Saturday 21 February 2009

Revolutionary Road

A dysfunctional film about dysfunctional people, set in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Those into the notion of the "post-modern" might well consider the story of the film an expression of everything that it means to be "post-modern" - meaninglessness writ large. Even the section of dialogue where Leonardo and Kate talked about "truth" in the earlier days of their relationship appeared utterly false.

A real effort had been made to achieve authenticity in dress, music, furnishings .... and continuous smoking ..... and, in some ways, this is the most successful aspect of the whole film.

Once again, a rated 15 film was really, in my view, a rated 18. There is a fair amount of swearing, and some of this is really gratuitous. The film also portrays, though discreetly, a back street abortion that results in Kate's death. [One of the few perceptive sections of dialogue occurs when Leonardo and Kate are arguing about the future of their unborn child, and he asserts that Kate would consider one of their earlier children "a mistake".]

If you are looking for a feel good movie, give this one a miss.

No comments: