Thanks to filmboymichael for alerting us to the remixed Revolutionary Road trailer. Not much new to look at here that we haven’t already seen in previous incarnations, but I like how the presentation is slipping away from the typical linear cutting to indicate a more layered and reflexive approach, expanding the orchestration with more complex emotional chords. Sea of Love, recorded by Phil Philips in 1959, perfectly matches the timeframe of the film, but the contemporary rendition gives it a nice anachronistic contrast of new wave folk song breakdown. No way was Mendes going to film this novel without an infusion of his own transformative flair, but this is the first real taste we’ve had that the staging would conjure up more than a straight domestic narrative. Fingers crossed.
60 Responses for "Revolutionary Road Remix"
Anyone know who’s singing this cover version of Sea of Love? Cat Power, right?
Interesting this was featured on the Juno soundtrack last year too.
I know my fingers are definitely crossed. I find that my interest in this film has piqued. The previous trailer, of course made me want to see the film, but didn’t necessarily excite me. This one, however, gave me the slight chill of goosebumps….
Nice to finally catch a glimpse of Kathy Bates – even though fleeting.
it’s by cat power….
I was having such a long day filling out online applications, and this just lifted my spirits. I can’t wait to see this. Tear…
this trailer is WAY better than the previous ones… just sublime..
DA- YUM
I will be first in line to watch this movie…kate looks dashing as usual, comments reserved on Dicaprio
This trailer is vastly better than the first. The Sea of Love fits better. Beautiful song and rendition, and it adds beauty and yet disturbing undertone.
i am on the verge of tears… this looks to be potent… the novel is stunning, kate winslet is acting royalty, dicaprio is a superb actor, and sam mendes is an accomplished director… this cant possibly go wrong…
I wonder if Kate, Sam and Leo had a threesome while doing this movie? I know freaky Kate can pull off a menage trois with ease…and her husband seems so down to earth and so groovy…
Just a thought!!
No doubts it will appear in: Picture, Director, both leads, screenplay, editing
2nd trailer heads & shoulders above the first.
disturbing
Always a pleasure to see such talented actors such as Leo and Kate setting off emotional fireworks .
It has been said but better than the other one. I wanted to see this film but it was definitely slipping off of that category, this trailer helped it a lot for me. I hope it is good but I am not jumping on yet.
Okay so I was suddenly interested at looking at the book, so I googled and found that my lord and savior, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., called it “The Great Gatsby of my time…one of the best books by a member of my generation.” and now I must read it, and that just made me wont to see the movie even more.
I’ve managed to avoid watching all trailers (including this one) and — hallelujah! — will be attending a screening tomorrow afternoon followed by Q&A with principals. That is, if four hours of Che this evening doesn’t completely incapacitate me.
I simply can’t wait for this film.
Nice! I got a In The Bedroom meets the ‘1950s vibe!
Hello!
I´m back to this season.
WHAT A MOVIE REVOLUTIONARY ROAD MUST BE!!!!!
I´m speechless!
I just can´t wait!
I’m still not convinced. I want to be so badly, but I seem to be the only one who didn’t love this trailer.
@ Daniel
Then you are alone….
Despite thinking Mendes, Winslet and DiCaprio are great (especially DiCaprio) I’ve never been able to get myself excited in anyway for this film. I’m totally apathetic, and the trailers have done nothing to change my mind. I’m hoping I’ll like it, but at the moment, I’m feeling nothing.
I am still skeptical of the casting choices for this one. Both seem pretty off for the roles they’ll be playing.
Having read Richard Yates’ superb novel I think that both DiCaprio and Winslet are perfect for the leading roles. This 3rd trailer is good,but I didn’t love it as the previous ones (particularly the first one).Can’t wait to see Mendes (an underrated director,IMO),DiCaprio and Winslet (two of the best working actors today) at work.
Who’s the lead studio distributing and marketing this movie…Paramount, Paramount Vantage, and/or DreamWorks?
I wonder how Mendes felt directing Leonardo on how to sexually tear up his wife ( or is it the other way round, with Kate mercilessly tearing up Leonardo with those succulent thighs of hers)…it would be interesting to know his honest reaction.
