigger picture" seems all hunky dory, can one possibly overlook the seemingly trifle issues, yet ones capable of snowballing into a crisis? So Frank Wheeler (DiCaprio) works as a sales person with Knox, a job he is clearly tired of and thinks it is simply dull! His father worked there too, incidentally, and Frank never dreamt he would have to step in his father's shoes, but as fate would have it, Frank has ended up in almost the same position! Perhaps out of this sheer boredom his life brings him, he begins to have the hots for a seemingly naïve young employee, Maureen (Zoe Kazan).... Then there's his wife April (Winslet) who always aspired to be an actress but with time, has failed miserably, so she attends to the family and helps around the house like a good housewife. However, she harbours this intense desire to support the family and do something on her own. A distant memory of her husband mentioning Paris as an ideal place to be, triggers the birth of a brand new plan: to move to Paris where she can get a secretarial job while he can find where his passion lies and indulge in what his heart has always longed for. Initially reluctant, Frank agrees and April happily starts planning. Are they able to fulfill their Parisian dream and live happily ever after? "Revolutionary Road" embarks on a rather smooth road as far as story-telling is concerned and we are treated to a highly satisfying piece of cinema that unfolds subtly revealing some surprises on the way. All along its steady running time there is a lot of strong drama revolving around the two central characters that grasps our attention and we get fully engrossed as our hearts go out to the both of them. Once we find ourselves getting involved in their conflicting viewpoints, neither perspective seems out of place or "not right" and it is indeed a very interesting and challenging experience to look at the situation through the husband's as well as the wife's eyes! Married couples can instantly relate as they can very well find at least some percentage of an overlap in their own lives and those of the on-screen couple. There are also some supporting characters like the friendly neighbours, the Campbells (David Harbour and Kathryn Hahn) and their realtor friend Helen Givings (Kathy Bates) and her family, especially her institutionalized son John (Michael Shannon)...all of them are intentionally written with that typical suburban characteristic and can uncannily come across as familiar! You could very well have neighbours like that or even could be them! Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet go all out with their tremendous, heartfelt performances. It is indeed a treat to watch them play these mature characters in a marriage, in comparison to the cheesy romantic couple they portrayed in Titanic. It is a pity neither of these performances were even nominated by the Academy (Apparently, Kate Winslet missed the nomination due to a technical reason regarding rules of nomination. The nomination as well as the award went in the favour of "The Reader" instead!). Michael Shannon impresses as he delivers a memorable Oscar nominated performance as John, the somewhat mentally challenged mathematician whose mathematical abilities seem to have diminished owing to repeatedly administering electroconvulsive therapy! Kathryn Hahn, David Harbour, Kathy Bates and Jay O. Sanders do well in their brief roles. Zoe Kazan, the granddaughter of legendary filmmaker Elia Kazan is extremely cute beyond words, but she doesn't get to do much except giggle when a tad tipsy and wake up in bed topless after a brief 'session' with Frank! One really wishes she was given a more meaty role. Sam Mendes who debuted with one of the greatest American films, "American Beauty", impresses with his directing skills after some "alright" attempts like "Jarhead" and "Road to Perdition". Thomas Newman's score is aptly hypnotic and fits the mood perfectly. Don't forget to take a trip down "Revolutionary Road". Rest assured, it is an entertaining as well as thought-provoking ride that is certainly worth your time.

• Brad W

  
  The story isnt the star, the incredible and perfect performances from DiCaprio and Winslet. Revolutionary Road is one of the greatest film achievments of all time. The plot was, dare I say, genius. The acting deserved so many awards its not even a laughing matter. The movie was… More
  The story isnt the star, the incredible and perfect performances from DiCaprio and Winslet. Revolutionary Road is one of the greatest film achievments of all time. The plot was, dare I say, genius. The acting deserved so many awards its not even a laughing matter. The movie was genius, that can truly relate to people with family problems, I love this movie.

• Michael S

  
  Sam Mendes' "Revolutionary Road" is a disturbingly authentic and heart-wrenching Masterpiece chronicling love and life; hopes and dreams lost in American suburbia. Mendes' paints an unforgettable portrait here, strengthened by a perfect acting ensemble. A powerful… More
  Sam Mendes' "Revolutionary Road" is a disturbingly authentic and heart-wrenching Masterpiece chronicling love and life; hopes and dreams lost in American suburbia. Mendes' paints an unforgettable portrait here, strengthened by a perfect acting ensemble. A powerful work of art and a perfect character drama.

