In film noir, the road movie found a sub genre in the loversonthelam, with films that present couples on the run specifically from the law and generally from society itself gun crazy, and later examples like badlands and wild at heart. Revolutionary road movie trailer, cast, plot, dvd, bluray starring leonardo dicaprio, kate winslet and michael shannon. But like april and frank, who once seemed destined for a bright future, revolutionary road doesnt fulfill its promise. The petrified forest, the play put on by the laurel players, was produced on stage, for radio, and as a film in the 1930s. Brilliantly acted and emotionally powerful, revolutionary road is a handsome. Revolutionary road drama this mesmerizing and moving story follows the lives of a young couple living in suburban connecticut who decide to risk everything to pursue their dreams. If you like revolutionary road you might like similar movies the reader, little children, closer, the curious case of benjamin button, atonement. It was written by justin haythe and based on the 1961 novel of the same name by richard yates. Apr 07, 2018 revolutionary roadthe story of frank and april extra credit.
April and frank wheeler winslet and dicaprio live in a picture perfect street, living the american dream in. Once america is fully civilised, tamed, and modernised, the road itself becomes the new frontier. Revolutionary road quotes, movie quotes movie quotes. As epic a drama as it is, the film falls short of being a classic. Iconography, style, and themes road movies born, music. Revolutionary road is american author richard yates s debut novel about 1950s suburban life in the east coast. The movie begins at a house party, where frank wheeler leonardo dicaprio eyes april kate winslet from across the room. Revolutionary road shows the american dream awakened by a nightmare. Blue valentine 2010, little children 2006, the painted veil 2006, the ice storm 1997, we dont live here anymore 2004. In order to find comparable films to revolutionary road weve considered a large range of factors including movie genre, storyline and featuring actors. It was also remade as a television movie in may of 1955. Frank walks out to the car, stops and looks back at the house.
April and frank wheeler are a young, ostensibly thriving couple living with their two children in a prosperous connecticut suburb in the mid1950s. Revolutionary roads portrait of a disintegrating marriage is so unflinching, so unsentimental, and so bleak, that you really need to be in a buoyant emotional state to get through the movie. It shows a young couple who meet at a party, get married and create a suburban life with a nice house, a manicured lawn, modern furniture, two kids, a job in the city for him. A lot of people believe their parents didnt understand them. We figured that when searching for other movies like revolutionary road you could be after other drama or romance films or even those featuring leonardo dicaprio. Road movies are often combined with other genres such as westerns, comedy or crime. The rediscovery and rejuvenation of richard yatess 1961 novel revolutionary road is due in large part to its continuing emotional and moral resonance for an early 21stcentury readership. Revolutionary roadthe story of frank and april extra credit.
Revolutionary road s plot echoes the plot of the petrified forest. Its a social novel about the way we live now, only in this case now is over 40 years ago and yates take on the plight of the poor souls marooned in corporatesuburban america has long since been digested and superseded. Revolutionary roads plot echoes the plot of the petrified forest. Online resources for media and society, 4th edition, chapter 15 the genre deals with themes of breaking from. Revolutionary road, considered the original antisuburban novel, isnt actually antisuburbsbut something far more devastating than that. The novel begins in western connectictut, with an unsuccessful first performance by an amateur theater company, the laurel players. Mar 22, 2010 the road movie was developed in the era of cars and roads when the western landscape of prairies and horses was fading away. Dec 22, 2008 revolutionary road, considered the original antisuburban novel, isnt actually antisuburbsbut something far more devastating than that. Sep 17, 2004 buy revolutionary road at the guardian bookshop.
You wont often get a chance to see good existentialism on the big screen. Revolutionary road s portrait of a disintegrating marriage is so unflinching, so unsentimental, and so bleak, that you really need to be in a buoyant emotional state to get through the movie. A road movie is a film genre in which the main characters leave home on a road trip. The road movie also reflects upon technology, depicting an ambivalent modernist fusion between human driver. The lead actress, april wheeler, begins with a strong performance but eventually becomes embarrassed and stilted once its clear that the show is a flop.
At the plays end, her husband, frank wheeler, goes to console her, but instead they argue over whether to. Next scene we jump immediately to the end of a play, as the curtain is about to come down. They still have that great chemistry together as before and the story of the movie is not a happy one but its pretty realistic look of a marriage. A small, attractive suburban house in the morning sunshine. Revolutionary road cast, info, trivia famous birthdays. The road movie also reflects upon technology, depicting an ambivalent modernist fusion between human driver and machine vehicle. With the arrival of modernism, the road movie turned existential. Not to be confused with devrimci yol revolutionary path.
The best movie quotes, movie lines and film phrases by movie quotes. East coast marriage, the film inevitably suffers from some similarity to. They go to the corner, introduce themselves and chat. A road movie is a film genre in which the main characters leave home on a road trip, typically altering the perspective from their everyday lives. Recommendation engine sorted out realistic, melancholic, emotional and serious films with plots about couple relations, loneliness, couples, obsession, mentor, relationships and adultery mostly in drama, romance and biography genres.