The invitation says: “Paramount Vantage and DreamWorks Studios invite the members of the Screen Actors Guild to a special advance screening of Revolutionary Road.” At the bottom it says: “Paid For by: Paramount Vantage.”
Just came back from seeing Revolutionary Road and without dropping any spoilers, I have to say that the film is a huge disappointment, primarily due to direction, screenplay and the male lead. Kate is great in almost every scene and is almost assured of a nod for this performance; unfortunately the camera does not love Leo’s face, he looks like an overgrown Charlie Brown in most scenes and he just seems wrong in the role. The dialogue is often literary without being well-written, the art direction flat. But there are three great supporting performances and the magic of Kate. But on the whole, a huge disappointment.
@ Paul Outlaw
In this same post, I can be quoted saying my comments are reserved on Leo. D. for obvious reasons. Just as I suspected, his performance will be a disappointed and according to you, it was. I am really not that surprised. Leo is one-note. He uses the same acting style for different genres ( e.g titanic, the deprted, blood diamond etc)
Leo’s performance in the film is more four-note than one-note, and while there are admittedly a few major stars out there who don’t even have that range, I just don’t think it’s enough for this role. (And one of the four notes is “borrowed” from Jack Nicholson.)
Paul Outlaw :
how was the reaction from the others at the screening ? Kris Tapley indicated that apparently people loved it (as much as him).
A slight chance to see Kathy Bates nominated come January ?
Aurélie, there were (at least) three screenings of the film on the Paramount lot today and at the one I ended up at the response was very muted. It was also in a smaller screening room, not in the big theater where he probably saw it with the stars in attendance.
Alois, a very slight chance I would say. The actor playing her son also might have a slight chance, although his character is a little too Joker-ish.
Joker-ish? What does that mean?
He’s a crazy, manic truthteller.
Hm. I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up thinking of it as a disappontment like you did, Paul. I’m praying that I don’t.
Daniel, if you admire Mad Men, and I do, this movie just pales in the inevitable comparison.
Well I’ve never actually watched an episode of Mad Men (I know, I know, I’m so behind the times).
Are that show and this movie really that similar?
The big similarities are the exploration of married life and of the angst of the suburban housewife and her husband who works in the City. Revolutionary Road is set in 1955, season one of Mad Men in 1960. And there’s lots of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption in both.
Interesting. I should try watching the show, I have just never gotten around to it.
thanks for your answer.
What did you think of Dicaprio works before ? I mean did you acknowledge his talent before Revolutionary road or you quite think he’s miscast in everything he does ?
To Paul Outlaw. Sounds like you just hate DiCaprio and are not going to give him a break no matter what. “Charlie Brown”? However, Winslet is “magic”? Hmm. Winslet fan who has to make the point by putting down her co-star?
The dialogue is “literary without being well written”? You do know it’s based on a novel, considered by many to be a late 20th century literary classic? I’m sure some of the dialogue is from the book — and that fans of Richard Yates won’t appreciate it being called poorly written.
The direction is bad? Why, because you don’t like Mendes?
And just from the trailer alone, the art direction looks great.
What about Deakins?
What about the ending? Since I know the ending, I know you can comment on it without giving too much away — if you actually went to the screening and paid attention.
I’ll grant that this film (from the material it’s based on) won’t please everyone. However, it does seem that your review is more than a little slanted against DiCaprio, while others who’ve seen the film are decidedly more impressed with his work here. He is playing a rather weak and boyish man, isn’t he? Did he slight you in some way in the past, btw? Anyway, I’m not really worried that your review will rule the day. More likely it will be in the minority. Still, thanks for posting anyway. All opinions are interesting, from as much as they say about the poster as the actual opinion. Oh, and MAD MEN — I’ve watched both seasons — great show, but I don’t expect Revolutionary Road to be much like it, except for the boozing and smoking part. Don Draper and Frank Wheeler are about as different as you can get. Same can be said to some extent about April Wheeler and Betty Draper. Only somewhat more similar. Revolutionary Road is a great read, btw, and from what I know, the film follows pretty well.
