SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

"REVOLUTIONARY ROAD"
(2008) (Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet) (R)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Extreme	Mild	Extreme	Mild	Minor

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Mild	None	Minor	None	Extreme

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Extreme	Extreme	Extreme	Heavy	Mild

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: A 1950s era couple must contend with their unhappy marriage as well as unexpected developments that threaten to derail the wife's plan to save their relationship and make them happy.

PLOT:

It's the 1950s and Frank (LEONARDO DiCAPRIO) and April Wheeler (KATE WINSLET) seem to be like most any other married couple living in the Connecticut suburbs with two young kids. While April cares for Jennifer (RYAN SIMPKINS) and Michael (TY SIMPKINS) and has pretty much given up her dreams of being an actress, Frank works in Manhattan for a business machine company alongside the likes of Jack Ordway (DYLAN BAKER) and others who obviously don't have much passion for their jobs. Yet, Frank certainly has the latter for office secretary Maureen Grube (ZOE KAZAN) with whom he's having an affair.

And that's because his marriage to April is anything but rosy. She's unhappy that her life on Revolutionary Road is obviously headed toward a dead end, and the couple often engage in heated arguments, unlike their neighbors and friends, Millie (KATHRYN HAHN) and Shep Campbell (DAVID HARBOUR). The latter obviously has a thing for April, but nothing has come of that, and April can't stand the thought of living a life like the smiling and subservient Millie.

Accordingly, she proposes that she and Frank move to France and start anew. That idea takes their real estate agent, Helen Givings (KATHY BATES), by surprise, as she hopes that the young couple might help her and her husband, Howard (RICHARD EASTON), re-socialize their adult son, John (MICHAEL SHANNON), a once promising mathematician sidelined by mental illness.

