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Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, Michael Shannon, Kathryn Hahn ... see more see more... , David Harbour , Dylan Baker , Richard Easton , Zoe Kazan , Jay O Sanders , Max Casella

Titanic shipmates Kathy Bates, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kate Winslet step onboard for director Sam Mendes' tale of suburban malaise in 1950s-era Connecticut. Adapted from the classic 1961 novel by autho... read more read more...r Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road tells the tale of a young Connecticut couple whose once-idealistic relationship steadily deteriorates into a ceaseless cycle of petty jealousy and bickering as they strive to retain their independence in the conformity-obsessed world of picket fences and perfectly manicured lawns. Ever since they first met, Frank (DiCaprio) and April (Winslet) saw themselves as special and different. They strive to form their relationship around higher ideals, though upon moving into their new home on Revolutionary Road, the defiant couple pledges never to be confined by the social conventions of the era. As time passes, however, Frank and April gradually become the very thing that they both feared most -- a typical suburban family complete with abandoned dreams and faded hopes. Frank loses his nerve after taking a comfortable job with a reliable salary, and April morphs into an unsatisfied homemaker desperate for passion and excitement. But April's independent spirit hasn't been suffocated just yet, and when she hatches a plan to head for Paris, her need to escape at all costs stands in direct contrast to Frank's desire to hold on to what they already have. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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70% liked it

99,199 ratings

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68% liked it

199 critics

R, 1 hr. 59 min.

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Release Date: December 15, 2008

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DVD Release Date: June 2, 2009

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Stats: 11,138 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (11,138)

  • fb1463751009
    March 9, 2012
    fb1463751009
    Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio's performances are better than the movie itself. The movie is problematic, but these are one of the two greatest actors at their most emotional and rawest moment. I would say that the cinematography is picture-perfect.
  • fb1686480544
    January 5, 2012
    fb1686480544
    Although flawed, this is an immensely powerful and moving film, thanks to outstanding acting, directing and intensely atmospheric cinematography. Mendes, Winslet and DiCaprio all outdo themselves here, and a typically understated and poignant score from Thomas Newman wraps the wh... read moreole thing up.
  • kenstachnik
    June 24, 2011
    kenstachnik
    Acting is top notch, screenplay is amazingly depressing and well written. Worth a watch.
  • gokhale1
    June 13, 2011
    gokhale1
    Films with subjects close to home, dealing with true to life, "real" domestic issues concerning a typical bourgeois family are very rare. Once in a while comes a well-made film in the form "Revolutionary Road", written by Justin Haythe (based on the novel by Richard Yates) and di... read morerected by Sam Mendes.

    Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio star (together for the first time after "Titanic") in this sensitive drama, set in the 50s, that is capable of striking a chord with any married couple. So while the marriage could very well "look" happy: a perfect couple, a well paying job, a nice house, children, the works...and the "bigger picture" seems all hunky dory, can one possibly overlook the seemingly trifle issues, yet ones capable of snowballing into a crisis?

    So Frank Wheeler (DiCaprio) works as a sales person with Knox, a job he is clearly tired of and thinks it is simply dull! His father worked there too, incidentally, and Frank never dreamt he would have to step in his father's shoes, but as fate would have it, Frank has ended up in almost the same position! Perhaps out of this sheer boredom his life brings him, he begins to have the hots for a seemingly naïve young employee, Maureen (Zoe Kazan)....

    Then there's his wife April (Winslet) who always aspired to be an actress but with time, has failed miserably, so she attends to the family and helps around the house like a good housewife. However, she harbours this intense desire to support the family and do something on her own.
    A distant memory of her husband mentioning Paris as an ideal place to be, triggers the birth of a brand new plan: to move to Paris where she can get a secretarial job while he can find where his passion lies and indulge in what his heart has always longed for.

    Initially reluctant, Frank agrees and April happily starts planning. Are they able to fulfill their Parisian dream and live happily ever after?


    "Revolutionary Road" embarks on a rather smooth road as far as story-telling is concerned and we are treated to a highly satisfying piece of cinema that unfolds subtly revealing some surprises on the way. All along its steady running time there is a lot of strong drama revolving around the two central characters that grasps our attention and we get fully engrossed as our hearts go out to the both of them. Once we find ourselves getting involved in their conflicting viewpoints, neither perspective seems out of place or "not right" and it is indeed a very interesting and challenging experience to look at the situation through the husband's as well as the wife's eyes! Married couples can instantly relate as they can very well find at least some percentage of an overlap in their own lives and those of the on-screen couple.