To Pumpkin & Coloraci:
I have seen the film and you haven’t, so there is no need for you to get defensive about my take on it until you have. And even then, everyone has a right to his or her own opinion.
(& To Aurélie:) I don’t hate DiCaprio. In fact, I thought he was terrific in The Departed, Blood Diamond, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and This Boy’s Life, among other performances. But he just did not do it for here. I think he is a great character actor and find his leading man turns (like Titanic, Romeo + Juliet, even The Aviator to some extent) less compelling. And the (Roger Deakins’) camera does not like his face terribly much.
Speaking of Deakins, there is great camerawork in this. Why wouldn’t there be? He’s a master. There is some especially interesting use of shadows. I’m very much looking forward to his work on Doubt.
What is compelling on the page may not be compelling when spoken aloud or translated to another medium. Obviously I am aware that the screenplay is an adaptation, but not having read the book, I couldn’t say which dialogue (if any) was lifted from it. When I said “literary without being well-written,” I was referring specifically to several key scenes between Winslet and DiCaprio: their length, the diction, etc. After people have seen the film, I’d be interested on their take.
As for Mendes: again, I don’t “hate” his work either. I think that American Beauty is overrated and that Road to Perdition and Jarhead are vastly underrated. And I can’t wait to see what he does with Sondheim’s Follies, if that comes to fruition. But I was disappointed by his work here, especially in the scenes with the two leads.
I don’t think I will be the last person (I’m certainly not the first) to make the Mad Men comparison, which has much more to do with things like art direction, costume design and the overall examination of America before the great change that came with the ’60s, less so with the specific characters.
As for the ending, why should I comment on it? To prove I saw the movie? Come on. Let’s just say, it involves a hearing aid and a closeup. And the fact that I liked it doesn’t change my feeling about the film as a whole.
Anyway, see the movie and form your own opinion. Don’t be mad at me for having one.
I think I posted a comment when the first trailer came out that DiCaprio just doesn’t seem right for ‘family man’ leading roles. He seems like a restless skateboarder, too fresh faced, much like Charlie Brown. Ryan Gosling would have been a more interesting choice for lead.
PaulOutlaw, although I dont agree with you about DiCaprio, I must say I reeeally respect that you are giving very honest opinions with actual REASONS why you feel the way you do.
Paul Outlaw,
I apologize for getting defensive, but I read posts like yours and w.j.’s (which I realize came after yours) and think, jeez, here we go again. Another DiCaprio hater. It’s funny how everyone comments on his looks more than his actual acting. Frankly, I’m glad the camera doesn’t love him in this because maybe he’ll seem less perfect visually, which is what Frank Wheeler is — a very flawed person. Wheeler is supposed to be somewhat good looking (boyish even) based on the book, but also very shallow and weak.
And while I haven’t seen “Revolutionary Road,” I’ve seen DiCaprio’s latest leading male roles and I think he’s better than most other actors working today. In particular, he has to transcend the fact he is a huge movie star, something that neither a Day-Lewis or even Penn have to do. (I realize they are famous, but neither of them have had a “Titanic” and the manic fame that followed.)
And, in all honesty, I’m hoping your opinion about his performance here is in the minority. I really want to see him nominated again. And at some point, win an Oscar.
Thanks, Rev Fan. I was really looking forward to Revolutionary Road, by the way. I avoided watching trailers because I wanted to walk in to the screening “clean”.
Pumpkin: I don’t dislike DiCaprio at all. I think he’s a fine actor. To me, he just doesn’t look the part in “Revolutionary Road.” He has a very youthful face, very unweathered, and to me, lacking the character required for certain roles. If I was a casting director, I wouldn’t have considered him for this role. I’m sure he will win his Oscar one day, but I doubt very much this will be the role that will do it for him.
