Revolutionary Road reviewed by Mark Kermode

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are reunited on screen for the first time since Titanic in Sam Mendes' Revolutionary Road. So what do the good doctors Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo make of it?

[@jeffgerman]

You either loved this movie or you hated it. I think the reason why so many people hated this movie is that it hit too close to home when it came to their marriages.

[@evesapple]

I was quite resistant to watching this, as it seemed completely depressing and just not my kind of film. Watched it yesterday finally though... and, it was depressing, but I think it;s worth a watch, if only for the performances- dicaprio especially. And I would say the whole 50's housewife being bored at home is getting a bit old now, but with this film I took it not so much about that, but about how life can be for most people, regardless of gender or year. Monotonous and essentially empty, and not special like we imagined it might be when we were younger. That last post Simon read out completely missed the point by a mile- the message isn't not to be different, but that not enough people actually try to be different. Or at least live differently to how others expect them to. I wouldn't watch it repeatedly as it is on the depressive side; but it is definitely worth a watch.

[@CJayin]

I disagree. This movie is about Falling out of love or what we think is love. Kate is tryin to save "Love" by moving to Paris and being spontaneous and Leo is on the same page just not as passionate. Easily Swede by the job offer. Kate, "realizing she really doesn't love Leo". Realizes they She's in love with the thought of being madly in love. IMP

[@oliverread1060]

Life is romanticized in films. This was really refreshing in many ways albeit depressing at the very same time...

[@chanceie12]

Dicaprio acting makes this movie a win for me.

[@deepaknayakmanel8581]

Both leads were extraordinary in the movie... Winslet in particular is astounding. The last stare outside the glass window will stay with you long after the movie ends. Simply mesmerizing. A difficult watch, sure but gets better after a second watch.

[@Starzagal]

Kate Winslet is absolutely astounding in this film I mean really extraordinary Also the critique is a bit unfair considering it's an adaptation not an original screenplay

[@Onmysheet]

Her presence truly captivates the screen.

[@pallhe]

If the original story is so poorly conceived, why make a film adaptation of it? But I agree that Kate Winslet does an abolutely stellar job.

[@KJ-gp4tt]

they both were actors in the film. everyone misses the point that delusions can control decisions. this is the point of it.

[@531katie]

I love you guys ! I sought some help in deciding what I was supposed to take from this movie, almost as hauntingly bleak as Shutter Island but without the unimaginable twist. So I found your channel and thank you for your wit that brightened the heaviness in witnessing a marriage of unfulfilled expectation and the misery from an increasing inability to focus on anything but what is missing. Makes me see the wisdom of “ignorance is bliss” ….

[@alan.smitheeee]

And in a shocking turn of events, Mendes and Winslet divorced soon after.

[@tobyhart]

Revolutionary Road might have been shallow, but Titanic was deep.

[@grenbaygrl1]

Not all stories need to have completely 100% original ideas or themes in them. I mean how many movies do we have with the same revenge plots or hero's journeys every single year. Not to the play the gender card, but as a woman I think men are more likely to get tired of the unhappy-housewife story because it's something they are less likely to identify with. Like, this is 2018 but I still have my parents harping on me about not wanting kids or not learning to be a better cook because "no husband would want you". Literally in 2018. And ideas of conformity and what not are still very relevant in my opinion, so I didn't find this review all that enlightening to me.

[@seamusconlan9673]

I could accept the hopeless emptiness easier living in a house like that.

[@bazzbazzley]

Forget the film because the book is quite astonishing.

[@pallhe]

I loved American Beauty and this film touches on many of the same themes, but it just doesn't add up as a story, unless the moral is that you shouldn't be as naive and badly behaved as the Wheelers. Did Mr Wheeler have any genuine interests that he could pursue in Paris? If so, why wasn't he pursuing them at all up to this point in his life? Why would Mrs Wheeler enjoy life as a secretary in Paris? She's the one who had an artistic calling in the beginning of the film. What happened to that? Couldn't she continue acting if she felt unfulfilled? Like Mad Men, the look of the film is too stylised and gorgeous and therefore annoyingly unrealistic. Revolutionary Road has some good qualities and made me laugh a number of times, especially the scenes with the "wise fool". But having watched it to the end, I think it's ultimately a failure because of how poorly conceived it is.

[@51gan788]

I disagree with Mark, really enjoyed this film. I think when a film is as solid as that - you start looking for things to get annoyed about rather than just enjoying it for what it is.

[@dougo891]

This is one of my favorite films. I wonder how many subscribers to this channel agree with Kermode's somewhat sarcastic assessment. !????????

[@declantreanor1]

I think Mark missed the point of this film a bit. I don't say that lightly.

[@ezrasky3761]

Telling a story doesn't always have to be about sending a profound message to the audience. Ok, critics like Mark need to chill on always searching for a message.

[@gards2]

I really enjoyed this film, even though it made me sad.

[@abbyhuntley3171]

That plot summary at the beginning is exactly how I saw it!

