A Modern Streetcar Named Desire

Rating: 9/10 (27 December 2008)

Revolutionary Road is about as good as family drama gets. Leonard DiCaprio and Kate Winslet have wonderful chemistry, although in this case their chemistry is the formula to nitro glycerin. Seven Pounds attempted to bring us to tears with multiple manipulative tricks, but Revolutionary Road actually does it with a simple story, well acted, about a troubled marriage. The theme is the paths we take, why we choose them, and the chances we are given, whether we recognize them or not. This is a pure emotional roller coaster ride, as classic as A Streetcar Named Desire or Goodbye Columbus. Too bad it's not released yet, because DiCaprio certainly would be among Sean Penn and Frank Langella in the running for Best Actor Oscar, and Winslet would have taken Best Actress. The part of the lunatic neighbor was a bit overacted, which is the one and only reason I knocked a point off the perfect ten this movie otherwise deserves.