Young couple Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) and April Wheeler (Kate Winslet) live in suburban Connecticut with their two kids and a lot of unfulfilled dreams. Neither of them has the career that really satisfies them, and it is straining their marriage, so April suggests a move to Paris to change everything for the better. Unexpected circumstances arise, though, that put their relationship and their future in jeopardy.

CRITIQUE

The idea that the sunniness of the ‘50s hid unhappiness and conformity is one that films have tackled before. (Far From Heaven comes to mind.) There is something about examining that situation that results in true drama on screen, and this film qualifies. Outstanding performances, elegant direction, and a stunning story are what make Revolutionary Road one of the best films of 2008 and memorable movie experience.

Drama stems from human interaction and film writing is at its best when sticking to this fact without faltering. This script does that. Within a few minutes after beginning, the film has already firmly established the characters of Frank and April through their first meeting, as well as the difference in their relationship from its happy start to its current stagnancy. As far as plotting goes, there is only one small point--Frank’s affair with a secretary in his office--that could strike as a bit cliché.

The rest what happens proceeds believably and engagingly to the tragic conclusion. I won’t give it away but the emotional impact of it is exactly what it should be. In fact, the same could be said of the entire story. The glimmers of love and passion Frank and April show for each other, particularly after announcing their plan to move to Paris to their friends, are what make their story a true tragedy.

Of course, the talents of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are a central part of the success of the story and film itself. Every once in a while, a pair of actors perform together and prove to be a duo that creates a chemistry that transcends the story they are performing. These two are like this, and the proof is in the fact that this is such a different story from their previous pairing in the most popular film of all time, Titanic.

The supporting cast is filled with wonderful actors as well, most memorably Michael Shannon (in an Oscar-nominated role) as a neighbor’s son recently released from a psychiatric hospital who may be the only truly honest person around. Sam Mendes has also worked wonderful staging into his timeless direction. Revolutionary Road has superb acting and direction, but this only ably presents the unforgettable story.

THE VIDEO

Paramount presents Revolutionary Road in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The transfer is free of glitches as well, and the color is preserved from the theatrical print.

THE AUDIO

Paramount presents Revolutionary Road in English 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround.  Additional audio options are 5.1 dub tracks in Spanish and French. Optional subtitles for all three languages are available as well.

THE EXTRAS

Audio Commentary: Director Sam Mendes and screenwriter Justin Haythe join for a track on this disc. They talk steadily and informatively throughout the entire film. We learn a lot of interesting things about small bits added from the book, as well as details about the staging you might have missed. I like that we learn that, unlike many films, this one was shot mostly in sequence for emotional accuracy. A lot of good character and plot discussion can be found here too. Definitely listen to this.

Deleted Scenes: Five scenes are included here, for a total of about 10 minutes of viewing. The quality of these is good, any one of them would easily fit in with the finished film. The best are the glimpse of Frank’s childhood, riding to the city with his father on the commuter train, and the aftermath of April’s botched home-abortion attempt in which DiCaprio delivers stunningly. Director Mendes and screenwriter Haythe add optional commentary to each scenes, as well, mostly discussing why each scene was cut. The best is, again, with that aftermath scene.

“Lives of Quiet Desperation: The Making of Revolutionary Road”: About a half-hour long, this behind-the-scenes doc features wonderful interviews and good on-set footage. The audience learns how Winslet, then Mendes and DiCaprio, joined the project and there is also a lot of interesting discussion about the setting of the film and how it influenced the look of what we see.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Revolutionary Road is a film with the direction, narrative, and performances of a classic drama, plus the production values are wonderful. Plenty of viewers, not just fans of DiCaprio and Winslet, will find buying this DVD the best option, especially due to the above-par extra features included.