Revolutionary Road

Directed by Sam Mendes (Jarhead, Road to Perdition, American Beauty), and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road seemed to have all the ingredients for a successful film. I went into this film with high expectations and I'm sorry to say I was very disappointed.

Based on the critically acclaimed novel by Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road is a story that takes place in the 50's about a couple named the Wheelers. Although to most the Wheelers seem to be living "perfect" lives, they are actually looking for a way to get out of the routine that has become their everyday life.

April, (Kate Winslet), is a suburban stay at home mom who has given up her dream of becoming an actress, and Frank, (Leonardo DiCaprio), absolutely hates his job in the city. There is a cool scene towards the beginning of the film when Frank is on his way to work. A bunch of men, all dressed the same and carrying briefcases, all get on the train to the city. Then when they get to the train station there is a slow motion sequence with all the men walking to work and I think this shot really personifies how mundane Frank's life has become.

One day after a couple flashbacks to when April and Frank first met, April gets an idea when she remembers how much Frank loved Paris when he spent time there during the war. "People are alive there...Not like here". Her idea is to move to the family to Paris. She would get a secretarial position at a government agency and Frank will have time to look for his life's passion. When circumstances don't go exactly to plan, Frank and April's relationship begins to unravel.

The obvious truth all along is that Paris will not save them from their misery. They are just no longer happy being together. Kathy Bates is good as usual as Helen Givings, Realtor, and friend of the Wheelers, but maybe the best performance in the film is that of Michael Shannon. Shannon plays Helen's son John, who is living in a mental institution and comes over a few times to meet the Wheelers. I think Roger Ebert described this character best when he said "With cruel words and merciless observations, [John] chops through [the Wheeler's] facade and mocks their delusions. It's a wrecking job."

Although I agree with Ebert in regards to this character, I disagree with his opinion on the overall merit of this film. To me this film was basically a depressing story about a miserable couple. Sam Mendes is a great director and Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet delivered exceptional performances but I don't think that the screenplay gave them much to work with. I'm sure it made a great novel but I don't think that Revolutionary Road was meant to be a film. The aesthetics were great and the film was visually shot well, I just did not gain any attachment to the characters and towards the end of the film I found myself hoping it would end.

Revolutionary Road Trailer

Gran Torino

Clint Eastwood's performance as the quintessential bitter, old, Korean War vet Walt Kowalski, makes Gran Torino one of the best films of the year. Although Walt Kowalski could be considered a bigot, he is so old and set in his ways that it almost becomes acceptable. Some of the things that came out of this man's mouth were absolutely hilarious.

Clint Eastwood's character seemed very real to me because Walt's values and beliefs seemed very similar to many of the senior citizens I have spent time with in my life. I find a lot of humor in some of the things that Walt says despite the fact that it could be offensive to certain people. When you see this old man, you understand that he grew up in a completely different time, with completely different values, and he is not going to change. Even when he begins to make friends with the Asian neighbors, the slurs do not stop. It's almost as if Walt is so old that he has earned his right to say whatever he wants and he had me cracking up in this film.

Walt has just become a widower as the film begins at his wife's funeral. You can tell that Walt isn't very close to his children or his grandchildren. His bitter attitude leads his children to treat Walt with little respect, as though he is someone that they have to put up with. There is a very funny scene that takes place on Walt's birthday, in which his son and daughter in law give him some brochures for retirement homes, and suggest that he sells his house, so on his birthday Walt kicks them out immediately. Walt is in great shape and it really doesn't seem as though he needs anyone to take care of him. It really seems as though his family really doesn't appreciate him and since his wife has died I think Walt is becoming very lonely.

As a Korean War vet Walt is a real old fashioned man's man. He has his lawn, his tools, his guns, his beer, and his 72 Gran Torino. When the Asian teenager who lives next door, Thao, is pressured by his gang member cousin to steal Walt's Gran Torino and fails the plot truly begins. Thao seems to be a good kid who doesn't really want to be a part the gang. When the gang returns to talk to Thao, his struggle lead to the infamous "Get off my lawn". That was a great line in the movie and some say it is the next "Make my day".

In order to apologize, and make it up to Walt for trying to steal his car, Thao offers to work for Walt for a week or so, and help him out around the house. Over the next few days Walt begins to form a bond with Thao and his sister Sue. He begins to become like a mentor to Thao and even helps him get a job in construction. Despite Walt's obvious prejudices he forms a closer relationship with Thao and Sue than he has with his own family. After a few violent incidents involving the gang Walt realizes he needs to take action in order to make sure that Thao and Sue can be safe.

