The Hollywood Reporter The Hollywood Reporter The Gold Rush

« Courtney Love collides with Internet | Main | Kidman leaves after 'Australia'? »

November 17, 2008

Raw trip to 'Revolutionary Road'

Rr07036

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."

0413757102_3

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.

 

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451d69069e2010535f6893f970b

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Raw trip to 'Revolutionary Road' :

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/

The comments to this entry are closed.

About this blog

Oscar Contenders

  • So "The Dark Knight" didn't make it into the final five after all, never mind that critical and popular support. Let's just call the comic-inspired mega-hit "The Biggest Snubee."

    Here are the best picture contenders in a race that, two weeks away from the Oscars, seems to be a foregone conclusion ("Slumdog") unless there's a come-from-behind possibility ("The Reader" anyone?)

    "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett; the politically timely "Milk;" rags-to-riches fairy tale, "Slumdog Millionaire," Holocaust best-seller-based drama "The Reader," and Watergate-era biopic "Frost/Nixon."

    Could "Button" and "Slumdog" split the vote, allowing another film to take the prize? Doesn't seem likely. After having clung to "Button" for months as what we thought would be the Academy voters' top vhoice, our money's now on "Slumdog." Momentum can't be ignored.

    Watch this blog for updates, ephemera and all manner of postulating.

Picture this

  • Mmmmm, chocolate Oscar. Not every star will walk away from the 81st annual Academy Awards with a trophy, but if they hit the high-profile Governor's Ball they can have pastry chef Sherry Yard's gold-dusted candy version. Also on the menu from celeb chef Wolfgang Puck is tuna tartare in sesame miso cones, chopped Chino Farms vegetable salad with ginger soy vinaigrette, Maine lobster and caviar. Serve it up! (Getty Images)

© 2010 The Hollywood Reporter. All rights reserved. Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy.