This is based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Richard Yates. Set in 1955, Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) and April Wheeler (Kate Winslet) move to Revolutionary Road in one of New York City's wealthy suburbs, and have a daughter and a son. Everything seemed to be in place for a perfect family.
However, after 7 years of being together, April is not satisfied with her life as a housewife, and Frank despises his job at Knox Business Machines, where his father worked for twenty years in a similar position. The Wheelers feel they are trapped in the way of life of the suburb and the normal "happy family scene".
On Frank's thirtieth birthday he seduces a young secretary from work and begin to have an affair with her.. Returning home late, April surprises him with a birthday cake and a proposal that they move to Paris, with April working as a secretary to support the family so that Frank can discover what he really wants to do in life.
Frank does not buy the idea at first but finally embraces it with his whole heart and this introduces some new life into their relationship. Colleagues and friends react politely to their decision but think this act to be immature in mind.
Meanwhile, Frank's talent at his job finally earns him some recognition, and April becomes pregnant again. April wants an abortion and has bought a device she has heard is safe if used in the first twelve weeks. Frank disapproves. Later, Frank is offered a promotion at work and decides to stay. He convicts April that for the sake of the unborn baby they should not go to Paris after all.
The Wheelers are friends with a local lady Helen Givings and her husband Howard, who occasionally visit with their adult son John, a former mathematician who is now under psychiatric care in a mental institution.
John has no hesitation about asking the Wheelers direct personal questions and offering his advice of their dissatisfaction with marriage, work, and life, to the embarrassment of his parents. The Wheelers are interested in him for his honesty. However, when John learns the Wheelers have cancelled their trip to Paris, he becomes agitated and begins to insult them, saying he feels sorry for them and their unborn baby. This leads to an argument, in which Frank tells April that he wished she had aborted the baby.
April runs into the woods to calm herself and returns as the perfect housewife the next morning, which is also the day that Frank takes his new role in the firm. When Frank leaves for the day she attempts to perform an abortion with her device, which goes wrong, and she dies later that day in the hospital. Frank moves to the city with the children.
Although the story is set in the 60s, I think some of the conflict or issues of married couples raised in the movie can still be seen today. Some couples do feel "stuck" in their current situation and want a way out. It captures the emotion of couples trapped in the so called "perfect family".
On the other hand, the acting is beautifully done. I have to say, apart from recent works such as Departed, The Aviator, this is another good example that Leonardo has transformed himself into a brillant actor, an all-a-round artist.He did a good job on portaiting the frusted husband, someone who hates himself. As for Kate, she did a fantastic job, really do not need to say more!! I think somehow "The Reader" has overshadowed her performance in this movie which cannot be igored.
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Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Based on a novel by Richard Yates and directed by Sam Mendes Revolutionary Road stars ... more
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslett as Frank and April Wheeler; a young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s who struggle to come to terms with...
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Advantages: The cast is great, production values impeccable, music is fine Disadvantages: Cruise gives worst performance in long time, story is handled the wrong way
eve6kicksass 29.12.2008 (29.12.2008)
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