Yet, as they prepare for an overhaul of their lives that April hopes will save their marriage, a number of unexpected developments, including from Frank's big boss, Bart Pollack (JAY O. SANDERS), threaten to derail their plans and hopes for newfound happiness.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Those who are fans of anyone in the cast, and especially the pairing of DiCaprio and Winslet for the first time since "Titanic," might be interested. Otherwise, it seems highly unlikely.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For language and some sexual content/nudity.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: LEONARDO DiCAPRIO plays a 1950s era husband, father and businessman who's unhappy in both his line of work and his marriage to April. Accordingly, he's been having an affair with one of the office secretaries, and often argues with his wife over any number of issues. He uses strong profanity, smokes, and drinks.
KATE WINSLET plays his wife who once dreamed of being an actress, but is unhappy in her current role of raising their two kids in a dead-end life and volatile marriage. She tries to save that by proposing that they move to France and start anew, but she must contend with various unexpected developments. She uses strong profanity, smokes, drinks, has an affair, and -- SPOILER ALERT -- performs a home abortion on herself.
KATHY BATES plays their real estate agent, a busybody neighbor who doesn't see or simply overlooks their problems and instead wants to use them as a way to re-socialize her adult son who's recently been released from a psychiatric hospital.
MICHAEL SHANNON plays her adult son, a once promising mathematician whose career was derailed by mental illness. Now released, he must put up with her trying to re-socialize him, but he sees through that, as well as Frank and April's marriage and lifestyle, point-blank telling it exactly as he sees it. He drinks some.
KATHRYN HAHN plays April's neighbor and friend who's also stuck in a standard 1950s marriage and lifestyle, but seems happy that way, or at least puts on that pretense.
DAVID HARBOUR plays her husband who obviously has a thing for April, but keeps that to himself until late in the story when the two have sex. He drinks at various points and smokes at least once.
ZOE KAZAN plays a secretary who works and has an affair with Frank. She drinks some and smokes once.
JAY O. SANDERS plays Frank's big boss who wants to promote him into a higher profile position. He smokes once.
RYAN SIMPKINS and TY SIMPKINS play Frank and April's young kids who are rarely around and thus aren't seen reacting to their parents' fighting.; KATE WINSLET plays his wife who once dreamed of being an actress, but is unhappy in her current role of raising their two kids in a dead-end life and volatile marriage. She tries to save that by proposing that they move to France and start anew, but she must contend with various unexpected developments. She uses strong profanity, smokes, drinks, has an affair, and -- SPOILER ALERT -- performs a home abortion on herself.
KATHY BATES plays their real estate agent, a busybody neighbor who doesn't see or simply overlooks their problems and instead wants to use them as a way to re-socialize her adult son who's recently been released from a psychiatric hospital.
MICHAEL SHANNON plays her adult son, a once promising mathematician whose career was derailed by mental illness. Now released, he must put up with her trying to re-socialize him, but he sees through that, as well as Frank and April's marriage and lifestyle, point-blank telling it exactly as he sees it. He drinks some.
KATHRYN HAHN plays April's neighbor and friend who's also stuck in a standard 1950s marriage and lifestyle, but seems happy that way, or at least puts on that pretense.
DAVID HARBOUR plays her husband who obviously has a thing for April, but keeps that to himself until late in the story when the two have sex. He drinks at various points and smokes at least once.
ZOE KAZAN plays a secretary who works and has an affair with Frank. She drinks some and smokes once.
JAY O. SANDERS plays Frank's big boss who wants to promote him into a higher profile position. He smokes once.
RYAN SIMPKINS and TY SIMPKINS play Frank and April's young kids who are rarely around and thus aren't seen reacting to their parents' fighting.; KATHY BATES plays their real estate agent, a busybody neighbor who doesn't see or simply overlooks their problems and instead wants to use them as a way to re-socialize her adult son who's recently been released from a psychiatric hospital.
MICHAEL SHANNON plays her adult son, a once promising mathematician whose career was derailed by mental illness. Now released, he must put up with her trying to re-socialize him, but he sees through that, as well as Frank and April's marriage and lifestyle, point-blank telling it exactly as he sees it. He drinks some.
KATHRYN HAHN plays April's neighbor and friend who's also stuck in a standard 1950s marriage and lifestyle, but seems happy that way, or at least puts on that pretense.
DAVID HARBOUR plays her husband who obviously has a thing for April, but keeps that to himself until late in the story when the two have sex. He drinks at various points and smokes at least once.
ZOE KAZAN plays a secretary who works and has an affair with Frank. She drinks some and smokes once.
JAY O. SANDERS plays Frank's big boss who wants to promote him into a higher profile position. He smokes once.
RYAN SIMPKINS and TY SIMPKINS play Frank and April's young kids who are rarely around and thus aren't seen reacting to their parents' fighting.; MICHAEL SHANNON plays her adult son, a once promising mathematician whose career was derailed by mental illness. Now released, he must put up with her trying to re-socialize him, but he sees through that, as well as Frank and April's marriage and lifestyle, point-blank telling it exactly as he sees it. He drinks some.
KATHRYN HAHN plays April's neighbor and friend who's also stuck in a standard 1950s marriage and lifestyle, but seems happy that way, or at least puts on that pretense.
DAVID HARBOUR plays her husband who obviously has a thing for April, but keeps that to himself until late in the story when the two have sex. He drinks at various points and smokes at least once.
ZOE KAZAN plays a secretary who works and has an affair with Frank. She drinks some and smokes once.
JAY O. SANDERS plays Frank's big boss who wants to promote him into a higher profile position. He smokes once.
RYAN SIMPKINS and TY SIMPKINS play Frank and April's young kids who are rarely around and thus aren't seen reacting to their parents' fighting.; KATHRYN HAHN plays April's neighbor and friend who's also stuck in a standard 1950s marriage and lifestyle, but seems happy that way, or at least puts on that pretense.
DAVID HARBOUR plays her husband who obviously has a thing for April, but keeps that to himself until late in the story when the two have sex. He drinks at various points and smokes at least once.
ZOE KAZAN plays a secretary who works and has an affair with Frank. She drinks some and smokes once.
JAY O. SANDERS plays Frank's big boss who wants to promote him into a higher profile position. He smokes once.
RYAN SIMPKINS and TY SIMPKINS play Frank and April's young kids who are rarely around and thus aren't seen reacting to their parents' fighting.; DAVID HARBOUR plays her husband who obviously has a thing for April, but keeps that to himself until late in the story when the two have sex. He drinks at various points and smokes at least once.
ZOE KAZAN plays a secretary who works and has an affair with Frank. She drinks some and smokes once.
JAY O. SANDERS plays Frank's big boss who wants to promote him into a higher profile position. He smokes once.
RYAN SIMPKINS and TY SIMPKINS play Frank and April's young kids who are rarely around and thus aren't seen reacting to their parents' fighting.; ZOE KAZAN plays a secretary who works and has an affair with Frank. She drinks some and smokes once.
JAY O. SANDERS plays Frank's big boss who wants to promote him into a higher profile position. He smokes once.
RYAN SIMPKINS and TY SIMPKINS play Frank and April's young kids who are rarely around and thus aren't seen reacting to their parents' fighting.; JAY O. SANDERS plays Frank's big boss who wants to promote him into a higher profile position. He smokes once.
RYAN SIMPKINS and TY SIMPKINS play Frank and April's young kids who are rarely around and thus aren't seen reacting to their parents' fighting.; RYAN SIMPKINS and TY SIMPKINS play Frank and April's young kids who are rarely around and thus aren't seen reacting to their parents' fighting.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a quick look at the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 10 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue (some of it explicit) is present, as are several sexual encounters with movement, sounds and brief post-sex nudity (breasts).

A woman dies from performing a home abortion on herself (off-camera, but we see some bloody results). Bad attitudes are present, as is a great deal of tense family material, while characters drink and/or smoke throughout the film.

Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, increasing amounts of handheld and sometimes fairly bouncy camerawork are seen toward the end of the film.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Frank and April have drinks at a party where other people drink as well.
Seeing Frank, an actress states that she's ready for the drink they presumably previously discussed.
Frank and Maureen have martinis and Frank then orders more in a restaurant where others drink. Later, she tells him that she thinks he got her a little drunk, and in that state they end up having an affair. After they've had sex, Maureen asks if she can get him a drink or anything, but he declines the offer.
As Frank returns home, April apologizes to him and hands him a drink.
Frank and April hold drinks.
Frank and his coworkers have beer.
Shep has beer and then some more. Later in that same sequence, April has a martini and Shep pours a drink and hands that to Frank.
Frank and April hold drinks at home.
Helen and her family come over to visit Frank and April, and Frank asks if they would like some sherry. Helen says no, but John says he will have some as well as Helen's.
Frank and April have drinks at home.
Frank and his big boss at work have martinis.
Maureen states that maybe she should take Frank out for a drink to celebrate his pending promotion, and he says maybe, with the implication being that they do and then have another sexual tryst.
Shep and others hold beer while out at the beach.
Frank and his coworkers have drinks.
People drink in a club, including Frank, April, Shep, and Millie. The latter nearly vomits while dancing with Frank on the dance floor, apparently from having too much to drink. Later, April has more to drink.
Frank and April have dinner with Helen and her family and all of them have drinks.
While mad at April, Frank has a drink, and then has more.
Shep, Millie, and another couple have drinks.

BLOOD/GORE: Frank's coworker Jack doesn't look well and make some sort of comment about if he voids his stomach (but that doesn't happen).
Millie nearly vomits while dancing with Frank, apparently from having too much to drink. She rushes off with her hand over her mouth but we don't know if she vomits or not.
Spoiler alert: We see April gathering what she needs to perform a home abortion on herself. While we don't see the act, we do see her tentatively come down the steps and then look out the window. As she stands there, drops of blood land on the carpet below and between her legs, while we see a growing bloodstain on the back of her slip or nightgown.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Frank and April have varying degrees of bad attitudes toward one another throughout the film, including both of them having affairs with others.
Shep longingly looks at April, suggesting there is something going on between them (but we later learn that there was nothing at this time other than his longing, although he eventually cheats on his wife with April).
For those opposed to abortions: April confesses to Frank that she is pregnant and is not happy about that, since it might affect their decision to go to Paris. Referencing someone else, she implies that they could do a home abortion as long as it is before she is 12 weeks along. Later, she goes through with that.
While not viewed as bad at the time, April both smokes and drinks while pregnant.
John confronts Frank and April about them changing their mind regarding going to Paris, and pointedly tells the truth about them but in an insulting way. That includes him saying that he is glad he's not going to be their kid, referring to her being pregnant.

