Kenneth Turan, giving a mixed review to Revolutionary Road, nonetheless had this to say about Winslet and DiCaprio:
Only a stone, frankly, would not be captured by the honesty and intensity of Winslet’s performance, by the breathtaking way she throws herself into this lacerating emotional maelstrom. News reports indicate that the actress’ passion for the script was key in getting the film made and in interesting Mendes, her real-life husband and the director of “American Beauty,” and her instincts were impeccable.
DiCaprio’s performance is a bit slower getting going. But his acting is brought into sharper focus once developments at Knox Business Machines make him question whether he can go along with the plans he and April have so carefully made, and the pressures on him mount as he attempts to decide how he should act, and we see the extent to which he is palpably torn.
And Village Voice’s Scott Foundas writes (in another mixed review):
As Winslet has already demonstrated once this season (in The Reader), among her seemingly boundless gifts is an acute grasp of bright young women beset by some intractable inner torment. DiCaprio, meanwhile, plays Frank with the faintly emasculated authority of so many outgoing, well-bred young men who still haunt the corridors of corporate America. But the movie’s one stroke of real genius arrives in the form of the tall, jittery character actor Michael Shannon, who shows up for two scenes as the paranoid schizophrenic son of the Wheelers’ matronly real estate agent (Kathy Bates). Brought to meet Frank and April as part of his attempted re-entry into society, he recognizes the unhappy couple as some kind of fellow travelers, and Yates (who himself spent time in various “bughouses”) imparts to him the story’s most resonant observation: “Plenty of people are on to the emptiness, but it takes real guts to see the hopelessness.”
Rolling Stone’s Pete Travers gives it a good review and of Winslet writes:
And the glorious Winslet defines what makes an actress great, blazing commitment to a character and the range to make every nuance felt. Winslet’s last scene, as April prepares breakfast for a husband who can’t see the torment behind her smile, is emotionally devastating. This movie takes a piece out of you.
No Response for "Acting Stands out in Rev Road"
I just saw this tonight and everything written about Winslet is true. I thought she was remarkable in “The Reader;” in this, she’s just brilliant.
Between the two, she must win some heavy awards. It’s simply insane if she doesn’t.
I really enjoyed DiCaprio, though, I’m not a huge fan. The film took a little time to get going, for me. After the first 20-30 minutes, however, it was fantastic until the end. Not something I’d want to see again, though, for it’s sheer depression.
I agree with Pete Travers. The breakfast scene was devastating. The controlled resignation from life acting of luminous Winslet was brilliant. her role is unlikeable, that is true but her artistry and her bravery just to put this character on the screen should not go on unrecognized. I was suprised that Winslet did not go nude in this film.
I feel that, although Winslet is perhaps not the leading frontrunner for either of her performances atm, once the nominations are announced, she will surely rise to top of the ranks. Most people, including myself, are predicting her for two nominations this year. If this does happen, she will have gained her sixth and seventh nominations. This ought to work in her favor. The Academy will have two opportunities to reward her, and I think that she will come to lead one category (and, as a result, fade somewhat in the other). Oddly, I think that she sheer weight of so many nominations in such a short period at such a young age will work more in her favor than Peter O’Toole’s eight nominations to date have had. Yes, there is more chance of her winning in the future than O’Toole, but I think that voters will find it ludicrous to deny her an award after such success in such a condensed period.
Btw, I believe that she will win in the end for Revolutionary Road rather than The Reader. Penélope Cruz just makes too much sense for me to allow her to lose. Leading Actress is a closer race, and still very much undecided, with eight potential nominees. It’s anybody’s race, when you look at it on the whole. Winslet has the across-the-board success so far, and the support to boot.
mh, saw it two Days ago and i have to say that DiCaprio overshadowed Winslet… she was good, very good – but DiCaprio was brilliant
sry but he has to be nominated, dear AMPAS Members!
if not then i don’t believe in justice!
I thought DiCaprio was dreadfully miscast in this, but Winslet was firing on all cylinders, definitely!
The scene where she dances at the club with her neighbor was sexy and breathless — I loved how free she became in those moments. April is an extremely inventive performance…between this and The Reader, though, it is a shame Winslet is giving such amazing performances in boring movies.
dreadfully miscast? well, ok, your opinion
i thought he was perfect – his angriness… his sorrow… just brilliant
I wouldn’t say he was perfect; however, I also wouldn’t say he was miscast. If it were another actress in the film, he would have drowned. Kate Winslet is such a generous actor in terms of what she gives her scene partners that she really made him (and herself) look amazing!
-Vincent
To me, it looked like he was trying too hard. His “angriness” seemed very manufactured and his moments of “sorrow” felt disingenuous. But to each his own…
And this is coming from someone who is generally a pretty big fan of the actor…
Matt Mazur (#5 and #8), that doesn’t mean that he was miscast, just that his performance was not on the same level as Winslet. And on that point I agree with you.
As a DiCaprio fan, it’s so annoying to read some of the shit written about him on this site, particularly by annoying Winslet fans.
