Movie of the Week – Revolutionary Road

This week’s movie: Revolutionary Road (2008).

Frank and April Wheeler have the life they thought they always wanted – a beautiful family, a nice suburban home, and a good job in the city. But each feels lost, the abyss of mundane life has swallowed them up. They desperately need a change. This story takes place in 1950s Connecticut.

Director Sam Mendes made what is probably his best film to date with Revolutionary Road. It is a scouring look at the myth of the 1950s’ ideal American family. Mendes is one of the great directors working today to come out of theatre – his other notably films include: American Beauty, Road to Perdition, and Skyfall. Mendes worked with a brilliant group of technicians on the film. Thomas Newman provides a strong score, while Roger Deakins delivers his patented wonderful photography (both are frequent collaborators of Mendes). Kristi Zea’s production designer is good as well.

The film stars Kate Winslet (who was Mendes’s wife at the time) and Leonardo DiCaprio each giving one of their career best performances. The film marks their on-screen reunion following Titanic. David Harbour, Kathy Bates, Kathryn Hahn, Zoe Kazan, Dylan Baker, and Michael Shannon (who is also electric) feature in support. Revolutionary Road is quietly one of the best acted films of the last decade, and yet only saw one Oscar nomination for acting (for Shannon, who lost to Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, who gave maybe the best performance of the decade; meanwhile Winslet was nominated and won that year for The Reader, but I would argue that she is even better in this).

Revolutionary Road is emotionally draining and deeply affecting, but it is also a must-see for fans of brilliantly directed and acted dramas.

Trailer: Here

Available on: Blu-ray and Video On-Demand

TV Series of the Month – Kings

This month’s television series: Kings (2009).

Based on the biblical story of King David, this series is a modern day (alternate-universe) story focusing on a soldier David Shepherd, who after a heroic act on the battlefield is taken in by King Silas Benjamin as a symbol of hope. However, when it seems like the people love David more, King Silas fueled by petty jealousy lashes out at David. Can David bring peace to the kingdom ruled by the tyrannical king?

Kings was created by writer Michael Green. He also worked on Smallville, Everwood, and Heroes before getting his own series.  After the end of Kings, Green wrote the film Green Lantern and is currently working on the film adaptation of The Flash. The series features strong directing from Francis Lawrence as well.

The series has a fantastic cast. Ian McShane and Christopher Egan star as King Silas and David, respectively. Susanna Thompson, Allison Miller, Eamonn Walker (who is brilliant in the series), Sebastian Stan, Dylan Baker, Wes Studi, Macaulay Culkin, Leslie Bibb, and Brian Cox feature in supporting roles.

Kings succeeds on its wonderful performances (lead by the powerful and dynamic Ian McShane, doing work equally good to his on Deadwood) and great writing (the show has a very interesting religious aspect to it as well – similar to that of ancient Rome). It is very unfortunate that NBC decide to ax the show at the end of its first season leaving it without a proper ending. As is, it still works on a narrative level, as season one is for the most part self-contained, and is well worth checking out (there was not a better new drama in 2009).

Trailer: Here

Available on: DVD and Streaming