Christopher Carley delivered a great performance as Father Janovich, a priest who promised Walt's wife that he would look after Walt after she died. He was a very important character and I think Carley did a great job. I also really enjoyed the scenes with Walt's Barber played by John Carroll Lynch. I thought Lynch was very funny and he worked really well with Clint Eastwood.

Walt Kowalski is my favorite character of 2008. Of course I have not seen everything, but Walt is badass making Clint Eastwood's performance was marvelous. I think he should definitely be nominated for a best actor academy award. Clint Eastwood is also becoming one of my favorite directors. I didn't get to see Changeling but with Unforgiven, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, and Gran Torino, just to name a few, Clint Eastwood is, in my opinion, one of the best directors of all time.

The only negative thing that I found in this film was the performance by Bee Vang. Bee Vang played Thao and wasn't horrible but there were definitely a couple of scenes that I just didn't find his performance believable. Besides that I absolutely loved Gran Torino. One of the best films of 2008 for sure. So, if it sounds like your choice of brew, check it out.

Gran Torino Trailer

Doubt

After only seeing the trailer I went into this film with "doubt". I didn't want to believe that Father Flynn, (Philip Seymour Hoffman), was guilty of the crime he was being accused of. Throughout this film writer and directer by John Patrick Shanley continuously portrays Father Flynn as "the good guy" and Sister Beauvier, (Meryl Streep), as the villain by simply creating doubt.


Doubt is a story that takes place in 1964 in a Catholic school in the Bronx. Sister Beauvier runs the school with an iron fist, believing in strict rules and discipline. Father Flynn is a priest who out ranks Sister Beauvier in the church, and he believes that the times are changing, and that it is essential for the church/school to change with the times.

For example, there is an interesting scene in which Father Flynn suggests adding a secular song, such as "Frosty the Snowman", to the Christmas play. However, Sister Beauvier objects to this stating that "Frosty the Snowman" promotes witchcraft and suggests that they choose something else. Personally I think that is ridiculous and I think this scene is just one example of why Sister Beauvier is an unlikeable character.

Because Sister Beauvier comes off as a really unlikeable character, it is hard to agree with her when she becomes suspicious of the relationship between Father Flynn and Donald Miller (a young alter boy). Donald Miller is the only black boy in the school and is having trouble being accepted by his peers. Father Flynn is very good to him, he watches out for Donald because racism is very present during this time and Donald is the only black student in the whole school.

One day after Donald returns to class after being called to Father Flynn's office, his teacher Sister James, (Amy Adams), believes he is acting strange and alerts Sister Beauvier. Although it is never stated, it is clear Sister Beauvier believes Father Flynn has committed some form of statutory rape and with no evidence and only her own moral certainty Sister Beauvier attempts to drive Father Flynn out of the school and the church.

Another scene which was very thought provoking was set at two separate dinner tables. It showed the audience a huge difference between the priests and the nuns. The priests sat around their table drinking, smoking, and having laughs, but the nuns dinner table was much more "proper" and stern. Everyone was sitting up straight, drinking their milk, eating their vegetables, and no one could talk without Sister Beauvier's say so. Personally I would prefer to be dining with the priests.

Toward the end of the film Sister Beauvier declares that she has doubts. When she expresses these feeling I think that she is begining to doubt he faith. It was against the rules of her faith to question any higher ranking member of the church and I believe the ultimate outcome really makes her question her beliefs.


Doubt was an excellent film fueled by four exceptional performances. I think that Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman are two of the greatest actors who ever did it, so, not suprisingly, Meryl Streep was terrific as Sister Beauvier and I think she is the best actress of the year out of the films I have seen. Philip Seymour Hoffman was also delivered a great performance as Father Flynn. There were also two great performances by actors that are not quite as well known. Amy Adams was great as Sister James and some say Viola Davis should win a best supporting actress Oscar for her role as Donald's mother, Mrs. Miller. I think she was very good but I just think her role was too small to be considered for that award.


Doubt was a great thought provoking film that had me glued to my seat. I think they did a great job of making the audience not certain of whether he did it or not, right up to the very end. I definitely think it was one of the top films of the year and it will be in my collection one day. So, if it sounds like your choice of brew, check it out.

Doubt Trailer