Raw trip to 'Revolutionary Road'

Leo and Kate just can't catch a break in the relationship department -- with each other, that is. And on screen, you see.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, in their first re-teaming since "Titanic" (and we all know how that one turned out), play a married couple on the verge of collapse in "Revolutionary Road," which screened for SAG members and some media types on Saturday at the Paramount lot.

Based on a novel by Richard Yates, the film roots around in Frank and April Wheeler's banal '50s suburban life and comes up with some of the most intimate action and raw emotion we've seen on screen in quite some time. (We'll cop to a lot of cringing, but it was for the right reasons.)

Winslet, who has "Revolutionary Road" and another potential awards-worthy performance in "The Reader" coming before year's end, said she was struck by the couple's commitment to each other even though it seemed obvious that they were doomed. "They're really in love," she said during the post-screening audience chat with the cast. "There's such honesty in the script, and such a level of brutality in that honesty."

DiCaprio, for his part, said he felt like a voyeur when he read the book.

"I felt almost embarrassed, like a fly on the wall during these savagely intimate conversations," he said. "I felt like I shouldn't be there."

Good thing he was, Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes said, because the drama was completely "actor dependent." (Mendes is married to five-time Oscar nominee Winslet). There had been a few unsuccessful attempts to turn to the book into a feature previously, and Mendes said it could've easily derailed again because of the tough material. "Serious movies aren't always in fashion," he said.

Especially not this year, where popcorn fare and superhero flicks have dominated the boxoffice. It's still to be determined how this and other adult-skewing films will make out.

DiCaprio and Winslet said that despite, or maybe because of, the intensity they had a blast shooting the film, even the pivotal breakfast scene (you'll know it when you see it) where they dissolved into uncontrollable giggles despite the seriousness of the situation. Numerous takes ensued.

Though the drama's fraught with tension, there is comic relief in the form of a Shakespearean fool-like character, scene-stealingly played by Michael Shannon, who puts his finger directly on the dysfunction of the couple during his day-passes from the nut farm. Give a person several dozen electro-shock treatments and watch the unvarnished truth come out!

We've been rethinking our five best picture picks since this screening, and are teetering on bumping something off and listing "Revolutionary Road." Winslet retains her spot among the best actress contenders and looks stronger than ever to finally break through with a win.

Unless you're mired in a hellish marriage, we'll be recommending this movie to you.

 

Comments

[james]

Can leonardo dicaprio be the front runner for best actor this year? He's a great actor -- part of TWO best picture winners and nominated three times for performances he should have won.

[Perceptions]

T.L,

What about Leo's performance in "RR" ?

I noticed you remarked about Winslet and Shannon, but saw no comments about Leo's performance

What's up ?

[cPECK]

Just watched a clip from the new movie Revolutionary Road, and it looks like it should be pretty cool. I’ve been a huge fan of director Sam Mendes for some time now, and it’s good to see Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio share the screen again! The movie opens on Dec. 26, and you can find the clip here:
http://www.viddler.com/explore/soulblade08/videos/44/