← Back to Reviews
in
Revolutionary Road
Ah the 50's, the time of the Suburbs, the most conservative time in America, and were the American dream came true for people, right? This movie, directed by Sam Mendes and written by Justin Haythe, and based on the novel by Richard Yates (his first work to be adapted,) just blew me away.
It's just to bad most won't have the ability to see it. I'm not sure why though, it does have enough star power as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I mean this freakin' re-teamed the two main stars of Titanic, the biggest film, well, ever. Leo did embodied perfectly what I thought a man in the suburban 50s would be like, Kate also did well. But the one actor that really made me stand up and take notice of him was Michael Shannon. He hasn't done much that I had seen before but wow, he was just as, or even better than Heath Ledger's Joker. Other notables were another Titanic alum Kathy Bates as the gossiping neighbor, and one of my favorite 'that guy' actor Dylan Baker as Leo's co-worker.
Speaking of the re-teaming of Titanic, which won eleven Oscars, it won one for costume design, that isn't out of the question for RR. The costumes were very reminiscant of the 50s (from what I've seen.) The costume department should be proud. As should the set department, Revolutionary Road looked so plain, just like any suburb anywhere. It looked like it could have been set in my hometown. Sam Mendes knew what he was doing when he hired those people.
I haven't read the novel, so I can't comment on the adaptation quality, but as far as the screenplay goes, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't the next Casablanca. It did make the characters human though, I mean some are hypocrites, some are adulterers, but they are all fundamentally good. I remember the story, but the pacing was so freaking slow. I got bored sometimes and got distracted. It's this films biggest flaw.
I'm not sure what else to say, I could drag this out more, but I won't. I'll just end it by saying, you should definitely see it.
Rating: Sam Mendes, you finally make up for Jarhead.
Revolutionary Road
Ah the 50's, the time of the Suburbs, the most conservative time in America, and were the American dream came true for people, right? This movie, directed by Sam Mendes and written by Justin Haythe, and based on the novel by Richard Yates (his first work to be adapted,) just blew me away.
It's just to bad most won't have the ability to see it. I'm not sure why though, it does have enough star power as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I mean this freakin' re-teamed the two main stars of Titanic, the biggest film, well, ever. Leo did embodied perfectly what I thought a man in the suburban 50s would be like, Kate also did well. But the one actor that really made me stand up and take notice of him was Michael Shannon. He hasn't done much that I had seen before but wow, he was just as, or even better than Heath Ledger's Joker. Other notables were another Titanic alum Kathy Bates as the gossiping neighbor, and one of my favorite 'that guy' actor Dylan Baker as Leo's co-worker.
Speaking of the re-teaming of Titanic, which won eleven Oscars, it won one for costume design, that isn't out of the question for RR. The costumes were very reminiscant of the 50s (from what I've seen.) The costume department should be proud. As should the set department, Revolutionary Road looked so plain, just like any suburb anywhere. It looked like it could have been set in my hometown. Sam Mendes knew what he was doing when he hired those people.
I haven't read the novel, so I can't comment on the adaptation quality, but as far as the screenplay goes, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't the next Casablanca. It did make the characters human though, I mean some are hypocrites, some are adulterers, but they are all fundamentally good. I remember the story, but the pacing was so freaking slow. I got bored sometimes and got distracted. It's this films biggest flaw.
I'm not sure what else to say, I could drag this out more, but I won't. I'll just end it by saying, you should definitely see it.
Rating: Sam Mendes, you finally make up for Jarhead.