FRIGHTENING SCENES: Spoiler alert: We see April gathering what she needs to perform a home abortion on herself. While we don't see the act, we do see her tentatively come down the steps and then look out the window. As she stands there, drops of blood land on the carpet below and between her legs, while we see a growing bloodstain on the back of her slip or nightgown.

GUNS/WEAPONS: An actor holds a fake rifle in a play.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "Flush your entire f*cking family down the toilet," "You don't care what I do or who I f*ck?" "No f*ck who you like," "You f*cking…" "He's f*cking insane," "F*ck you," "A considerable amount of bullsh*t going on here," "Don't give me that sh*t," "Sure as hell," "You pathetic, self-deluded little boy," "I must scoot," "Toodle-oo," "I hope to Christ I don't end up like you," "Why the hell not?" "I better haul ass," "What a horse's ass," "How about shutting up?" "If he doesn't grab 'em by the balls," "Morons," "What the hell /do you mean/is that supposed to mean?" "You're damn right I am," "You know G*ddamn well," "Knocked her up," "Who the hell do you think you are?" and "The sorriest bastard I know."
A woman performs a home abortion on herself (off-camera).

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): A little bit of suspenseful music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): None.

PROFANITY: At least 10 "f" words (2 used sexually), 3 "s" words, 15 hells, 6 damns, 3 asses, 1 crap, 10 uses of "G-damn," 4 each of "For God's sakes," "Jesus Christ" and "Oh God," 2 each of "Christ" and "Jesus," and 1 use each of "For Christ's sakes," "Hope to Christ," "My God" and "Swear to God."

SEX/NUDITY: Spotting Maureen at work who obviously has her eye on him, Frank gives her a work assignment, patting his hand on her shoulder as he walks away. We then see them having drinks in a restaurant where she's intoxicated, followed by a scene after they've apparently had sex, where he is getting dressed and she's still in bed. We see her bare back as she lies face down (there's also a partial view of her bare butt), and she then sits up and holds the sheets over her chest, but that falls down and we briefly see her bare breasts. He then states that she was swell, kisses her on the cheek, and then exits the room.
We see Frank in the shower, but only see a head and shoulders view.
Shep longingly looks at April, suggesting there is something going on between them (but we later learn that there was nothing at this time other than his longing).
Millie shows a little cleavage.
We see Shep shirtless as he gets ready for bed.
April states that she once felt alive, and that was the first time Frank made love to her. The two then kiss passionately in their kitchen, with him then putting her up on the counter where the two have sex. This is seen in a head and shoulders view, with movement and sounds, but no nudity.
Maureen states that maybe she should take Frank out for a drink to celebrate his pending promotion, and he says maybe, with the implication being that they do and then have another sexual tryst.
April shows a little cleavage.
We see various shirtless guys at the beach, while Shep and Frank have their shirts open in the front, and Frank removes his, leaving him in just his swim trucks.
About Frank and April not moving to Paris due to April being pregnant, Jack comments on Frank being foiled by faulty contraception.
April and Shep dance in a club, with him finding her increasingly alluring as she moves about him. We next see them making out in his car (viewed from the backseat so we don't see their lower bodies), with him saying he wants to take her somewhere, but she says no that they should do it now (meaning sex). We then hear them removing some of their clothes, and then him getting on top of her while she is still sitting upright in the front seat of the car. They have sex for a few moments until he climaxes (movement and sounds but no nudity), when he says that he has always loved her, but she asks if he can just be quiet (meaning she doesn't feel the same way about him).
April tells Frank that he knows she's not sleeping with him and wants to know why. He then admits to her of his past affair with Maureen, but she wonders why he told her and asks what is the point of him doing so. He can't believe that and asks if she doesn't care what he does or who he "f*cks." She replies that no she doesn't and that he should "f*ck" who he likes.

