Revolutionary Road

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Ohh, what an excruciating drama. Lately I've come to wonder wether women were truly unhappy in their housewives roles before the women's liberation of the latter half of the 20th century. I guess it makes sense to not be content if you have to play a role you didn't choose, but was socially assigned to you. I can see at least one of my grandmothers (if not both) falling into a place of mere satisfaction about their roles as mothers and wives, and I ask the same question as Mad Men (TV), What do women want?

Are us men so clueless as to not know what women want? have we made any progress in these last 50 years? Is women's liberation truly the answer???

This domestic drama is thoughtfully played out by its characters. Both Winslet and DiCaprio give gut wrenching performances that even made me squirm. And Michael Shannon (nominee for best supporting actor)is also outstanding. Amongst current films that will contend for some award, I would mostly compare this one with, The Reader for one, basically because of Kate Winslet's disparaged character; Doubt on another hand because both movies more resemble a play to me, they're very theatrical,  performances are powerful and dramatic, a lot revolves around the dialogue.

The settings and the art direction on this one are also worth watching, taking us back to this glamourous fifties of art deco and martini lunches. 

Overall, Revolutionary Road is too theatrical for my taste, if you're into theater and drama this could be right up your alley, and there's certain points that make it worth your while, but beware, it could be a little slow... In the end, will Sam Mendes recur to the old Hollywood formula that mandates "Kill DiCaprio" ? we'll see. I'm rating this one with a Rent it.