Revolutionary Road (15)

Behind those Identikit picket fences of Eisenhower’s America, a ‘perfect marriage’ is crumbling… Again.

There’s an aura of déjà vu about Revolutionary Road, not only in echoes of period neighbours Far From Heaven and TV’s Mad Men, but the nagging reminder that Sam Mendes already did the ’burbs in American Beauty.

But, as that film’s tagline suggested, look closer. Four films in, Mendes is zeroing in on what might be his big subject: disappointment. Just as Jarhead targeted a war-movie geek childishly bored by the real thing, so Revolutionary Road is tough enough to blame psychology, not society, for its characters’ failings.

The thwarted dreams of Frank and April Wheeler stand for every couple whose love has grown stale on compromise and mutual contempt. “It’s a contemporary story to me,” admits Mendes in the accompanying doc, insisting on naturalism – not one frame was filmed on a soundstage – to agitate the churning emotions at Road’s core.

Then again, maybe Mendes just wants to keep his own missus content. It’s clear this is Kate Winslet’s Raging Bull moment. As the film’s chief cheerleader, she’s even convinced Leonardo DiCaprio to sour the dewy-eyed memories of Titanic groupies by recasting their iconic romance as a two-hour row.

Leo summons untapped depths of anguish, but it’s Kate, seeing April as a wannabe Winslet restrained by self-consciousness, who touches head and heart.

Did Oscar reward the right actress? Certainly. Right performance? Possibly not.

DVD Extras:

• Commentary
• Making Ofs
• Deleted Scenes

Print