Movie Info:
Writers: Justin Haythe
Director: Sam Mendes
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, Kathryn Hahn, Dylan Baker, Michael Shannon, David Harbour
Rating: R
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: January 23, 2009
DVD Release Date: June 2, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $16.99

Every once in a while, a movie comes along that is painfully uncomfortable to watch. Back in 1997, we fell in love with Jack and Rose in Titanic and in turn became enamored by their players, Kate Winslet and Leo DiCaprio. Well the duo, who have amazing chemistry together, are back at it, making films as a couple, only this time you are enamored with them for an entirely different reason.

The characters Kate and Leo play have excessive amounts of flaws. That’s the entire point of the movie. It’s almost hard to watch them, together or apart. The acting is so superb, your emotions run the gamut as you watch this film. Add in an amazing plot developed by Justin Haythe and standout direction by Sam Mendes and you have a masterpiece in the works.

As excellent as Sam Mendes is as a director, it is Kate and Leo who carry this movie. The two play off each other in a way few couples in Hollywood do, these days. Their talent is seldom seen anymore, and adding in their brilliant screen presence makes for a sordid tale. The supporting cast, which includes Kathy Bates compliments that of the main characters, carrying the story beyond, to a point where all the pieces fall into place perfectly.

With a story that might seem mundanely tragic, otherwise, this talented cast and crew find something worthy of screen time in Revolutionary Road. While I’ve not read the book upon which this story was based, I have to wonder how lifeless it might be, as the actors brought life to these, selfish, self-centered characters you truly don’t want to give a damn about otherwise.

The Revolutionary Road Plot
The Revolutionary Road plot centers around Frank and April Wheeler (DiCaprio and Winslet). They are both restless souls who want something more than what suburbia has to offer. Frank vows he’ll never end up like his father, working as a businessman and April dreams of an exotic life abroad, particularly in Paris. As time passes, and the two vow not to become mundane, they quickly fall into a cookie cutter existence not untypical in the 1950s.

The Wheelers end up having two children, so they move to the Connecticut suburb of Revolutionary Road, hoping to give their kids a better life. April is a stay at home mother, a dissatisfied housewife who wants to get out and explore the world. Frank is stuck in a similar job at the same company where his father worked, taking the train into New York City every day for his job. The two often get in bitterly heated arguments about how their life could have and should have been.

Frank sometimes becomes violent. They put on a happy face for their neighbors, a group as judgmental as Frank and April themselves. They also blame each other for becoming that which they vowed never to become. Frank ends up cheating on April, and April ends up doing some unthinkable things as well. Still the couple never truly gives up on one another, if only for the sake of their children.

When April proposes that Frank move them all to Paris, claiming she’ll get a job as a secretary to allow him to pursue his dreams, he initially refuses, but the idea of escape from a life he never meant to lead gets Frank to thinking. Eventually, the two decide it is a brilliant idea, even though their neighbor’s disapprove. Still, nothing is ever that easy in suburbia, when responsibilities are meant to be kept, no matter how much they keep you anchored to the place you never want to be.

Storyline/Plot:
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:

Audio/Visual:
I cannot compliment the visual quality of Revolutionary Road enough. Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, you’d be hard pressed to find a visual flaw on this disc. The vibrant spectrum of colors dazzle on screen. Black tones are rich and fleshtones are perfectly realistic. No compression, edge enhancements or dirt grace the screen, making this a transfer worthy of its time.

The audio quality for Revolutionary Road is nearly as good as the visual quality. The English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track was bolstered by the subtle yet complimentary score. The music was as effective as the dialogue at setting the tone for this film. There is no need to play with volume controls. The dialogue is crisp and clear, finding a decent balance that is consistent throughout the entire movie. Additional tracks in Spanish and French, both Dolby Digital 5.1 accompany the English track. Closed Captioning is available on the English track and subtitles are also available in English, Spanish, and French.

Visual:
Audio:

Bonus Features:
The bonus offerings for Revolutionary Road are pretty good. Things start out with a full film commentary with Director Sam Mendes and Screenwriter Justin Haythe. This is one of the most informative commentaries I’ve ever heard. This talks a lot about adapting the film and ways they were able to bring this story to life. I especially enjoyed what Mendes brought to the table.

The featurette on this DVD is “Lives of Quiet Desperation: The Making of Revolutionary Road.” This is your standard making of, though less back patting goes on in this than in others I’ve seen. Mendes, Winslet and DiCaprio really delve into the material and share their experiences in making this film, together. This is nearly a half-hour in length and gets fairly in depth. For a making of, it’s great!

There are a selection of deleted scenes with optional commentary by Sam Mendes and Justin Haythe. I like to watch them first, with it off, then listen again with the commentary on. There are only a handful of deleted scenes here. In all, around ten minutes of footage is added. You can see why these were deleted, but they do add some exposition to the story.

Other than movie trailers for other movies by Paramount, that’s about all that’s available.

Bonus Features:

Bottom Line:
I found Revolutionary Road to be one of the most painful films I’ve ever watched. That being said, brilliantly acted and directed, however mundane this story might seem on the surface, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet bring this tragic tale to life. With superb visual and audio quality and a few decent bonuses, this is one movie you’ll want to own, especially if you appreciate the actors and their director.

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Technorati Tags: DVD Review, Drama, Paramount, Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road, Frank and April Wheeler, Trapped Marriage, Suburbia, 1950s, Kids, Knox