Plot
A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.
Release Year: 2008
Rating: 7.5/10 (72,925 voted)
Critic's Score: 69/100
Director:
Sam Mendes
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Christopher Fitzgerald
Storyline It's 1955. Frank and April Wheeler, in the seventh year of their marriage, have fallen into a life that appears to most as being perfect. They live in the Connecticut suburbs with two young children. Frank commutes to New York City where he works in an office job while April stays at home as a housewife. But they're not happy. April has forgone her dream of becoming an actress, and Frank hates his job - one where he places little effort - although he has never figured out what his passion in life is. One day, April suggests that they move to Paris - a city where Frank visited during the war and loved, but where April has never been - as a means to rejuvenate their life. April's plan: she would be the breadwinner, getting a lucrative secretarial job for one of the major international organizations, while Frank would have free time to find himself and whatever his passion. Initially skeptical...
Writers: Justin Haythe, Richard Yates
Cast: Kate Winslet
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April Wheeler
Leonardo DiCaprio
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Frank Wheeler
Christopher Fitzgerald
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Party Guest
Jonathan Roumie
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Party Guest
Neal Bledsoe
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Party Guest
Marin Ireland
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Party Guest
Samantha Soule
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Party Guest
Heidi Armbruster
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Party Guest
Sam Rosen
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Party Guest
Maria Rusolo
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Party Dancer
Gena Oppenheim
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Party Dancer
Kathryn Dunn
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Party Dancer
Joe Komara
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Party Dancer
Allison Twyford
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Party Dancer
David Harbour
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Shep Campbell
Opening Weekend: $189,911
(USA)
(28 December 2008)
(3 Screens)
Gross: $75,225,693
(Worldwide)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
In the end credits it says "For Mia and Joe". Mia is Kate Winslet's daughter with her first husband Jim Threapleton. Joe is Winslet's and director Sam Mendes' son.
Goofs:
Anachronisms:
The parabolic-lensed fluorescent fixtures seen near the beginning of the film were not in use in the 1950s.
Quotes: Frank Wheeler:
We're gonna be okay. April Wheeler:
I hope so. I really hope so.
User Review
The Road of Broken Dreams
Rating: 8/10
Revolutionary Road is a drama centered around an unhappy married couple
living in the 1950's suburbs. They struggle dealing with their lives,
how things have turned out, and what to do next. April (Kate Winslet)
is a stay at home mother and wife, who seems to want more than that.
She had dreams of becoming an actress but it never seemed to work out.
She's angry, depressed and really cold at times. Frank (Leonardo
DiCaprio) works in the city, is unhappy with his job and bored with his
life. He's just one of those guys that works because he has to. He
needs to support his family, even if he hates doing it. Inner demons
and problems of his own trouble him as he tries to live out his life.
These character have problems and issues just like everyone else.
Sometimes they may come off as selfish, cold, or confusing to us.
Things haven't worked out, and they're upset. That's whats so
interesting about this, you may have friends or neighbors in
relationships like this, that would never think of. Everything seems
great on the outside, but behind closed doors, it's a different story.
We all have had things not go our way from time to time, but it's up to
us to make the best from it and move on. April and Frank have a harder
time with this. Fair, or not, they are unhappy. You may not necessarily
relate to the characters yourself, but you can respect that their are
people like this all the time, in everyday life still, that have
problems they go through. They may not be as drastic as these problems,
but everyone has something not right with them. There are many themes
in this film, mainly being love, marriage, relationships, and life.
DiCaprio and Winslet give powerhouse performances. They really have a
great chemistry together and seem to build off each other.
Relationships are complicated and the highs and the lows are really
shown extensively. All around great and believable performances with a
small role by Michael Shannon, who shines as the crazy guy who tells it
how it is. This is a film that will probably be best known for it's
acting performances.
The film is directed by Sam Mendes, the director of American Beauty.
The film, itself is visually and artistically amazing. The lighting,
colors, sets, scenes, costumes, everything is extremely well done. It's
beautiful. I loved the cinematography.
I can definitely can understand the hate, or dislike for this film. Due
to it's depressing subject matter, it's not really a film you can sit
down and just flat out enjoy or be entertained that much from. It's not
a film for everyone. If you are just looking to be entertained and have
a good time seeing a film, I don't think I would recommend this. It's
shows the stark brutal reality of an unhappy suburban couple. If your
looking for a film that more than that, one that is filled with
terrific performances, great cinematography and direction, then you
should check this out sometime. It's a really well made film all
around, but be warned, it may be a hard one to enjoy.
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