Reviews for Sam Mendes’ adaptation of Richard Yates’ famous novel, “Revolutionary Road” are in and the two trades are mixed. Variety is thumbs up, but the Hollywood Reporters seems very not impressed calling it a “didactic, emotionally overblown critique of the soulless suburbs.”
Variety sounds somewhat tentative in their positive review saying the film is a “very good bigscreen adaptation of an outstanding American novel — faithful, intelligent, admirably acted, superbly shot.” Does “very good” mean adequate? They get a bit more demonstrative in their praise, later in the review.
Variety: It also offers a near-perfect case study of the ways in which film is incapable of capturing certain crucial literary qualities, in this case the very things that elevate the book from being a merely insightful study of a deteriorating marriage into a remarkable one. Sam Mendes’ fourth feature reps what many people look for in the realm of serious, grown-up, thoughtful film fare and, led by the powerful performances of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, teaming for the first time since “Titanic,” Paramount Vantage should be able to push this sad tale to a potent commercial career among discriminating audiences. “Revolutionary Road” is constantly engrossing, as it successfully engages the Wheelers’ yearning to rescue themselves from their decorous, socially acceptable oblivion, just as it clearly defines how the “trap” is stronger than they are.”
THR is so not into this movie that they also call a “pungent critique of the soul-damaging, ball-busting desolation of the American suburbs.”
THR: In the bad-marriage movie sweepstakes, “Revolutionary Road” is no “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” But when sheer nastiness seizes its characters, the vindictiveness and emotional damage are breathtaking. Here’s the real difference: In “Virginia Woolf,” George and Martha are locked into a symbiotic, disturbingly needy relationship that absolutely feed off their acidic battles. But for “Revolutionary Road’s” Frank and April Wheeler, you wonder: Why don’t they just get a divorce?
Interesting to note that Variety says Leonardo DiCaprio evinces more range than Kate Winslet in this one, that’s certainly not what anyone would expect. We must say we’re a little surprised about the THR’s venom for this film, we figured this would skew towards their taste.