"Revolutionary Road:" Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio Reunited

Sam Mendes must hate the suburbs.  How else do you explain "American Beauty" and "Revolutionary Road?"  Two films he directed and that make the suburbs look like the closest thing humans, especially married humans, can get to hell on earth.

"Revolutionary Road" stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet (pictured left) as Frank and April Wheeler, a couple whose marriage is severely tested by rigid 50's mores and their own inability to break free of what's expected.

Think "Mad Men" except that Frank and April start out expecting to keep the tender suburban trap at arm's length and still maintain their individuality, while Don and Betty Draper embrace it willingly as their road to happiness.  Unfortunately for Frank and April, just like for Don and Betty, happiness does not lie in their assigned societal roles.  Frank loves Paris and dreams of living there, but instead plugs away at a job he hates.  April loves acting, but instead plugs away at the role of stay at home wife and mother.  If Frank and April feel as claustrophobic in their marriage as we do watching them, they're in true misery.

April is of particular interest because like the majority of women of that era her choices were severely limited.  If she stayed in her marriage, she was emotionally stunted.  If she left her marriage, she would be considered the worst kind of woman, not to mention the worst kind of mother.

The only voice of reason amid this marital chaos is John Givings (Michael Shannon, pictured left), a guy who's on leave from the local mental institution.  Despite being mired in his own mental illness he encourages the couple to live their dreams, something he'll never be able to do. 

When April's efforts to have the couple do just that end in failure, her anger is palpable and it's John that voices all the frustration and rage April can't. 

Winslet and DiCaprio are marvelous as April and Frank.  Their prior relationship from "Titanic" and obvious comfort with each other work to their advantage playing this couple who are so emotionally entrenched.

The couple's many battles in the film reminded me of an episode of "The Sopranos" where Carmela finally has it out with her husband Tony in a knockdown, drag out, fight to end all fights.  The acting is so good, you feel like an uncomfortable intruder watching a real couple go at it.  You get the same kind of feeling throughout "Revolutionary Road."

At the screening I went to a couple of weeks ago, Michael Shannon attended and took questions from host Melissa Silverstein of Women and Hollywood, and from members of the audience.

Shannon felt the crux of the movie centered on one question:  how do two people live together and still maintain who they are?  "It's a struggle to share your life and identity with another person," he said. No matter the time period.

Does this film pass my, "Is it worth $10 test?"  Yes and no.  If you're down in the dumps, this is probably not the movie for you.  Unless seeing people more miserable than yourself makes you feel better.  But if you want an early look at a couple of performances that are sure to be Oscar-bait, pay the money and see the movie.  Just don't expect many "feel good" moments.

April is of particular interest because like the majority of women of that era her choices were severely limited.  If she stayed in her marriage, she was emotionally stunted.  If she left her marriage, she would be considered the worst kind of woman, not to mention the worst kind of mother.

The only voice of reason amid this marital chaos is John Givings (Michael Shannon, pictured left), a guy who's on leave from the local mental institution.  Despite being mired in his own mental illness he encourages the couple to live their dreams, something he'll never be able to do. 

When April's efforts to have the couple do just that end in failure, her anger is palpable and it's John that voices all the frustration and rage April can't. 

Winslet and DiCaprio are marvelous as April and Frank.  Their prior relationship from "Titanic" and obvious comfort with each other work to their advantage playing this couple who are so emotionally entrenched.

The couple's many battles in the film reminded me of an episode of "The Sopranos" where Carmela finally has it out with her husband Tony in a knockdown, drag out, fight to end all fights.  The acting is so good, you feel like an uncomfortable intruder watching a real couple go at it.  You get the same kind of feeling throughout "Revolutionary Road."

At the screening I went to a couple of weeks ago, Michael Shannon attended and took questions from host Melissa Silverstein of Women and Hollywood, and from members of the audience.

Shannon felt the crux of the movie centered on one question:  how do two people live together and still maintain who they are?  "It's a struggle to share your life and identity with another person," he said. No matter the time period.

Does this film pass my, "Is it worth $10 test?"  Yes and no.  If you're down in the dumps, this is probably not the movie for you.  Unless seeing people more miserable than yourself makes you feel better.  But if you want an early look at a couple of performances that are sure to be Oscar-bait, pay the money and see the movie.  Just don't expect many "feel good" moments.