SMOKING: Frank smokes more than 10 times, April smokes a bit less, Maureen, Jack, Shep, John and Bart each smoke at least once, while various minor and miscellaneous characters smoke in various scenes.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: Frank and April bicker about going out with another couple (she doesn't want to, he thinks it would be rude to cancel on them).
In their car on the way home, Frank tries to get April to talk, but she tells him to leave her alone. That just creates more tension between them, including Frank yelling at her, causing her to get out of the car. The argument continues, with him saying that she is sick, while she says that he is disgusting and is a pathetic, self deluded little boy. He then nearly punches her, and she recoils from that sight, prompting him to hit the top of their car several times. They then get back in the car and drive home, obviously not happy with each other.
We see that Frank has been sleeping on the couch rather than in his bedroom with April.
Helen states that her adult son John has spent time in a psychiatric hospital.
John talks about having taken a coffee table at his mother, and that it would be one thing if he had killed her with that, but he didn't. During this, Helen tries to ignore his comments and change the subject.
April is upset with Frank upon learning that he has not told those at work that he will be quitting in the fall and moving to Paris, and that he might be getting a new job and promotion at work. This causes them to bicker over that potential job, and the possibility of not moving to Paris. That bickering continues at home, and then segues into another subject when Frank finds a home abortion kit in the closet. He's mad at her about contemplating this, and yells out about her flushing "our entire f*cking family down the toilet."
April tells Frank that he knows she's not sleeping with him and wants to know why. He then admits to her of his past affair with Maureen, but she wonders why he told her and asks what is the point of him doing so. He can't believe that and asks if she doesn't care what he does or who he "f*cks." She replies that no she doesn't and that he should "f*ck" who he likes.
Despite knowing she's contemplating having an abortion, Frank announces to Helen and her family that April is pregnant. After Helen and her family have left, Frank and April do more arguing, including her stating that she hates him. They continue arguing, with him getting mad and smashing a chair against a wall, with her then running off into the woods to try to think (and then being mad at him when he follows her there).
After pretending to be all calm, happy, and supportive of Frank, April breaks down and cries after he leaves to go to work (upset that she is stuck in this life with no way out).
Spoiler alert: Frank is quite emotional and upset in the hospital upon learning that April performed an abortion on herself, lost a lot of blood, and his unconscious now in surgery. Moments later, and by the look on his face, we realize that April has died, and then see Frank running home.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Marriages, what makes them work, and how they can go bad.
Affairs.
Helen states that her adult son John has spent time in a psychiatric hospital.
About going out to lunch with his father when Frank was a child, Frank now states that he thought at the time that he didn't want to end up like his father, but then did just that.
The reaction others have upon hearing that Frank and April are moving to Paris where she will be the breadwinner and support him.
The comment that if you want to play house you have to have a job and that usually ends up being one that you don't like.
John states that he received 37 electric shock treatments for his mental condition, which he thinks only affected his ability to work with mathematics.
The comment about hopeless emptiness.
The comment that most men only get a few big opportunities in their life, and that if they don't grab them by the "balls" they won't get any more.
April confesses to Frank that she is pregnant and is not happy about that, since it might affect their decision to go to Paris. Referencing someone else, she implies that they could do a home abortion as long as it is before she is 12 weeks along.
The comment that no one forgets the truth, but that they just get better at lying.
While not viewed as bad at the time, April both smokes and drinks while pregnant.
Millie's comment that women can get over anything in just a few days.
April stating that she and Frank didn't want out but instead wanted in, meaning to live again.
April thinks she is of "no damn use" to anyone.

VIOLENCE: In their car on the way home, Frank tries to get April to talk, but she tells him to leave her alone. That just creates more tension between them, including Frank yelling at her, causing her to get out of the car. The argument continues, and he then nearly punches her. She recoils from that sight, and he instead hits the top of their car several times.
While mad at April, Frank smashes a chair against a wall, and later swipes things off the top of a dresser.
Spoiler Alert: A woman performs a home abortion on herself. This occurs off-camera, but we see the bloody results, and the woman ends up dying from that.

Reviewed December 1, 2008 / Posted January 2, 2009

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