Revolutionary Road: A Pessimistic View of Marriage

For anyone who doesn't have any problems of their own to dwell on, go rent Revolutionary Road, the movie that united Titanic amours Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. This movie captured the two actors in yet another tragedy that would never allow them to live happily every after. In fact, in this movie the two are not happy very much at all. The movie is like a simplified F. Scott Fitzgerald novel that cleverly tugs at opposite sides of common marital problems, in a time where everyone focused on attaining that good ol' American Dream.

Now I'll give the movie this: both actors were believeable as a 1930s young couple who are trying to make sense of who they are as a married couple and who they are as individuals. I feel so empathetic toward both of them who really seem to love each other, but have too much pressure on them to be perfect. The two just become every married couple's nightmare as they both have affairs and Kate grows cold to her husband. I felt suffocated by their constant bickering and sadness, and almost leaped for joy at the comic relief of the insane character who seems to be the only voice of reason. The acting was good enough, the plot was fine; in the end, I felt still like I should've just watched the end of America's Next Top Model. At least then I wouldn't feel like slitting my wrists before I hit the sack.

I come across these types of movies on occassion, where I appreciate the details of the movie, but just genuinely don't like it, and this is one of them. While I don't think that movies have to necessarily end happily, I do see them as entertaining and as an outlet for experiences I'm curious about, and for the record this movie was neither. Maybe Kate and Leo's hearts will go on to more promising movie magic the next time around.