• Steven C

  
  Sam Mendes' "Revolutionary Road" is as haunting as can be. Look no further for proof that Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio are two of the top actors in their generation. Sam Mendes crafts a film that is bleak, complex and knowing. It plays like an abrasively enjoyable… More
  Sam Mendes' "Revolutionary Road" is as haunting as can be. Look no further for proof that Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio are two of the top actors in their generation. Sam Mendes crafts a film that is bleak, complex and knowing. It plays like an abrasively enjoyable literary exercise.

• Randy T

  
  Cautionary tale about our warped sense of achievement and the mindless pursuit of the 'American Dream'. *Is it just me or is Leonardo DiCaprio gravitating toward any role that will allow him to wear a fedora? (i.e. <i>Revolutionary Road</i>, <i>Shutter… More
  Cautionary tale about our warped sense of achievement and the mindless pursuit of the 'American Dream'. *Is it just me or is Leonardo DiCaprio gravitating toward any role that will allow him to wear a fedora? (i.e. <i>Revolutionary Road</i>, <i>Shutter Island</i>, <i>Catch Me If You Can</i>, <i>The Aviator</i>, <i>J. Edgar</i>, etc.)

• Albert K

  
  Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio's performances are better than the movie itself. The movie is problematic, but these are one of the two greatest actors at their most emotional and rawest moment. I would say that the cinematography is picture-perfect.

• Daniel P

  
  The novel is an American classic that lays bare the many pitfalls of the American Dream, but unfortunately, the film doesn't quite keep up. Don't get me wrong, it's passable, but it's a generally dour affair bogged down by a distracting and repetitive score as well… More
  The novel is an American classic that lays bare the many pitfalls of the American Dream, but unfortunately, the film doesn't quite keep up. Don't get me wrong, it's passable, but it's a generally dour affair bogged down by a distracting and repetitive score as well as an unfortunately wooden male lead. Usually, I like DiCaprio, but it appears that here, he was just outclassed, (again), by Kate Winslet, who's such a natural by comparison. Ironically, the film's speechiness looked a little like the community theatre that it opens by deriding, and frankly, the words sounded better on the page. But,kudos to director Sam Mendes, for some scenes - in particular, the roadside bar where the Wheelers and the Campbells go dancing - looked exactly like I pictured them in the novel, and so did two characters: John Givings (Michael Shannon) and his mother, Helen (Kathy Bates). Shannon especially deserves notice, as his Academy Award nomination was earned with very little screen time (like "Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs" little!), and he spoke his lines like both an actor and a character with a deep appreciation for the irony of the scenarios. On screen, Revolutionary Road makes for a decent and in places unflinching film, but sadly, it's not as good as I had hoped. If you have to choose, I'd say read the novel - if I hadn't, I'm not sure I'd have sat through the depressing and kind of boring movie it became.