    There are also some supporting characters like the friendly neighbours, the Campbells (David Harbour and Kathryn Hahn) and their realtor friend Helen Givings (Kathy Bates) and her family, especially her institutionalized son John (Michael Shannon)...all of them are intentionally written with that typical suburban characteristic and can uncannily come across as familiar! You could very well have neighbours like that or even could be them!

    Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet go all out with their tremendous, heartfelt performances. It is indeed a treat to watch them play these mature characters in a marriage, in comparison to the cheesy romantic couple they portrayed in Titanic. It is a pity neither of these performances were even nominated by the Academy (Apparently, Kate Winslet missed the nomination due to a technical reason regarding rules of nomination. The nomination as well as the award went in the favour of "The Reader" instead!).

    Michael Shannon impresses as he delivers a memorable Oscar nominated performance as John, the somewhat mentally challenged mathematician whose mathematical abilities seem to have diminished owing to repeatedly administering electroconvulsive therapy!
    Kathryn Hahn, David Harbour, Kathy Bates and Jay O. Sanders do well in their brief roles.
    Zoe Kazan, the granddaughter of legendary filmmaker Elia Kazan is extremely cute beyond words, but she doesn't get to do much except giggle when a tad tipsy and wake up in bed topless after a brief 'session' with Frank! One really wishes she was given a more meaty role.

    Sam Mendes who debuted with one of the greatest American films, "American Beauty", impresses with his directing skills after some "alright" attempts like "Jarhead" and "Road to Perdition". Thomas Newman's score is aptly hypnotic and fits the mood perfectly.

    Don't forget to take a trip down "Revolutionary Road". Rest assured, it is an entertaining as well as thought-provoking ride that is certainly worth your time.
  • DreamExtractor
    April 26, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    The story isnt the star, the incredible and perfect performances from DiCaprio and Winslet. Revolutionary Road is one of the greatest film achievments of all time. The plot was, dare I say, genius. The acting deserved so many awards its not even a laughing matter. The movie w... read moreas genius, that can truly relate to people with family problems, I love this movie.
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    February 27, 2011
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    Sam Mendes' "Revolutionary Road" is a disturbingly authentic and heart-wrenching Masterpiece chronicling love and life; hopes and dreams lost in American suburbia. Mendes' paints an unforgettable portrait here, strengthened by a perfect acting ensemble. A powerful work of art and... read more a perfect character drama.
  • stevenecarrier
    February 15, 2011
    stevenecarrier
    Sam Mendes' "Revolutionary Road" is as haunting as can be. Look no further for proof that Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio are two of the top actors in their generation. Sam Mendes crafts a film that is bleak, complex and knowing. It plays like an abrasively enjoyable literary ... read moreexercise.
  • flixsterman
    February 1, 2011
    flixsterman
    Cautionary tale about our warped sense of achievement and the mindless pursuit of the 'American Dream'.

    *Is it just me or is Leonardo DiCaprio gravitating toward any role that will allow him to wear a fedora? (i.e. Revolutionary Road, Shutter Island, Catch Me If... read more You Can, The Aviator, J. Edgar, etc.)
  • danperry17
    January 21, 2011
    danperry17
    The novel is an American classic that lays bare the many pitfalls of the American Dream, but unfortunately, the film doesn't quite keep up. Don't get me wrong, it's passable, but it's a generally dour affair bogged down by a distracting and repetitive score as well as an unfortun... read moreately wooden male lead. Usually, I like DiCaprio, but it appears that here, he was just outclassed, (again), by Kate Winslet, who's such a natural by comparison. Ironically, the film's speechiness looked a little like the community theatre that it opens by deriding, and frankly, the words sounded better on the page. But,kudos to director Sam Mendes, for some scenes - in particular, the roadside bar where the Wheelers and the Campbells go dancing - looked exactly like I pictured them in the novel, and so did two characters: John Givings (Michael Shannon) and his mother, Helen (Kathy Bates). Shannon especially deserves notice, as his Academy Award nomination was earned with very little screen time (like "Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs" little!), and he spoke his lines like both an actor and a character with a deep appreciation for the irony of the scenarios. On screen, Revolutionary Road makes for a decent and in places unflinching film, but sadly, it's not as good as I had hoped. If you have to choose, I'd say read the novel - if I hadn't, I'm not sure I'd have sat through the depressing and kind of boring movie it became.
  • Stickykk
    November 27, 2010
    Stickykk
    Grade: C+ (79%)

    Well I wasn't expecting this. I am probably one of many when Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet were in the same movie again. I thought of a Jack and Rose relationship that including a true first kiss, Jack drawing Rose naked on a couch, and making love in a ca... read morer. Well that didn't happen in this movie, in fact it was literally quite the opposite.

