Revolutionary Road aka eek DiCaprio is in his thirties, when did that happen? ;)
{FILM DIARY}
I’m behind with my film diary (and with my blog generally :]), so I best get writing *grin*
Revolutionary Road (USA/UK, 2008)
Seen: Tuesday, 17th February 2009 (cinema)
Runtime: 119′
Polish Distributor: United International Pictures Sp z o.o. (30th January 2009)
Release Date (worldwide): 15th December 2008
Director: Sam Mendes
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates, David Harbour, Kathryn Hahn, Zoe Kazan, Dylan Baker
Production House: DreamWorks SKG, BBC Films, Evamere Entertainment, Neal Street Productions, Goldcrest Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions
Plot: (from imdb)
A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.
Trailer
Impressions In Short
It’s very much an actor’s film. A bit theatrical at times.
More About the Film
It’s been years since I last saw Leonardo DiCaprio - seriously, the last time I saw him he was still in his twenties. He hasn’t changed that much as an actor. But physically he’s become huge. I still remember him as a tall, but very skinny guy. Through most of his twenties he could have passed for a teenager. Now he very much looks his age, but the funny thing is that he still has the charm of a young boy.
Acting-wise he’s very much like he was. Almost disappointingly so actually. I mean what I always loved the most about him was the angsty bits. He was and is great at them. There’s so much intensity and energy about him when he’s suffering through something on screen. But take away the angst and he has little to stand on IMO.
This film has a lot of anguish, so I guess he actually *is* good in it, but somehow I found it a little sad that it’s still only the angst that pulled me into his performance.
He’s also one of those actors that I find pretty easy to catch out on continuity (like they cut from wide shot to close shot and you can see the facial expression is very different) and that’s not changed either…
Kate Winslet was great though. She was totally at her best. And the chemistry between them is really good. They really work as a pairing (both an angsty one and a romantic one :)).
I like the supporting cast a lot too. In particular I’m a fan of Dylan Baker - it’s a small part, but he’s just always fun and has great looks for this kind of thing :)
As for the film itself, I guess it made me think a lot about relationships. I know a lot of those arguments from listening to my mum and dad. I mean they’re over different things, but the dynamic of them is kind of familiar.
Another thing that interested me was the reaction on the imdb boards. Apparently some were offended at people laughing in the cinema… I rather thought a lot of the arguments *were* funny and I was one of the people who laughed a lot. I’m of the belief that a scene can be both funny and sad and a lot of other things also. Like for example in one of the opening arguments in Revolutionary Road he gets so frustrated that he almost hits her, but stops himself just in time, ends up hitting the car instead and hurts himself. Yes, it was dramatic and it was a pretty emotionally heavy argument, but it was still funny IMO :] And I rather think it was *meant* to be funny. And sure, I know that when I’m in the cinema I often laugh at things that nobody else does, but with this film I was not alone for once :]
Recommended?
Er, yes I think - for the acting.
