Comments on Inside the Gold: Review: Revolutionary Road - "Everybody knows the ...

Terrific review K. You really vocalized a couple o...

2009-01-07T16:55:00.000-05:00

Terrific review K. You really vocalized a couple of the issues I had with Rev Road, the smaller one of the pacing (it felt too condensed to me) and the larger one of Leo's character. A little more development of his character's insecurities would've really helped make him a more sympathetic character in the 2nd half. As it is, he almost simply becomes the bad guy.

As I've said one too many times elsewhere, I love Michael Shannon and in a different movie I would've loved his performance here, but for me it was ultimately too much. I blame the writing and the directing not the actor however.

Also, I kind of liked the score. It was awfully subtle (and a bit repetitive) but it worked for me.

Anyway, we agree 100% on the performances of Kate and Leo and they were enough to get me to watch the movie a 2nd time to see if I'd like it better.

Maria, I think the middle third of the film, where...

2009-01-05T20:01:00.000-05:00

Maria, I think the middle third of the film, where they are happy, did act as a nice buffer, but I did think that there were some problems with the pacing. I also feel like the flashbacks could have been better, or provided more insight to their early relationship. I enjoyed it quite a bit, though.

And Nick, I really liked the film, but there was a feeling from the book that just didn't translate well to the screen. There was one line in particular, one of Frank's from the end of the book, that I wanted to see in the film, but they cut it out!

As you know, this is one of my absolute favourite ...

2009-01-05T10:12:00.000-05:00

As you know, this is one of my absolute favourite films of last year, and I don't think it hit a false note, but of course such things are subjective and I understand that.

Although we disagree here on a few things - not disagree so much as we both seemed to have wanted different things from the film after reading the book perhaps - we agree with a lot more, especially on the quality of the performances, from Winslet whom I worship and adore with a passion (I think she is my favourite actress) and DiCaprio whom I have only recently come to stand gives his career best performance that I didn't expect from him at all. The supporting cast were great too, Shannon in particular but Kathy Bates was good too.

It is a beautifully crafted, intense film that, yes, gets you thinking and questioning and I loved that fact. Wonderful review here indeed.

Been enjoying all of your recent reviews here! Tha...

2009-01-05T06:01:00.000-05:00

Been enjoying all of your recent reviews here! Thank you for sharing your thoughts so articulately with us!

I thought it was amazing that I didn't feel one single false note in RR. Usually, with fighting scenes I often feel that the actors are overdoing it or I just sense the acting out, meaning I feel like an outsider looking in, calm and somewhat confused as to why the people on the screen are fighting. But in RR I never felt that way. Phenomenal performances by both. Leonardo DiCaprio: I just can't get over how well he was in the final fighting scene. Kate Winslet: To me she can do no wrong. I think we're so used to her being great it's hard to be surprised by her. But I think we mustn't overlook what she accomplishes: she evokes sympathy for a character who on page doesn't. And to me - someone who hasn't read the book - she fills everything that's not there in the script with her acting. I felt I understood her character.

From what I had heard I expected 2 hours of fighting so I was pleasantly surprised by the middle part and wasn't as exhausted by the fighting as I had braced myself for.

Thanks, Dorothy and Sam.It's a shame about Thomas ...

2009-01-04T23:42:00.000-05:00

Thanks, Dorothy and Sam.

It's a shame about Thomas Newman. I've yet to hear a Newman score I disliked until now. This is a film that really could have benefited from a great score, and when I found out Thomas Newman was doing the music I got excited, but it was just so boring. It didn't take away from the film, but it didn't add anything. It was just there.

I loved the way this film was shot. The cinematography was gorgeous. I loved that, the morning after their massive fight, while Frank is telling her how swell the breakfast was by the door, April is in the shadows. Frank is surrounded by light, but she is surrounded by darkness. Then you get to that last shot of her, by the window, and she looks almost ethereal... everything about the way this film, particularly the ending, was shot was just gorgeous.

If I had to give this film a number grade, it would be like, an 89.5/100. So it's either a B+ or you round it up to an A-. I had it on B+ initially, then I changed it to an A-, but I really can't decided one way or the other. I would recommend people see it, absolutely with at least one other person, because I had a really interesting conversation about the film afterward. It's a great film to discuss and dissect, it definitely makes you think and gets you talking.

"Revolutionary Road is a thought-provoking, intens...

2009-01-04T22:11:00.000-05:00

"Revolutionary Road is a thought-provoking, intense film that is executed very well. I do have a couple of problems with the film as a whole. There are elements of the novel that just didn't translate very well to the screen. The pacing of the film didn't really work for me. Reading the book, I had a much better sense of the amount of time passing, as well as the ups and downs of their relationship. Condensed into a two hour film, the bitter arguing just gets exhausting. I also don't think the screenplay did enough to establish the characters of Frank and April or their relationship. Not enough emphasis was made on Frank's insecurities, which would have provided a better context for his behavior towards the end of the film, and I don't think enough emphasis went into April's dreams of being an actress. You know she's studied, you know she has performed in at least one play while living at Revolutionary Road, but I, personally, would have appreciated a little bit more exploration of her own dreams outside of her marriage and family. As a tacked on note: the score, by one of my favorite composers, Thomas Newman, is largely forgettable and doesn't add anything at all to the film."

Well, therein lies the crux of your comprehensive review and the rightful issues you bring up, which I must evince wholehearted agreement with. It won't make my Top 10 list, and for basically what you take issue with here. I agree with you that the acting is superlative by both (I wonder if Ms. Winslet with nab two Oscar nods?) and Di Caprio has now delivered what I see as his most mature work. Michael Shannon is indeed excellent and is a scene-stealer. As you stated at the end of your most vital paragraph, Thomas Newman, who is ordinarily quite dependable has not added this time with anything but a servicable score. And yet again I agree that the film's lensing (nice point there with the last shot on Winslet) and the use of hand-helds is very effective.

I would also have to agree with the final grade--it does range between the A minus and B plus level.

Excellent and comprehensive review here, one of the best I've seen on this film.

Excellent review -- I'm vacillating between the A-...

2009-01-04T21:23:00.000-05:00

Excellent review -- I'm vacillating between the A-/B+ territory as well. I thought DiCaprio, in particular, was phenomenal.