    Based on a novel (forgot the name of author), Revolutionary Road brings into the life of Frank (DiCaprio) and April (Winslet) who are barely keeping their marriage together. With April doing poorly as an actress and Frank spending ten hours at a job he truly hates, coming home at the end of the day isn't the pleasant sight. They know that their marriage has been falling apart for weeks and they couldn't do anything about it. But when it is Frank's birthday and April brings up the plan to live in Paris, the marriage begins to come together once again.

    But some problems come into hand that puts a hold on their travel arrangements. This yet again breaks up their marriage even more than before. There are instances of fearsome arguments between the both of them, that leads to harsh screams that can heard all over the neighborhood or trashing the nightstand in their bedroom.

    This is a very dark tale and emotionally gripping. I personally never saw a marriage quite like this in a movie. One minute they have smiles on their faces, making love on the kitchen counter to cheating on each other and threats to hit one another. And the ending, my god it made me say, "Why would (blank) do that!?" Now I have said that before in other movies but I thought it over and understood it. The answer to the question for this movie comes right away but I personally wouldn't have thought of that. Is it dark? Yes. Is it weird? Yes.

    Revolutionary Road is backed up by great performances by DiCaprio and Winslet. But if I would have to choose between Titanic and Revolutionary Road, I would have to choose Jack and Rose. Revolutionary Road is still a fantastic experience but if anyone who was looking for a Jack and Rose love in this movie, oooooooooooooh you are sadly mistaken. I was and I'll admit it.

    Now this is a dark movie. I have seen darker movies than this (Mystic River as an example) but the change of tone in the marriage is just unbelievable. How they can have a frown one minute and then be truly happy the next is just weird, but in a good way. Even before the title is shown for the first time in the movie, you can tell that isn't going anywhere happy. Having said that, this is still an emotionally powerful movie. The ending will grab you and shake you up and that might be the best and worst part of the movie. It ends like how we all thought it was going to but how it actually happens will keep you in shock.

    Therefore, Revolutionary Road is a trip worth taking; just make sure you are prepared for really dark material.

View All Revolutionary Road Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore
August 23, 2010
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Mendes has made a troubling film that wrestles with big themes and touchy subjects, even if it is set in an overly familiar milieu. Full Review

Richard Roeper
February 8, 2009
Richard Roeper, Richard Roeper.com

Bolstered by Thomas Newman's score, spot-on set design and the brilliant source material, "Revolutionary Road" is a darkly effective portrait of an Eisenhower-era couple who fall tragically short of r... Full Review

Jonathan F. Richards
January 24, 2009
Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com

If Revolutionary Road had been filmed back in 1961, when the novel came out, it would have been timely and powerful. Full Review

Tom Long
January 9, 2009
Tom Long, Detroit News

Bitter, nerve-wracking, ugly and relentless, Revolutionary Road is Big Drama done right, a mesmerizing look at desperate lives, wrong moves and spoiled dreams that hits hard right from the beginning a... Full Review

Amy Biancolli
January 9, 2009
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Viewers in the mood for rip-snorting marital combat should go ahead and partake, but they must prepare to leave the theatre in a state of profound depression. Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz
January 5, 2009
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

Unlike the novel, which you can set aside and take a break, with the film version of Revolutionary Road, you're in for the duration, and it's ultimately too much to take. Full Review

Ty Burr
January 5, 2009
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Winslet gives a fearless performance here. It's not her fault her husband has shrouded it in Taste. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 5, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This film is so good it is devastating. A lot of people believe their parents didn't understand them. What if they didn't understand themselves? Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
January 5, 2009
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Like its cinematic kin, Frost/Nixon and Doubt, this, too, is a delicately crafted, prestige project whose translation to screen doesn't deliver the original's amazements. Full Review

Liam Lacey
January 5, 2009
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Sam Mendes has worked in this territory before with his Oscar-winning American Beauty. Revolutionary Road is a better movie because it doesn't rely on such blatant caricatures. Full Review

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Facts

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    • AprilWheeler: No one forgets the truth, Frank, they just get better at lying.
    • AprilWheeler: It takes backbone to lead the life you want, Frank.
    • John Givings: Hopeless emptiness. Now you've said it. Plenty of people are onto the emptiness, but it takes real guts to see the hopelessness.
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Revolutionary Road Trivia

  • What new film will Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio star in?  Answer »
  • Leonardo DiCaprio co-stars with Kate Winslet in which of the following films?   Answer »
  • In which film will Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio make in 1994 before 'Titanic'?   Answer »
  • Name the director: Revolutionary Road (2008) Jarhead (2005) Road to Perdition (2002) American Beauty (1999)   Answer »
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