Just saw Revolutionary Road last night at the Ritz (Spoliler Alert)

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First, I have to admit that it is one of the most disturbing films I've seen. I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. The first argument they have in the film, I see things at first from April's view. She is pissed over her performance in a local play, and she doesn't want to talk with her husband about it. Seems reasonable enough and I know I'm the same way....I need to decompress after a bad experience. But it doesn't take much for her to go for the juglar, does it? She gets really rude very quickly.

So I'm feeling bad for Frank, but not for long when we see him seduce a woman from his workplace, get her drunk and then have sex with her. Is Frank morally weak? Was this revenge for the previous argument or just giving in to temptation? We don't really know because it's not investigated.

As the film goes on, April decides that for the two of them to have an exceptional life, they have to leave everything behind and move to Paris. April chooses Paris based on Franks stories about it, having spent time there during the war. She wants to go to work and support Frank while it's Frank who takes his time to decide what he really wants to do with the rest of his life and then pursue it.

For me, this seemed like for all of April's talk of freedom and bravado, what she's really choosing to do is live vicariously through Frank's exploits. When we see her bomb at the local play and now choosing Frank as her liberator....I couldn't help but think that Frank was getting set up to fill a role no man could or should fill for another person.

She gets pregnant and the plan is junked. At the same time, Frank gets a substantial promotion at work.

Then the shit really hits the fan. April despises Frank, sees her children as mistakes, etc. She's not just unhappy, she's dangerous. When she pulls the object wrapped in a cloth from a bedroom drawer, I thought for sure it would be a gun and she would blow her brains out. For all intent and purpose, it was.

The film is not perfect, but I think the way the film ends is one of the best I've seen in recent production. We find the realtor who sold the Wheelers their home speaking to her husband. As her speaking continues, we see the the old husband who so dutifully supports his wife and insane son slowly turn the sound down on his hearing aid until blessed silence is achieved. The look on the old husbands face and the increasing silence provided a finality to the tragedy not unlike real doom.

Tragic doesn't begin to describe the film. It's not a "date movie" by any means and if you and your spouse/partner have been arguing, don't go to see this film. Just as Eddie Murphy's "Raw" and "Carnal Knowledge" were not date movies, "Revolutionary Road" is 10 times more bitter. The performances were outstanding by Winslet and DeCaprio, cementing them as two of the finer actors of their generation.

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Schiit Audio

Topic - Just saw Revolutionary Road last night at the Ritz (Spoliler Alert) - J-PMatt@Comcast.Net 09:07:14 02/08/09 (5)

Wait a minute.....is this a melodrama fest moving from one crisis to the next? - mr grits 14:52:23 02/09/09 (3)

Yes and no - J-PMatt@Comcast.Net 18:32:28 02/09/09 (2)

He is NOT "SPOILER" - tinear 08:59:55 02/10/09 (1)

I disagree - J-PMatt@Comcast.Net 20:24:52 02/10/09 (0)

I had forgotten that last scene - dave c 12:29:01 02/09/09 (0)

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