» Revolutionary Road

» Synopsis

Frank and April, a married couple in the 1950s, have always seen themselves as special, different, ready and willing to live their lives based on higher ideals. So, as soon as they move into their new house on Revolutionary Road, they proudly declare their independence from the suburban inertia that surrounds them and determine never to be trapped by the social confines of their era. Yet for all their charm, beauty and irreverence, the Wheelers find themselves becoming exactly what they didn't expect: a good man with a routine job whose nerve has gone missing; a less-than-happy homemaker starving for fulfillment and passion; an American family with lost dreams, like any other. Driven to change their fates, April hatches an audacious plan to start all over again, to leave the comforts of Connecticut behind for the great unknown of Paris. But when the plan is put in motion, each spouse is pushed to extremes--one to escape whatever the cost, the other to save all that they have, no matter the compromises.

» Information

Director: Sam Mendes Writers: Justin Haythe (screenplay), Richard Yates (novel) Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio ... Frank Wheeler Kate Winslet ... April Wheeler Kathy Bates ... Mrs. Helen Givings Michael Shannon ... John Givings Kathryn Hahn ... Milly Campbell David Harbour ... Shep Campbell Dylan Baker ... Jack Ordway Richard Easton ... Mr. Howard Givings Zoe Kazan ... Maureen Grube Jay O. Sanders ... Bart Pollack Released on: December 15, 2008 (Los Angeles)

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» Trivia

This is the first film collaboration between Kate Winslet and husband Sam Mendes.

Todd Field had planned to follow up In the Bedroom (2001) with this film, but he decided to make Little Children (2006) (also starring Kate Winslet and Ty Simpkins) instead.

Child actors Ryan Simpkins and Ty Simpkins, who play Frank and April's children, are real-life siblings.

First movie Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet have worked on together since Titanic (1997).

It's the second time that Kathy Bates has played opposite both Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, after Titanic (1997).

The rights to adapt the book into a movie were bought in 1967.

It's the first time Kate Winslet plays a character named April, the second time Leonardo DiCaprio plays a character named Frank, and the third time Kathy Bates plays a character named Helen.

Director Sam Mendes opted to watch the monitor from another room while directing the love scene between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

Shot in sequence.

This is the second time Kate Winslet has been in a movie where she makes love in a vintage car and someone's hand hits the window and slides down it in the throes of passion - the first being Titanic (1997).

When purchasing tickets to travel to Paris, the tickets are on a Cunard Line steamer. Cunard Line was merged with White Star Line, which built and owned the Titanic. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio together starred in Titanic (1997).

In the end credits it says "For Mia and Joe". Mia is Kate Winslet's daughter with her first husband Jim Threapleton. Joe is Winslet's and director Sam Mendes' son.

Some scenes in the US and International trailer were not included in the final cut of the movie, such as the scene of Frank's "Nothing's forever, right?" line and the scene with Helen showing the Wheelers their soon-to-be home.

The song that was audible throughout the main trailer was "Wild Is the Wind," written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington and performed by Nina Simone. The song did not appear in the actual movie at least in part because it was not released until 1957 (two years after the main setting year of this film). Johnny Mathis was the first singer to record it (for the movie Wild Is the Wind (1957)) and it was nominated for a Best Song Oscar. Nina Simone's recording was made in 1966.

Although this is not specified in the movie, in Richard Yates' source novel, the play that April acts in (apparently badly) is the 1935 The Petrified Forrest by Robert E. Sherwood. In this play, the main female character, Gabby, most likely the one whom April plays, dreams of leaving what she sees as a humdrum existence in the U.S. to move to France - just as April does.

Matt Damon was considered for Frank Wheeler, but couldn't do it due to scheduling conflicts.