• Kevin k

  
  Grade: C+ (79%) Well I wasn't expecting this. I am probably one of many when Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet were in the same movie again. I thought of a Jack and Rose relationship that including a true first kiss, Jack drawing Rose naked on a couch, and making love in a… More
  Grade: C+ (79%) Well I wasn't expecting this. I am probably one of many when Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet were in the same movie again. I thought of a Jack and Rose relationship that including a true first kiss, Jack drawing Rose naked on a couch, and making love in a car. Well that didn't happen in this movie, in fact it was literally quite the opposite. Based on a novel (forgot the name of author), Revolutionary Road brings into the life of Frank (DiCaprio) and April (Winslet) who are barely keeping their marriage together. With April doing poorly as an actress and Frank spending ten hours at a job he truly hates, coming home at the end of the day isn't the pleasant sight. They know that their marriage has been falling apart for weeks and they couldn't do anything about it. But when it is Frank's birthday and April brings up the plan to live in Paris, the marriage begins to come together once again. But some problems come into hand that puts a hold on their travel arrangements. This yet again breaks up their marriage even more than before. There are instances of fearsome arguments between the both of them, that leads to harsh screams that can heard all over the neighborhood or trashing the nightstand in their bedroom. This is a very dark tale and emotionally gripping. I personally never saw a marriage quite like this in a movie. One minute they have smiles on their faces, making love on the kitchen counter to cheating on each other and threats to hit one another. And the ending, my god it made me say, "Why would (blank) do that!?" Now I have said that before in other movies but I thought it over and understood it. The answer to the question for this movie comes right away but I personally wouldn't have thought of that. Is it dark? Yes. Is it weird? Yes. Revolutionary Road is backed up by great performances by DiCaprio and Winslet. But if I would have to choose between Titanic and Revolutionary Road, I would have to choose Jack and Rose. Revolutionary Road is still a fantastic experience but if anyone who was looking for a Jack and Rose love in this movie, oooooooooooooh you are sadly mistaken. I was and I'll admit it. Now this is a dark movie. I have seen darker movies than this (Mystic River as an example) but the change of tone in the marriage is just unbelievable. How they can have a frown one minute and then be truly happy the next is just weird, but in a good way. Even before the title is shown for the first time in the movie, you can tell that isn't going anywhere happy. Having said that, this is still an emotionally powerful movie. The ending will grab you and shake you up and that might be the best and worst part of the movie. It ends like how we all thought it was going to but how it actually happens will keep you in shock. Therefore, Revolutionary Road is a trip worth taking; just make sure you are prepared for really dark material.

• Sanjaya &

  
  After watching this movie, I got more disappointed with Sam Mendes... I think his movies got a slight decreasing in quality... I don't blame the story of this movie, because it was based on a novel... But I thought they could write a better adaptation, rather than just a couple… More
  After watching this movie, I got more disappointed with Sam Mendes... I think his movies got a slight decreasing in quality... I don't blame the story of this movie, because it was based on a novel... But I thought they could write a better adaptation, rather than just a couple who looks perfect in the eye of their neighbor, but they always fight... And the most annoying thing about this movie was how many scenes that includes Leo or Kate smoking... For the cast, I must say they gave a terrific performance... Leo & Kate are giving their best shot here... And two thumbs up for Michael Shannon for his short but memorable performance in here as the insane John... The other cast, I can't say they have a great acting or a bad one, but let's just say it a standard performance... Overall, if I should memorize again his previous movies like 'American Beauty' or 'Road To Perdition', I could say Sam Mendes got a decrease in quality, especially on this movie and his movie after this 'Away We Go'...

• Red L

  
  What a bleak view of 1950's suburban life! There is so much to this movie - most of it unsaid. I need to see it again, and I have reserved the book from the library. A couple of points. I was troubled by the fact that we never saw the two kids. And I enjoyed the music.… More
  What a bleak view of 1950's suburban life! There is so much to this movie - most of it unsaid. I need to see it again, and I have reserved the book from the library. A couple of points. I was troubled by the fact that we never saw the two kids. And I enjoyed the music. There is one piano melody -- whenever we heard it, you knew things were turning for the worse.

• Morgan S

  
  I wasnt really expecting much from this movie and I didnt get much. Yes the cast was very very good but the whole movie was dull and there was never a truly happy moment in this movie. His movie was pretty much the deffinition of hate and bad feelings. :P

• Mark W

  
  "Titanic" was the last time Leonardo DiCaprio & Kate Winslet were in a film together. It was also the last time I literally chuckled my way through, what was supposed to be a serious film. "Revolutionary Road", brings them together again and a chuckle was the… More
  "Titanic" was the last time Leonardo DiCaprio & Kate Winslet were in a film together. It was also the last time I literally chuckled my way through, what was supposed to be a serious film. "Revolutionary Road", brings them together again and a chuckle was the last thing on my mind. This is a very serious and astute look at the breakdown of relationships from director Sam Mendes. Frank and April Wheeler are two young lovers who have aspirations to move to France and lead the exciting lives they always dreamed of. That is, until April becomes pregnant and they both decide to put their dreams on hold and move into a nice suburban home on Revolutionary Rd, to start their family. Years later, Frank is still working in a job he hates and April is the stay at home mother/wife that she never wanted to be. They both find that their lives have not worked out the way they planned and they have become the very people they hate. This causes obvious resentment and continuous arguments between them, which build to devestating and shattering results. Mendes has covered this territory before with his Oscar winning look at the underbelly of white picket-fence suburbia in "American Beauty". However, this time he chooses to cut out the moments of humour and moments of beauty from that film and goes straight for the jugular here. DiCaprio and Winslet have rarely been better. Their performances are an absolute knockout, each giving as good as the other. Their scenes together when arguing are electric and entirely convincing with both spouting such venom toward each other. The whole look of the film is spot on with wonderful cinematography, perfectly capturing the 1950's era in which it's set. This film was shamefully ignored come Oscar time, recieving a couple of nominations but it's worthy of so much more. If you want real drama, forget "Titanic" and watch this painful and savage look at the anatomy of a relationship.

