Rave review from a "Revolutionary Road" test screening

I was lucky enough to attend the advance screening for this film, and I can gladly say it wasn't a disappointment. In fact it was something of a triumph. "Revolutionary Road" is an all around beautifully, artistically crafted film with powerhouse performances - a heartbreaking character study of a young couple coming to grips with a kind of early life crisis.

A show-stopping Leonardo DiCaprio becomes Frank Wheeler - the point of view which the story is mostly told from - with remarkable power and an insight we only get from the greatest kind of actors. Allowing the audience to become fully immersed in his psyche, letting us feel everything with him. Living his pain, resentment, and the smörgåsbord of emotions in between. It is a highly accomplished piece of acting from the lead actor that I cannot imagine being ignored come this award season. Frank is a flawed man that many people will be able to see aspects of themselves in. Not being satisfied with marriage, family, work. Feeling we are meant or destined for something greater, yet paradoxically feeling the doubt and insecurity in ourselves to really go after it. He's depressed, has a past he can't seem to let go of, he's arrogant, he's a liar, he's manipulative and in many ways immature. Yet we know him. He's our father growing up, he's a brother, friend or possibly even you. He makes mistakes and is almost embarrassingly human. What I found ultimately tragic about him was not the way in which he lied to others but the way in which he lied to himself. Leo DiCaprio uses his expressive face to brilliant effect as Frank. He was terrific in "Aviator" , "Blood Diamond", "This Boy's Life" and others and has rightfully earned his place as one of the finest actors of his generation. Having said that, this is a whole new layer to DiCaprio that none of us have seen before. He brings a new, mature type of authentic subtlety to his craft. He doesn't resort to any big physical transformation. It's all internal. This is a new height for him, and easily the greatest acting of his career. A performance of great emotional intensity and depth that I can say without hesitation, will be remembered for generations to come.

Kate Winslet, one of the finest actresses of her generation plays April Wheeler with a sharp fervor. She is angry, depressed and like Frank feels she is destined for something greater than a life of conformity in the burbs. She is a tragic character in that she is basically a closed book, she shuns the love that people try to give her, she is a free spirit and quite the handful. She comes up with an idea to break free of the conformity she shares with her husband in an attempt to
revive their marriage and at first it seems to work - the passion for life and each other reignited. But after an unexpected event and other factors, will the dream plan go through?

The chemistry between Winslet and DiCaprio in "Revolutionary Road" reminded me in many ways of the chemistry between Liz Taylor and Richard Burton in the 1966 film "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". They create an intensity in their arguments that is electric and palpable. You cannot take your eyes off them, they glue you to the screen and stick it to each other as sharply as the couple from "Virginia Woolf"
were able to. Frank and April's story is grounded in a greater, more painful reality, however.

The supporting players are all portrayed wonderfully. I particularly enjoyed Michael Shannon (the mental patient with a darkly amusing ability to call out the s**t in others) and Zoe Kazan (the young woman Frank has an affair with).

The haunting Thomas Newman score is almost a third main character - and I mean this in a very good way. Like in Sam Mendes' first triumph the 1999 film "American Beauty".

The cinematography done by Roger Deakins is another standout, with some truly glorious shots.

The film is very dark. And the honesty practically guts you in some cases, so I don't think everyone will love it. Watching it was emotionally draining. Sam Mendes certainly did his job well here. It's his greatest film since "American Beauty".

Expect Oscar nominations for lead actor, lead actress, adapted screenplay, score, cinematography, direction and picture. With an almost sure win for DiCaprio (giving one the greatest and most layered portrayals of the last 20 years) as well as probable wins for Newman and Deakins.