Product Description

Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Release Date: 2-JUN-2009
Media Type: Blu-Ray

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10840 in DVD
• Brand: DICAPRIO,LEONARDO
• Released on: 2009-06-02
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.20 pounds
• Running time: 119 minutes

Amazon.com
In Revolutionary Road, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio reunite for the first time since their careers exploded with Titanic--and it's almost as if they're playing the same characters, only married and faced with the hollowness of a 1950s suburban existence. Frank and April Wheeler (DiCaprio and Winslet) always thought of themselves as special, but they settled in a conventional Connecticut suburb when they had children. Hungry for a less constricted life, April persuades Frank to move to Paris--but slowly their plans unravel and their marriage unravels along with it. While Revolutionary Road may be a bit too glib about suburban emptiness--the lives Frank and April lead don't seem so stifled--the portrait of a mismatched marriage is vivid and devastating. The ways that Frank and April misinterpret each other, and the subtle yet unbearable dissatisfaction they feel, is rendered with remarkable and unsettling acuteness. Winslet and DiCaprio's natural chemistry tells us what drew these two together, making the way they tear each other apart all the more shocking. The excellent supporting cast includes Kathy Bates (Misery), Dylan Baker (Happiness), and especially Michael Shannon (Bug) as a mentally troubled mathematician who cuts to the quick of the Wheelers' troubles. Mention must be made of the beautiful production design; the costumes and sets are simply gorgeous. --Bret Fetzer




Stills from Revolutionary Road (Click for larger image)

Customer Reviews

A Prison Within A Prison

Adapted from Richard Yates first novel, Revolutionary Road exposes the adversities of a young couple living in a Connecticut suburban neighborhood during the 1950's who simply realize too late that they were never meant to be.

Frank Wheeler (Dicaprio) and April Wheeler (Winslet) feel as though they must standout from all the other mundane and ordinary suburbanites in their neighborhood. Frank, a marketer who works for Knoxx business (equivalent to IBM in those days) machines, is profoundly miserable at his job as he diligently works in a cubicle and engages in secretarial affairs with the novice typist. April, a struggling actress, who apparently never received her big break in show biz does not like to talk about her failures.

During the beginning of the film, we are introduced to a quick flashback of how they met at a party while they were younger; Frank exhibits his witty, charming charisma as he gives April the impression of eventually leading a spontaneous life in Paris in the future. However, the viewer only begins to find out that this was merely a sales pitch or a common characteristic of a marketer. On the contrary, April falls for it no less. Fast forwarding to the present, April now lives in an ordinary life on Revolutionary Road with Frank and her two children and receives frequent visits from her inquisitive real estate agent (Kathy Bates) accompanied with her "mentally unstable" son. April feels as though she is leading a very unsatisfying and unfulfilled life. To add some excitement in their relationship, April broaches Frank's former idea of actually pursuing a career and settling in Paris as a secretary because it simply pays handsomely; meanwhile, it will beneficially fit Frank because he can finally figure out what he wants to do with his life. Frank refuses at first because according to him it is just "unrealistic" but eventually obliges because he too feels as though they need something new and spontaneous to reinvent their relationship. Despite the neighbors and Frank's fellow co-workers disbelief in this "childish" and radical decision, things seem to go very smoothly in the Wheeler family; the house they just bought is now on sale, their belongings are packed, the children are excited, life could not be any better.

It all seems too swell for this tragic couple, when suddenly Frank is offered a promotion at his redundant job with a higher paying position, heavier responsibilities, and more importantly a chance to be apart of something great, the computer. Frank refuses this handsome offer from his boss at first because it interferes with their big trip to Paris. On the other hand, Frank cannot resist the temptation and is drawn to stay at this job because of the attachment he has regarding his father. We learn that Frank's father has also worked at Knoxx Business Machines for 30 years. It suggests as though Frank has a yearning desire to fulfill this empty legacy. On a different note, it strongly expresses Frank's inability to change and triumph over his trepidation. This couple struggles to achieve any sort of compromise as their lays a serious conflict of interest regarding their futures. April wants a lifestyle change in Paris; meanwhile, Frank is satisfied working in a miserable occupation with a higher salary. This relationship portrays that conflict of interest incessantly; it also shows how it affects their lifestyle and how they grapple with the consequences. It is not pleasant I rest assure you. (You'll see what I mean)

The bigger picture here is the heavy social commentary implemented in this film at almost every other scene. It reflects and exposes the culture of the 1950's, the struggles of an unhappy relationship, and the fine line between insanity and simply pure genius. It also sheds light upon questions such as what is insanity and what is mean to be medically and mentally unstable? The reality is that the real estate agent's son who is "mentally unstable" by society is the only one that possesses a real intellectual and realistic perception on the wheeler's relationship.(Go figure) The Wheeler's relationship and decisions are constantly being influenced by other people and we see this through Frank's work environment, the neighbors, and the real estate agent. April is victimized as a prisoner of culture and her difficulty of coping with the dynamics of the role of a wife during the 1950's. Some might question her role in the film and ask, well, why doesn't she just get a divorce, or leave Frank? It just wasn't that simple during that time period as it was considered taboo or dishonorable to leave or separate from your husband. April wishes she could leave the house but is drawn back to it like a magnet because she has two children, a husband, and could not possibly earn a lucrative living in those days considering the job opportunities available at that time period. In that regard, April is prisoner of the house, living in an inescapable environment. She is a prisoner living in a prison within a prison. Frank is a mere coward that cannot confront the social obstacles of change. Like April, Frank too, is a prisoner as well. Hence, my conclusion, a couple that was never meant to be.

