Revolutionary Road
Stream
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A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.
What critics thought
DiCaprio and Winslet drew near-universal admiration, but critics split sharply over whether Mendes's direction serves or suffocates the material — some found it devastating and emotionally true, others felt its polished theatricality kept them at arm's length rather than inside the marriage's collapse. The question of whether the film improves on or is defeated by Yates's novel runs through almost every serious review.
“Winslet is so meticulous in her telegraphed despair that she intrigues us, moves us, yet never quite touches our unguarded nerves.”
Owen Gleiberman·Entertainment Weekly
“impeccably mounted—perhaps too much so. Mendes [...] has an innately theatrical style: everything pops off the screen a little bigger and bolder than life [...] Instead of losing myself in the story, I often felt on the outside looking in, appreciating the craftsmanship, but one step removed from the agony on display. Revolutionary Road is impressive, but it feels like a classic encased in amber.”
David Ansen·Newsweek
“Once more, the suburbs are well-upholstered nightmares and its denizens clueless—other than one estranged male. Everything is boldly indicated to the audience from arch acting styles to the wink-wink, nod-nod of its design. Indeed his actors play the subtext with such fury that the text virtually disappears. Subtlety is not one of Mendes' strong suits.”
Kirk Honeycutt·The Hollywood Reporter
“They are so good, they stop being actors and become the people I grew up around.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“faithful, intelligent, admirably acted, superbly shot”
Variety
Accolades
Genres
Drama, Romance
Cast & Crew
Sam MendesDirector
Leonardo DiCaprioFrank Wheeler
Kate WinsletApril Wheeler
Kathy BatesMrs. Helen Givings
Michael ShannonJohn Givings
Kathryn HahnMilly Campbell
David HarbourShep Campbell
Dylan BakerJack Ordway
Richard EastonMr. Givings
Zoe KazanMaureen Grube
Jay O. SandersBart Pollock
Max BakerVince Lathrop
Max CasellaEd Small
Thomas NewmanComposer
Richard YatesWriter
Justin HaytheWriter
Roger DeakinsCinematographyRevolutionary Road
A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.
What critics thought
DiCaprio and Winslet drew near-universal admiration, but critics split sharply over whether Mendes's direction serves or suffocates the material — some found it devastating and emotionally true, others felt its polished theatricality kept them at arm's length rather than inside the marriage's collapse. The question of whether the film improves on or is defeated by Yates's novel runs through almost every serious review.
“Winslet is so meticulous in her telegraphed despair that she intrigues us, moves us, yet never quite touches our unguarded nerves.”
Owen Gleiberman·Entertainment Weekly
“impeccably mounted—perhaps too much so. Mendes [...] has an innately theatrical style: everything pops off the screen a little bigger and bolder than life [...] Instead of losing myself in the story, I often felt on the outside looking in, appreciating the craftsmanship, but one step removed from the agony on display. Revolutionary Road is impressive, but it feels like a classic encased in amber.”
David Ansen·Newsweek
“Once more, the suburbs are well-upholstered nightmares and its denizens clueless—other than one estranged male. Everything is boldly indicated to the audience from arch acting styles to the wink-wink, nod-nod of its design. Indeed his actors play the subtext with such fury that the text virtually disappears. Subtlety is not one of Mendes' strong suits.”
Kirk Honeycutt·The Hollywood Reporter
“They are so good, they stop being actors and become the people I grew up around.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“faithful, intelligent, admirably acted, superbly shot”
Variety
Accolades
Genres
Drama, Romance
Cast & Crew
Sam MendesDirectorLeonardo DiCaprioFrank WheelerKate WinsletApril WheelerKathy BatesMrs. Helen GivingsMichael ShannonJohn GivingsKathryn HahnMilly CampbellDavid HarbourShep CampbellDylan BakerJack OrdwayRichard EastonMr. GivingsZoe KazanMaureen GrubeJay O. SandersBart PollockMax BakerVince LathropMax CasellaEd SmallThomas NewmanComposerRichard YatesWriterJustin HaytheWriterRoger DeakinsCinematographyStream
Rent & Buy