[@pedroV2003]

I'd just like to remind the reviewer that the story 'Revolutionary Road' pre-dates Lynch's movie by quite a bit. I read the book and saw the movie and enjoyed the hell out of both.

[@BigBoss7777777]

Lol what's with the random reference to Taken?

[@jeffgerman]

Yes, I agree, if you don't like depressing films than you should avoid this one at all costs. I, on the other hand, can over look the depressing theme and really appreciate the juicy writing and great acting. The scenes with Michael Shannon are amazing. This film is definitely not for everyone!

[@iheartscarlett]

Once again, the good doctor has hit the nail on the head.

[@chrishiggins7166]

The film’s issues are the film’s lack of focus & the film feeling too long, however the film’s A well acted, well directed, very stylish & realistic film. (70%) (3.5/5 stars) (positive)

[@numberonedad]

simon with a sweet nosepick at 2:58

[@R0BBYKYLE22]

This really was a brilliant film

[@livefortheday]

Completely agree with Kermode on everything except Shannon, who was so obviously giving a PERFORMANCE it completely detracted from the scenes he was in. Besides, the film was so loaded with cliches and melodrama that it failed to fully engage me and provoke any thought. Love his comments on Blue Velvet too. This sort of film has been done numerous times before, only Lynch did it with far more creativity/nerve/originality.

[@Verrako]

What the hell is this guy talking about? He should get into the film making and make the perfect movie...geez! he knows that finding something as technical that doesn't go well with him will get him the attention he desperate seeks...wow

[@commieRob]

Lol, THE FIFTIES WERE GREAT!!! Kermode is a genius.

[@michaelpass31]

Great film, Newman's music - bettered only by Richard Yate's supreme novel.

[@ianhitman]

simon mayo is so funny

[@ghostwhisper666]

Oh I love me some Mad Men!

[@fringelilyfringelily391]

The performances are wonderful ... the book is even better.

[@verbaluk1]

He has an honourary D.Litt. That, and it's a bit of a running joke/topic on the show.

[@fennynickie5731]

You know what, I just watched it and I couldn't really understand where the problem came from exactly and so I thought let me watch some reviews 😂

[@NeonRadarMusic]

I cracked up at the Neeson reference.

[@B1ggu5]

Yes he has an honourary doctorate. Can't remember the university though.

[@moeezS]

Don't think he hates it or anything, just a few problems.

[@picturesquelife4175]

I agree with Kermode's review, really disappointing movie, despite the good actors. The story was just too bad and characters unlikeble.

[@DavosJamos]

I didn't like it because it was do depressing. You'll never really know your partner, you could be together 10 years think one thing, but really either one could come ot hate the other without them knowing at any point. I don't disagree that this is how life is, but it's a depressing thought and I go to movies to enjoy myself. I similarily don't want to go see a movie about somebody dying of cancer

[@FukCommando]

his criticism is pointless, its based on the yates novel

[@joyceashtamker]

Leonardo Kate and Michael have played their roles very good, but the story was depressing and I did not like the movie at all !!!!

[@delbongo]

Great review - but the Doc is bang WRONG on this one. This movie is amazing yo

[@plugfive]

Gather! Gather!

[@Aceimus1066]

I love this movie, so...

[@90mv]

gather gather gather LOLLL

[@squidblaine]

Thanks quiff boy!

[@JohnSpawn1]

Mark doesn't need to know the novel that this film is based on. If the plot fails to present the good (according to you) story of the book, then the film doesn't have a good plot (even if the book does). A film needs to work on its own.

[@Potida1]

Mark is actually cute.

[@RamBam3000]

Mark Kermode is underinformed. "Peyton Place" did all this decades before "Blue Velvet".

[@thekieranstoker12]

@liu11 neeson not nielson

[@rasalpaul4574]

Great film

[@exitcheese]

great film !

[@JimmySlacksack]

despite the 'solid' acting there is zero chemistry between Winslet and Dicaprio imo

[@joynerkt]

Slack bitch that was the point of the movie they were falling out of love

[@tssss900]

great film shut it quiff boy!

[@catherinewoodward7021]

Quiff boy Go out and get a life!

[@bruvvamoff]

Blue Velvet Part 1 3:12 in

[@helrod]

mad men does this much better, this movie was the classic case of hype with no substance.

[@plugfive]

The 50s were GREAT!

[@zakatista5246]

The book is better.

[@Tommo79]

Not often moved to comment but this was a frankly terrible review. A very flippant and vacuous analysis.

[@03finnertyjo]

This film was literally one of the worst films I have ever seen.

[@DanielMumby]

Kate Winslet has been awful ever since the vile sack of bilge that is Hideous Kinky. As for the plot, sounds like a complete rip-off of Alan Ayckbourn's plays

[@liamryan2056]

The novel was published 1961

[@pecny]

Total bs review

[@pod054321]

worst film of the year!

[@goodgirlkay]

Thank god...you saw this movie for the piece of sh*t it was.

[@MrAkashvj96]

Ridiculously poor movie and I'm a huge Sam Mendes fan. But the Reader was so much worse.