Pumpkin, in an article about I’ve Loved You So Long I read that Kristin Scott Thomas insisted on having less dialogue in several scenes because she felt that it would serve the film and her character better. I think this kind of economy would have served DiCaprio in Revolutionary Road as well. (From my recollection a day after the screening Winslet gets a lot more “quiet time” onscreen than DiCaprio, someone else who’s seen it correct me if I’m wrong.)
And believe me, he definitely seems “less perfect visually.” There are times throughout the film, especially in the early scenes, where he looked bloated to me: small features in the middle of a big moonface. That’s what I meant by “overgrown Charlie Brown” in my very first post. But I certainly won’t be surprised if mine is a minority view.
w.j., if you read the book, the description of Frank Wheeler fits DiCaprio. Frank isn’t weathered. He’s a young man. (Remember, people married and had kids much younger in the 1950’s than today. By age 30 — which is Frank’s age — many people had three or four kids.) All that smoking and drinking didn’t do them in for another thirty years or so.
And, Paul, I have a moon face. I’m in my forties and still get carded. Maybe that’s why I get so defensive! As for DiCaprio, maybe he went on a bender before filming. Isn’t Frank a heavy drinker in this? He is in the book. (Or a heavey drinker by today’s standards.)
LOL, Pumpkin. DiCaprio’s closeups were probably filmed at all times of the day and night during the shot (and out of sequence). He seems to have the kind of features that can’t hide lack of sleep or a bender or being sick or whatever.
Paul, maybe Deakins wanted to film DiCaprio that way. Like I said, Frank is supposed to be attractive, yet not — at least not underneath. Normally, the camera loves DiCaprio, even as he’s gotten older. He was beautiful in “The Departed.”
w.j., my last comment — why would Gosling be so good in this role, but not DiCaprio? Gosling is younger and although he’s not as “pretty” as DiCaprio (although I wouldn’t call DiCaprio “pretty” anymore), he certainly doesn’t look weathered or a father figure.
Also, I know how to spell. I meant “heavy” drinker, not “heavey.” Obviously, my typing skills are another story.
Pumpkin, I have never thought of Leo DiCaprio as “pretty” or “too pretty” for this or any role. At 34 he is still very boyish in the same way that Rick Schroeder (38) and Elijah Wood (27) remain boyish and Christina Ricci (28) remains girlish. I know you weren’t addressing that to me, but I wanted to chime in. Ryan Gosling, on the other hand, is very pretty, leading man pretty. And that’s not a bad thing.
Paul, I have feeling we’ll be in constant disagreement. I think DiCaprio was “pretty” when he was younger, but not so much now. I don’t find Gosling pretty at all.
But whatever, I’ve said enough. I’ll wait until I see it. Maybe I’ll be disappointed too. I hope not and I hope DiCaprio and Winslet are fabulous.
Still, I think you have a problem with DiCaprio in general.
Have a good night.
Still, I think you have a problem with DiCaprio in general.
From everything above in this thread, you know that ain’t true. If we were talking about The Departed or What’s Eating Gilbert Grape I’d probably be more gung ho on DiCaprio than you.
If it matters to anyone (I’m a little late to the party here…), I think DiCaprio fits the physical description of Frank Wheeler pretty perfectly. Here’s a description of Frank that appears early on in the book:
“He was neat and solid, a few days less than thirty years old, with closely cut black hair and the kind of unemphatic good looks that an advertising photographer might use to portray the discerning consumer of well-made but inexpensive merchandise (Why Pay More?). But for all its lack of structural distinction, his face did have an unusual mobility: it was able to suggest wholly different personalities with each flickering change of expression.”
I haven’t seen the film, I can’t judge the performance, but I find the comments on how DiCaprio looks in the film strange.
@ k:
I haven’t read the novel, so my comments about how DiCaprio looks have nothing to do with a comparison to “Frank Wheeler” and all to do my reaction to his appearance onscreen and his performance, in case that was unclear.
Ah, OK, thanks for clarifying.
I love that people are now reviewing films by what the trailers look like. This speaks volumes on the state of american movies. Me I usually have an opinion of a film after I see the film.
IRAjoel, who are you talking about? If you read the posts, you’ll see that I am the only one here giving an opinion of the film and I have seen it.
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