I thought they were both brillant.
They are both “giving” actors — which is why they are both so good at playing off of each other in this film.
If it bothers you that some people here express their critiques of DiCaprio’s performance (and you don’t need to be an “annoying Winslet fan” to do so), then perhaps you’d prefer the level of discourse here. I for one would rather read intelligent opposing views of my favorite films and performances.
The breakfast scene is a brilliant piece of acting for Winslet. It could in fact win her the Oscar. Seeing as Streep’s accent in Doubt was off, I can’t imagine her winning. That was not a Bronx accent – maybe Boston. Also – I thought Kathy Bates was dreadful in Road. She almost ruined the movie for me. I used to think she was a great actress, now I’m questioning that. Mendes’ direction was a bit flat too. Winslet and DiCaprio saved this film.
Seth, what about Kathy Bates’ performance wasn’t good for you? I’m a fan of her work, and I thought she was fine here. Nothing great, but, she worked well with the material she had, I thought.
And, I’m not trying to “down” DiCaprio’s performance, I do like him. I just felt that he wavered in some scenes; however, that’s just my opinion. I didn’t mean to offend anyone.
As for the breakfast scene, I agree. It’s that scene until her last appearance on film that’s amazing to me. Her phone call to Millie about her children was rather amazing.
-Vincent
I just can´t wait for this movie.
I believe Winslet and DiCaprio – two of best in their generation – deserves next Oscar.
Who can stop her?
For me, only me beloved Blanchett, but at this point I don´t think she will.
Streep? I don´t believe.
Hathaway? Please, don´t waste my time…
And whit all respect to Penn, DiCaprio still have not one.
He deserves for “The Aviator”, one of the strongest performances in last times, so much better than Foxx imitation of Ray Charles.
I hope Kate and Leo, finally, win.
i hope so too, Flapp – but i don’t think he’s gonna win – it would be a success to see him on the Nominee’s Luncheon
Penn/Rourke/Langella are higher rated than DiCaprio but we will see at the Globes, maybe Leo can surprise us (actually the HFPA) – and if this is gonna happen, it would be a enormous push for him!
I’m afraid I don’t share all the same glowing reviews for the film as most of you here do. Winslet didn’t do anything for me in the film. In my opinion, DiCaprio did a better job than Kate.
I enjoyed DiCaprio’s performance but apparently he dosen’t have much shot for win.
But I think Winslet can win. There is no front-runner in Best Actress category and Winslet is everyone’s due.
My dream picks for Oscar night:
1. Milk wins BP
2. Winslet wins BA
3. Penn wins BA
4. Newman wins Original Score
5. Boyle or Van Sant wins Director
I really cannot see anything standing in the way of Winslet winning. If she is nominated twice – she will win, and it’s about time.
I do think that Winslet will win this year! It’s her year and if anyone seconds that, it seems to be her co-star, DiCaprio, who is constantly touting her in every interview they have. As for who is generous to the other, it seems they both agree that they were entirely comfortable with each other and totally capable of supporting each other in every respect. It does seem that some fans of Winslet are more than willing to put DiCaprio’s perfectly fine performance in her shadow, however, including Outlaw and Mazur. That’s just plain wrong and I don’t care how they try to justify it. Each one deserves accolades here. They apparently worked very closely together to come up with these performances. I’m not at all convinced they would have either one been nearly as good without the other. I do believe in giving credit where credit is due, whether it is to Winslet or DiCaprio. So let’s just cut through this annoying crap and let it go.
Let me be crystal clear about one thing: I am NOT a fan of Winslet, necessarily.
Is anyone allowed to comment on her without being accused of being a fanboy anymore?
Just because I pay her performance a compliment in my previous post, austin, does not mean that I am her “fan”.
I am more a fan of DiCaprio, as I stated.
You should really READ people’s posts before bitching about what they have to say. That post you just made was incredibly stupid.
What Matt (and I already) said.
Did I hit a nerve, Outlaw?
I guess you can’t stop yourself from posting on every “Revolutionary Road” article about how much you despise DiCaprio’s performance. Oh, and saying things like he’s “miscast” or that if he is “amazing” it’s due to Winslet is not “critiquing” a performance.
It seems to me that 2008 offered an abundance of stellar performances, many in films that for one reason or another fell short in terms of reaching their own cinematic “greatness.” Years from now I may have trouble recalling the plots of Revolutionary Road or Doubt, but I don’t think I’ll forget the performances of Michael Shannon or Viola Davis any time soon.
Did I hit a nerve, Outlaw?
No, you just changed your name.
And how you get “despise” out of anything I have written is a mystery to me. Oh, I forgot: you started your first post with the words: “As a DiCaprio fan…” I should have slowly backed away right then and there.
I just saw “Doubt” a week ago and I can hardly remember Viola Davis. I’m reading a lot of things about her, but, I think it’s all hype. She’s good in the film, but, to say you won’t remember the film but you’ll remember her? Interesting…to each their own.
