Revolutionary Thoughts

Early this year, when the 2008 Oscar nominations were announced, I remarked that I'd actually seen all five Best Picture nominees. Tonight, I watched what might have been number six.

At the time, there was a lot of buzz around Revolutionary Road, a 1950s period piece based on a novel. It's a story of suburban hopelessness, of feeling stifled in the pressure to conform to expected life. I know, it sounds like a movie about "arranging matches." It even looks like that in the trailer. But the movie manages to exceed expectations there.

That has a lot to do with the people making it. It's directed by Sam Mendes (who I recently mentioned in relation to Away We Go), and stars his wife Kate Winslet. The movie was also much-talked about as the "Titanic reunion." Playing Winslet's film husband is Leonardo DiCaprio. Kathy Bates also puts in a supporting appearance.

Together, these people (and the other fine members of the supporting cast) manage to make some of the art house movie clichés more compelling. There are scenes of restrained emotion that pull you forward in your seat, scenes of outburst than make you recoil, and through it all a real sense that you can read the thoughts of the characters even when they won't speak them to each other or even sometimes admit them to themselves.

One of the things that makes the story more interesting is that it's not all misery and frustration throughout. The couple is actually happy at times, but the premise of the film seems to be that of The Godfather Part III, substituting suburbia for the Mafia: "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in."

All that said, the movie isn't quick paced at all times. And its final destination is not really unexpected. The movie is good overall, but not fantastic. It's not perfect in really making the audience feel things emotionally; it's more the sort of movie where you simply admire the craft: well-tuned performances, well-chosen frame composition, carefully positioned bits of writing, and so on.

I'd rate Revolutionary Road a B-. I'd say it's probably worth seeing, but if you're looking for a more effective, emotional take on largely the same kind of material, I'd point you to Season Two of Mad Men first.