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Revolutionary Road
Directed by: Sam Mendes
Starring: Leonardo Di Caprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, David Harbour, Michael Shannon.
Drama
I’ve not read the Yates novel but, sometimes when you see a well crafted film, you know the adapted screenplay is too literary not to be true to its source material. This is one of those plays. The Justin Haythe “Revolutionary Road” script has neither a stage nor screen feel. It envelopes you, carrying you though the story on the undulating carriage of a very good book. Quite a lot has been made of the reunion of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio for this film but, between the screenplay and the mastery of the filmmaker’s craft by Sam Mendes, I think “would be a success with performances by a number of today’s top actors. This is not to take away form the exquisite performances delivered by Winslet and Di Caprio. The quality of the script and the production team is as extraordinary as the performers and the end product Mendes was able to draw from them. With ingredients this good it’s hard to have a bad result. In my mind, this story of a young Connecticut couple trying to survive the culture of the mid-1950s is rich, real and unbelievably sad. It raises a reality that some among us would like to see return; an era some people call “The Golden Age.” But all that glitters is not gold and some people see history though a filter others of us find intolerable. Like the secretarial pool, some things are best left in the past. “Rrevolutionary Rroad” is power cinema in the first degree; a complex story with so many lessons that to not recommend it would be a disservice.
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Nick and NorahÂ’s Infinite Playlist
Directed by: Peter Sollett
Starring: Michael Cera, Kat Ddennings, Alexis Ddziena, Ari Graynor, Aaron Yoo, Jay Bbaruchel
Comedy
Entertaining romantic teen comedy with a killer cast that makes the movie work. Michael Cera, as Nick, does his one-trick-pony act, the awkward teen role to perfection, while Kat Dennings as Norah, is also perfection as the witty, charming, sassy, potential love interest - Cera and Dennings really have believable chemistry together. The real scene stealer, however, is Ari Graynor as Caroline, NorahÂ’s best friend, who is easily inebriated and quite hilarious as she becomes subsequently lost and found over the course of the evening. Great DVD rental for a date night, or just for some romantic comedy entertainment. |
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Bride Wars
Directed By: Gary Winick
Starring : Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Kristen Johnston, Bryan Greenberg
Comedy Drama
The story revolves around two best friends from childhood who have a romantic notion of getting married in The Plaza and have Marion St. Claire as their wedding coordinator. So when they both are engaged they book their June Weddings until they find out an error was made in the booking. These two best friends quickly become rivals when they realize to make their dreams of wedding at The Plaza come true they must both wed on the same day. For most of the movie you watch two supposedly smart young women act very childish and each prank escalates into a downward spiral of mean spiritedness. Kate Hudson plays the assertive lawyer negotiator Liv and Anne Hathaway plays the elementary school teacher, Emma, who people tend to walk over. Candice Bergen as Marion St. Claire serves as a Martha Stewart type and also serves as narrator of the story. It is predictable and has little substance. I watched this with my best friend and we did laugh a lot after having a stressful day. ItÂ’s one of those movies just to sit back, enjoy and realize no thinking will be required. It does point out that we must hold on to our dear friends as they are priceless.
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