subject: Revolutionary Road Movie Review [print this page] Revolutionary Road opens with April and Frank meeting at a party. The next they know is that they are married and making the move to suburbia. Frank works for a company that makes something that he doesnt know and doesnt care for while April is relegated to the dull housewife existence.
April, a one-time wannabe actress, isnt good enough to carry on and Franks professional life leaves much to be desired. Tired of the constant bickering and fighting April suggests moving lock, stock and barrel to Paris, the only place worth living according to Frank who spent some part of his early years there.
April convinces her husband that with the children not too old the move would only do them good. The next few weeks are the best of their lives. They become the envy of their friends and live it up as they plan their move.
For the longest they havent felt as alive as they do while planning the exodus. Franks outburst at work on account of his quitting wins him his bosses respect and he makes an offer that forces Frank to reconsider quitting.
April cant believe that her one chance at setting things right is in jeopardy and things fall apart.
Revolutionary Road is a poignant story of a couple who are forced to come to terms with the fact that they arent any different from the run-of-the-mill millions like them.
Based on a novel by Richard Yates the film is the tale of almost everyone in this world who has seen a dream or two shatter. At the hands of director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) Revolutionary Road transcends more than a mere film and reaches a level rarely seen in recent films.
Photographed by Roger Deakins, the film might come across as slow and ponderous at times but it plays itself out wonderfully and nothing in it is less than sheer genius.
Mendes uses the real-life relationship between Kate Winslet and Leonardo Dicaprio to establish the instant connection that April and Frank experience without wasting too much screen time.
Mendes blends the two so well into the viewers psyche that when they fight you feel the blows.
Once April realises that Frank isnt so kicked about relocating to Paris she falls into an abyss which consumes her.
Kate Winslet isnt considered the best actress of her times for no reason. As April she lets herself bare emotionally resulting in a tormented character who doesnt want to get away from her mundane existence but fit in elsewhere with the same man she fell in love with.
Revolutionary Road is a tale of young lovers who promised the world to each other and a few years later realise that they are not as special as they believed. The normal life saps the love and energy out of both Frank and April leaving them cold and bitter.
The only flaw with the film remains in the under utilisation of the couples children. Its easy to imagine that they would leave the kids at the neighbours or perhaps the kids were sleeping but expecting that every time around is asking for too much from the audience.
The absent kids couldnt have been done away with because the pretty suburban family picture wouldnt have been complete.
Barring this small flaw Revolutionary Road is well crafted and seeks perfection in every frame right from the drama to the costume to the production design.
Pity then that it got so grossly overlooked at all major awards; dont miss it.