Revolutionary road by richard yates books the guardian. He said that the film was not meant to be a romance and that he and winslet intentionally avoided films that show them in romantic roles since. Titanic shipmates kathy bates, leonardo dicaprio, and kate winslet. The directing is solid, giving much room for the actors. Revolutionary road 2008 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Now, theyre reunited in a film called revolutionary road, and this time. Highly rated movies that are similar to revolutionary road. Frank and april wheeler dicaprio and winslet always thought of themselves as. All contents are provided by nonaffiliated third parties. One thing they all have in common is an episodic journey or quest on the open road or. Online resources for media and society, 4th edition, chapter 15 the genre deals with themes of. Dec 26, 2008 revolutionary road is the kind of great novel that hollywood tends to botch, because much of it takes place inside the heads of its characters, and because the wheelers arent especially. Dec 30, 2008 revolutionary road shows the american dream awakened by a nightmare. A young couple living in a connecticut suburb during the mid1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems.
Revolutionary road movie 2008 features april kate winslet, after she had a fight with her husband frank leonardo dicaprio the day before. The thrust of revolutionary road is essentially the same, but mendess first film was a broad satire with a glaze of new age mysticismand it was postfeminist, so the childlike husband wilted. Leonardo dicaprio and kate winslet, raging against the. Revolutionary road 19 december 2008 1h 59m a young couple living in a connecticut suburb during the mid1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. The road movie was developed in the era of cars and roads when the western landscape of prairies and horses was fading away. Brilliantly acted and emotionally powerful, revolutionary road is a handsome adaptation of richard yates celebrated novel. Revolutionary road study guide from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Revolutionary road is a tragic realistic love story powered by the believable performances by leonardo dicaprio and kate winslet who reunite 12 years later after starring in 1997s titanic together. Revolutionary roadthe story of frank and april extra. This is the second onscreen collaboration among leonardo dicaprio, kate winslet, and kathy bates, all of whom previously costarred in titanic, released in 1997. To his credit, mendes is unfailingly faithful to the novel. Revolutionary road study guide contains a biography of richard yates, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Revolutionary road is a 2008 romantic drama film directed by sam mendes. It takes place in the 1950s, the decade not only of elvis but of the man in the gray flannel suit.
With this theatrically designed and controlled adaptation of richard yatess 1961 novel revolutionary road, sam mendes returns to the american suburbia that was the scene of his triumphant debut. Expository scenes come one after another, relieved by equally expository flashbacks. Revolutionary road is a brilliant novel, and i highly recommend the film. Adapted from the landmark novel by richard yates, revolutionary road is an incisive portrait of an american marriage seen through the eyes of frank and april wh. Road films have been a staple of american films from the very start, and have ranged in genres from westerns, comedies, gangstercrime films, dramas, and actionadventure films. Another of the genres signature means of enhancing the cinematic sensation of driving is an exuberant music trackusually rock and roll, with its back beat propelling the journey. Though beautifully shot and wellacted, the film is hobbled by somewhat prosaic storytelling. In film noir, the road movie found a subgenre in the loversonthelam, with films that present couples on the run specifically from the law and generally from society itself gun crazy, and later examples like badlands and wild at heart. April and frank wheeler winslet and dicaprio live in a picture perfect street, living the american dream in the optimistic and prosperous 1950s. The novel of suburban malaise has been in fashion for.
It was a finalist for the national book award in 1962, along with catch22 and the moviegoer. The movies biggest flaw is that the story itself is depressing, with characters that are ultimately not very sympathetic. Mar 12, 2012 conventions and expectations of road movie genre march 12, 2012 in uncategorized as the focus of our class studies are on the road movie genre, im going to write about my expectations of themes, character and techniques used in this set genre. F irst published in 1961, and recently rediscovered by both readers and critics, richard yatess revolutionary road is the portrait of a failing. Theres a poetry somewhere immersed in revolutionary road and sam mendes, along with roger deakins, do their best to emphasis that, but when you dislike both characters and their motives, or lack thereof, it becomes really hard to invest. Jan 01, 2014 revolutionary road movie trailer, cast, plot, dvd, bluray starring leonardo dicaprio, kate winslet and michael shannon. Conventions and expectations of road movie genre march 12, 2012 in uncategorized as the focus of our class studies are on the road movie genre, im going to write about my expectations of themes, character and techniques used in this set genre. Revolutionary road has a good premise and strong actors that perform well enough. Based on the celebrated novel by richard yates, director sam mendes revolutionary road is the story of a young couple oscar nominees leonardo dicaprio and kate winslet trying to. Road movies often depict travel in the hinterlands, with the films exploring the theme of alienation and examining the tensions and issues of the cultural identity of a nation or historical period. Jul 03, 2016 revolutionary road movie 2008 features april kate winslet, after she had a fight with her husband frank leonardo dicaprio the day before, pretending she gets along with her plain life with. It feels like it ought to be a better movie but somehow does not come together. Revolutionary road is a masterpiece of a genre thats largely considered played outthe novel of suburban malaise.
I had no previous knowledge about the movie, apart from being a book adaptation, which i havent read, and two main cast members leonardo dicaprio and kate winslet, but i was sceptical, for no good reason anyway. In fact, i have not seen a better attempt since lo straniero 1967, based on albert camus the stranger. With leonardo dicaprio, kate winslet, christopher fitzgerald, jonathan roumie. Revolutionary road study guide contains a biography of richard yates, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a. The road movie is most often associated with america. Before seeing this movie i looked in the tv guide and saw that hbo had rated the movie 4 starsout of 4 so i figured it had to be worth watching because hbo hardly ever gives movies 4 stars and i liked the two main actors in titanic. What is the name of the play which aprils theatre group performs.