The second installment in the Kate and Leo love series, Revolutionary Road"" follows another ill-fated love. But instead of a sinking ship, a monotonous lifestyle is to blame for the deterioration of their relationship.
Based on the novel by Richard Yates, ""Revolutionary Road"" tells the tale of Frank and April Wheeler, a young couple in 1950s America who move to the suburbs after their relationship takes a serious turn. Accomplishing many of the goals and stipulations that come along with a picturesque lifestyle, the neighbors see Frank and April as having the ideal life.
Frank has a well-paying job in the city. April is a beautiful homemaker. They have two delightful children and live in a lovely house on a quaint suburban street. With their confident faces on, the Wheeler family appears to be perfect.
Inside the lovely house, however, April and Frank find their lifestyle to be anything but perfect. They're bored with the routine they have fallen into and are starting to feel trapped in an existence lacking any identity.
April, in an attempt to start anew, suggests the family move to Paris, where she is certain life will be more spontaneous and meaningful. But in the time between the conception of this plan and the expected departure date, Frank and April's marriage continues to wither away. As drastic fights, adultery, and jealousy become more and more common in the Wheeler household, the couple's escape from a hollow life seems less and less likely.
Although Sam Mendes is superb as director, the performances of Kate Winslet as April and Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank make Revolutionary Road the high-caliber film it is. Onscreen the two are electric. From their menacing arguments to their exhilarating dreams and romantic ventures, the pair keeps the viewer's interest piqued. The fervor Winslet and DiCaprio create between them is palpable, moving the audience to feel every emotion they portray.
Both Winslet and DiCaprio received Golden Globe nominations for their respective portrayals, with Winslet coming away with a win. The supporting cast is also strong, with Academy Award winner Kathy Bates giving a noteworthy performance.
Another high point of ""Revolutionary Road"" is its score, with music composed by Thomas Newman. Made up mostly of effortless beats and repeated melodies, the music reflects the simplicity and monotony Frank and Alice feel in their everyday lives. But instead of boredom like the couple feels, the music has an honest beauty, mourning and moving along with the marriage's fading love.
With that said, as great as ""Revolutionary Road"" is, it is a film that is impossible to enjoy. It can be appreciated for its cinematic value. It can entertain with its dramatic story line and plot twists. And it can impress with its superior cast, but because of the film's dark themes and hopeless tone, it is one that cannot be enjoyed. It's not fun to watch a love vanish or see a husband break furniture as he screams at his wife. It isn't pleasant seeing a couple lose faith in themselves or the life they lead.
In all, ""Revolutionary Road"" is a brutally honest look at the American Dream. The film presents a very real type of gloom, and dares to ask if the life many people lead has any true value.
Grade: B