Personally, I enjoyed this film not because of the setting, or from the great performances, but the realism that is portrayed here in this relationship. It is quite unique in the sense that the film does not sugar coat anything. Not to be too clichéd or anything but it echoes the expression "it is what it is". In that regard it may turn some people off. I happen to cherish and embraced this message. If you like this film, check out "A Doll's House" with Anthony Hopkins. Both are excellent but sad films. They express a similar struggle of a couple resisting to conform to society.

A Beautiful, Heartwrenching Film
Revolutionary Road, the fourth film by Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, reunites Titanic co-stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet which is what the film really got the most press from. It scored a couple of Oscar nominations and many critics called it one of the best films of the year, but it certainly avoided a large audience. Mendes' first film American Beauty (Widescreen Edition) was his masterpiece and the two films he followed up with it (Road to Perdition (Widescreen Edition) & Jarhead (Widescreen Edition)) were not without merit. I don't hesitate to say that this is his best film since American Beauty and is almost the film's counterpart. While American Beauty portrayed the darkly comical underbelly of suburbia, Revolutionary Road shows the tragic, claustrophobic grip of it.

The setting is Eisenhower-era Connecticut, which is where Frank (DiCaprio) and April Wheeler (Winslet) live in a nice suburban home on Revolutionary Road. Having given up on their aspirations to raise their children, Frank works at Knox Business Machines (a job he hates) while April fills her position as housewife. Feeling smothered by the suburban lifestyle they're trapped in, April proposes that the family move to Paris. She wants to get away, but she also wants to give Frank a chance to find his passion. While their friends find the plan absurd, the Wheeler's are steadfast in their determination. But, as things begin to change, the Wheeler's see their dreams start to crumble right along with their marriage.

Don't expect too many surprises, I warn you. The film has an ominous musical score, reminiscent of American Beauty (fitting, as the same composer Thomas Newman scored both films) that clearly foreshadows things aren't going to play out in the happiest way. On the subject of music however, there is perfectly placed '50s era music scattered throughout the movie that marvelously puts us in this timeframe. The set direction (by Kristi Zea) and the costume design (by Albert Wolsky) are both perfect in the film. The beautiful recreation of 1950's suburbia perfectly contrasts the empty attitude of the character's.

The acting is, of course, the film's selling point. Winslet is a reliable actress that likely would've won her 2008-Oscar for this film had she not made The Reader. Not any actress could capture feelings of emptiness and claustrophobia in this performance, but Winslet does it flawlessly. A true actress Winslet is.

DiCaprio is one of the most successful actor's in Hollywood, but he's not without his detractors. His performance as Frank is a powerhouse of pent-up frustration and emotion. I think this is one of his best and certainly one of his most powerful performances. The two performances together are so vividly realized, you'll forget this is the "Jack & Rose reunion." They completely outshine those performances.

With all the star-power this film has backing it, the Academy only acknowledged one performance in this film. The character is John, the adult son of the Wheeler's neighbors who has only recently been allowed to leave the psychiatric hospital he's been staying at. The actor is Michael Shannon, who has only two scenes and a small amount of screen time. Shannon impressed me in Bug (Special Edition), but I don't think he has previously been given a role that allowed him to really showcase his talent. As John, he makes quite an impression as the only person able to see right through the Wheeler's facade. He has the most powerful dialouge in the film and he is so stand-out, it's easy to see why the Academy singled him out among these other, well-known actors.

Revolutionary Road goes deep into the inner workings of suburbia, a crumbling marriage, and the unhappiness of these people. It doesn't explore these themes subtly, but gives the audience a very clear view into them. It's based on a 48-year-old novel by Richard Yates and was brought to the screen all these years later because it's still a very relevant story. Look no further for proof than the recent, overpublicized Jon & Kate debacle. This film is not a subtle meditation, it's a realistic exploration.

This is a beautiful, heartwrenching film...Definitely among the best films of 2008. It's powerful, effusive, and impressive considering the subject matter has the makings of a soap-opera and instead is a real human drama. While not a happy movie by any stretch of the imagination. I highly recommend this film.

GRADE: A

Breaking away from the ordinary.
"Revolutionary Road" is brought to life by the extraordinary performances of Leonardo Di Capria (Frank Wheeler) and Kate Winslet (April Wheeler). The movie portrays a young couple who are stuck in a rut and decide at one point to make a major change in their lives and move from Connecticut to Paris. This sounds all well and good, but then various new options and obstacles begin to mount. He's offered a better paying job, and she gets pregnant, and so instead of being able to make a break for a new life the prison of their lives begins to get tighter. It is apparent early on that April is unhappy with her life. On the other hand Frank seems resigned to his vacuous life. April is frustrated with their lives and grows resentful of Frank's complacency. There is a chilling scene, the morning after their big argument, when Frank comes to breakfast. April acts like one of the Stepford wifes, behaving with utmost perfection, like a dutiful wife, as if nothing ever happened the night before. Frank seems bewildered, but relieved, and doesn't seem to think too much about what his wife's chilling transformation could mean.

Sam Mendes (Road to Perdition, American Beauty) beautifully directs this movie, which initially seems trapped in the inertia of its all too idealized depiction of 1950's America, but then Mendes takes us down this disturbing path where everything that is too perfect, sterile and bland is revealed as a kind of prison for this couple, and this facilitates in highlighting the underlining tension between Frank and April. This is a monumental movie that takes its time in order to weave it web.