Don't bother

Rating: 3/10 (16 September 2010)

Sorry, I don't get it. This is not a great movie. It is not even a good movie. Sure it's well acted; both Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio give well crafted performances. And it's shot well; there are some great visual moments in the movie. But as a piece of narrative it's dull and pointless. Who cares? The Wheelers are merely an ordinary, if attractive, dysfunctional couple. She's selfish and unfulfilled, he's less selfish and unfulfilled. They love. They fight. So what! But then, an interesting character, John Givings, the supposedly retarded son of the neighbours appears - ah! this could lead us somewhere - but sadly not. And, the music by Thomas Newman (whose work I normally admire) was so simple and repetitive as to become irritating.