Please note, I’m not insulting your opinion, I’m just noting how it’s totally different for me.
-Vincent
Changed my name from what?
Just saw this, and sorry, huge disappointment. Preposterous, overdone, overacted. The first hour or so with the whole Paris plan was ridiculous. A nomination for Winslet would not be undeserving, but a win for this movie would be disappointing as she has done better work.
DiCaprio did give this his all, but he was inconsistent and his character weaker. Also, the Brando-like firestorms don’t compensate for the overacting in his face and manner of speaking, and the lack of complete honesty from both.
Where was the Sam Mendes of American Beauty? No style or unique commentary on suburban life. The Wheelers had a pretty blase marital decline even though they acted like they were the first couple in history to experience the universal feelings of disappointment, regret, boredom, and waning love.
Winslet was better in a similar role in Little Children.
Good movie characters don’t have to act in a way that the viewer condones, but they have to be sympathetic. In this film we had little reason (other than Titanic, which strangely became a faint memory) to understand why the Wheelers were ever together for so long in the first place. It wasn’t just that they were selfish; they failed to see how typical and arguably trivial their problems were in the grand scheme of 1950s American suburbia.
All in all, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either — just didn’t work. I’d say the precursor treatment of it so far (i.e. the SAG “snub” except for Winslet) has been appropriate.
No Atonement-like resurge for this one. I TiVoed Two for the Road and expect a richer characterization of marital decline with two more personable stars.
Oh, and the score was annoying as hell. The cinematography wasn’t awards-worthy either. Basically, it was melodramatic, unconvincing, and bland. I won’t be surprised if Winslet is its only nomination (Leo is still a possibility, though).
I have a feeling that Kate Winslet will not even nominated. Her performance here is quite a la Little Children, and the Academy might be tired of nominating her in a quite similar role right!!, bored unhappy suburbed wife. Plus she lacks a nom for two of the most important Oscar predictors, the BFCA and the Chicago.
The film opened with mediocre reviews!!, The Wrestler, Gran Torino and even Doubt have better reviews than this film!!
Steve, “Doubt” and “Gran Torino” did not open to better reviews.
Since when were BFCA and Chicago the most most important Oscar predictors?
I’d say Kate’s in.
Isn’t it amazing how people can feel totally different about the same exact thing. I’ve read reviews about the performances being brilliant, some of the best of Winslet’s and DiCaprio’s careers. I’ve read some calling the film the best drama of the year. Then I read things on boards about how bad some people thing the entire film is, actors included. It’s totally interesting to me…
For example, I find Kathy Bates no better, no worse in this than Viola Davis is in “Doubt.” Yet, for some reason, some people are going nuts of Davis and not even talking about Bates (I’ve even read some negative posts about Bates in this).
-Vincent
I think Kate was excellent in this film. The breakfast scene was simply devastating. You can just see that in her eyes. Her eyes were swollen from a night of crying.
All her scenes squabbling with her husband were all gut wretching.
I think RR is much better than Wendy and Lucy.
My! Wendy and Lucy. Dont let me start. I want to create a blog discussing how much I hate that film.
The fact that people isn’t loving this amazing, mesmerizing film the way it so deserves to be loved is just baffling to me. Seriously.
I think “Revolutionary Road” is a masterpiece; in fact, it’s my #2 film for this (almost-done) year, second only to “Synecdoche, New York”, another brilliant-but-not-as-widely-loved film.
These two films are even superior to the fine and much more acclaimed “The Dark Knight”, “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Milk”. Not to mention “Doubt”, “Frost/Nixon” and the dreadfully overrated “Wall-E”.
To each their own, I guess. I can only hope that time proves me right…
This is what I think: Any Kate Winslet performance demands intelligence from the audience. Not only intelligence but basically, the tenacity and perseverance to pick out all the subtle nuances she throws out there for everyone to see and notice. I think we should give Ms. Winslet recognition for her work in RR since it is truly a master class in acting.
Whoa…Vincent, Kathy Bates?. She wasn’t good or bad in the film. She was just there, like all the other supporting players and if people want to give recognition to Viola Davis instead, then I’m with those people.
I also think Wendy and Lucy is better than Revolutionary Road. It’s a shame Michelle Williams is being overlooked. I would put her ahead of Winslet.
Vincent: I think if you like the film, that’s okay. It’s your opinion. Whether people here dish “Revolutionary Road” and the performances because they sincerely didn’t like the movie or the actors, or they do it for other reasons, shouldn’t make you feel different about what you saw. Nor should it if there are people here who praise the movie simply because they like Mendes or Winslet or DiCaprio.
Personally, I think the movie is getting unfairly criticized, but that’s me. And this isn’t the first movie that it’s happened to, nor will it be the last.
Every year that are a select few films and performances that everyone “loves” and get all the awards and accolades and other, equally deserving films or performances, get pushed aside. It’s the way it is.
I agree Carlos,
“Synecdoch, NY” is brilliant.
I just can´t understand it´s not a frontrunner this season!
Leave a reply