• Anthony L

  
  I loved the book, I liked the film but I've got to say I hated the direction. Sam Mendes really didn't capture the true essence of what I felt reading the book. Sure it was well paced, well acted and the 50's style well realised, I just feel he missed the point… More
  I loved the book, I liked the film but I've got to say I hated the direction. Sam Mendes really didn't capture the true essence of what I felt reading the book. Sure it was well paced, well acted and the 50's style well realised, I just feel he missed the point somewhat. It is a dark novel written by a bitter man and the film wasn't dark enough, there should have been more of a contrast between hope and despair. I also hated the soundtrack. Concentrating on the good aspects though, props to the props, the performances were good esp Michael Shannon's and the final scene was kept as it was in the book, although not with the same impact. I could go on for ever about what I didn't like about the film version but in the end of the day they are just a bunch of niggles as I did like it and would recommend it.

• Lewis C

  
  Wow. I'm almost at a loss for words. Revolutionary Road was one of the most honest and emotionally involving movie experiences that I've seen in months. It's fairly rare that a film leaves such a strong impression on me, but I'm pleased to say that it has happened… More
  Wow. I'm almost at a loss for words. Revolutionary Road was one of the most honest and emotionally involving movie experiences that I've seen in months. It's fairly rare that a film leaves such a strong impression on me, but I'm pleased to say that it has happened once again. The music, acting, and directing are brilliant, but that is to be expected from a movie with this many talented people involved. I won't go into any particulars about the plot. It's best that a viewer experiences this with no pre-defined expectations, like I did. Just know that there are some incredibly complex issues presented here, and there are no easy solutions to be found. Revolutionary Road is undeniably sad, but there's a complete lack of those "tug-on-your-heartstrings" moments. It's all brutal and true to life. That's what makes the movie so compelling. You can't watch it, without thinking about yourself.

• E.J. B

  
  Revolutionary Road explores very familiar territory to Sam Mendes' American debut American Beauty. That movie was much better because it was more graceful in its presentation of the subject matter, and it wasn't as heavy handed. There is still a lot to admire about this… More
  Revolutionary Road explores very familiar territory to Sam Mendes' American debut American Beauty. That movie was much better because it was more graceful in its presentation of the subject matter, and it wasn't as heavy handed. There is still a lot to admire about this film, however. First off, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are astonishing. They make this movie work. You can feel the connection between the two as well as the hate that they have directed towards each other. Sam Mendes brings his film down over the audience like a sledgehammer. It shows the American Dream as something that is spoonfed to the American society, a path to absolute happiness. But that is all a trap. People compromise and compromise to buy into mediocrity, having a house, children, a wife, and being cooped up in this house working at a job we don't like, never living up to our potential. Watching these characters may be the best self help we can get; this couple is a model couple for who we should not grow up to be.

• Chris W

  
  Revolutionary Road marks not only the second time that Sam Mendes makes a return to the suburbs of America to study the dehumanizing and soul crushing effects they have, but also the second time that real life close pals Winslet and DiCaprio team up to give the world another memorable… More
  Revolutionary Road marks not only the second time that Sam Mendes makes a return to the suburbs of America to study the dehumanizing and soul crushing effects they have, but also the second time that real life close pals Winslet and DiCaprio team up to give the world another memorable screen couple. While this film is really just a glorified meloframa, it is so engrossing, so tense, so well made, and so devastating that it transcends being the prestige version of something I'd normally shrug off, and becomes a true work of art. It wasn't until about 2/3 of the way through until I decided that this film truly eanred the extra half star that I have given it. The smoldering frustration and rage, and hard to express awkwardness builds to a fever pitch until it explodes in a shattering blast of screams and threats and the tarnishing of a (supposedly) perfect looking/seeming life. Just the look and design of this film alone is enough to draw you in. The attention to details is wonderful, and to top it all off, everything just pops through the lens. As if that wasn't already great, there's Sam Mendes's strong, masterful direction, and of course, the true cherry on top: the astounding performances by Kate and Leo. These two are some of my favorite performers working today, and this film is one of the examples why. The supporting performances are all quite nice as well, even though they fail to top the two leads. While the script is pretty decent, and apparently very faithful to the novel, the story is the thing that works the least for me. I really like the concept though, moreso than the plot. Even then, the problems I have with the film aren't enough to drag it down much. I really think this is a must-see film. It is a devastating and fascinating look at life in the 1950s that's sadly not explored as much as the viewpoint provided by shows like Happy Days and others like it.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kathryn Hahn, David Harbour, Kathy Bates, Zoe Kazan, Michael Shannon, Dylan Baker DIRECTED BY: Sam Mendes Frank and April, a married couple in the 1950s, have always seen themselves as special, different, ready and willing to live their lives… More
  Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kathryn Hahn, David Harbour, Kathy Bates, Zoe Kazan, Michael Shannon, Dylan Baker DIRECTED BY: Sam Mendes Frank and April, a married couple in the 1950s, have always seen themselves as special, different, ready and willing to live their lives based on higher ideals. So, as soon as they move into their new house on Revolutionary Road, they proudly declare their independence from the suburban inertia that surrounds them and determine never to be trapped by the social confines of their era. Yet for all their charm, beauty and irreverence, the Wheelers find themselves becoming exactly what they didn't expect: a good man with a routine job whose nerve has gone missing; a less-than-happy homemaker starving for fulfillment and passion; an American family with lost dreams, like any other. Driven to change their fates, April hatches an audacious plan to start all over again, to leave the comforts of Connecticut behind for the great unknown of Paris. But when the plan is put in motion, each spouse is pushed to extremes--one to escape whatever the cost, the other to save all that they have, no matter the compromises. Wow, what a dark depressing movie. I mean it was really good and really honest. This movie is bound to make people second guess marriage. But it is truth to any relationship. So I am sure many married or non-married couples can relate to this story of broken dreams and regrets. But Leo and Kate are probably the only two actor's I know that have this amazing chemistry and that no matter what movie they are together put in, they'll always be amazing together. They have no flaws in this movie. They gave brilliant performances. I loved them much more in this movie then in "Titanic". There parts were just so much more real and raw in this movie. Kate Winslet's character April would probably in today's day be diagnosed with postpartum depression. You just see her many mood swings and how often she changes her whole demeanor in split seconds. Frank and Aprils relationship is complicated and their highs and lows are shown perfectly. Michael Shannon really does an amazing job in his short role as the insane but yet very sane John Givings. He is just in your face, no bullshit, telling it like it is crazy. Which is always refreshing to have a character like that. I liked the honesty. All in all this movie will be better remembered for it's great cast and their brilliant acting. It's not a feel good kind of movie and most won't like it or enjoy it. But those who respect these honest dark tales will appreciate it. Sam Mendes does another amazing directing job with this movie. He is a favorite and continues to be. This is a movie to see.

• Clintus M

  
  I found this film to be well-acted but boring and plodding. I believed in the characters; I just didn't care about them or their plights. Revolutionary Road was obviously Oscar-aimed as others have observed, and the feat of reuniting DiCaprio and Winslet was admirable..only the… More
  I found this film to be well-acted but boring and plodding. I believed in the characters; I just didn't care about them or their plights. Revolutionary Road was obviously Oscar-aimed as others have observed, and the feat of reuniting DiCaprio and Winslet was admirable..only the movie was disappointing. I got the theme immediately, but it was painfully repeated. Enough already! The "happy couple" is alienated by the "American Dream-Leave It To Beaver-Suburbia" lifestyle. I liked the contrast set up by the Kathy Bates as Helen Givings the real estate agent and her adult son John, a mental patient. One critic used the phrase "stark beauty" to describe this film, and only a masochist would agree. Sam Mendes directed the similar American Beauty, and I enjoyed it more,

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