"Revolutionary Road" is a complex drama telling the story of a young couple who get sick of the mundane regularity of their lives. They attempt to change their lives for the better, with drastic results. "Revolutionary Road" ia a grown-up film with superb performances from Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. I am not saying that teens won't like it but I do think that it i one for mature-thinking teens. There is a fair amount of swearing (mainly the f-word) in the argumentative scenes and some religious parents might have a problem with the abortion theme. In my opinion, this is a must-see. Stellar performances, a fine script and a gripping story. Not many laughs - it is a depressing film - but I highly recommend it and it presents a powerful, very positive message - follow your dreams.
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Revolutionary Road
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 16. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Intense adult drama shocks but doesn't awe.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16–18
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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What Parents Need to Know
About Revolutionary Road
Parents need to know that this 1950s-set adult drama deals with themes that are probably too intense for younger teens. It explores a marriage on the brink of destruction, which can be painful to watch, and tackles subjects like infidelity, gender roles, abortion, and mental illness. The main characters fight constantly in long, drawn-out scenes and seem unaware of the effect their conflict is having on their children. There's also some nudity (bared breasts) and sex, as well as language, drinking, and era-accurate smoking.
Read our full review by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about how the main characters' relationship/interactions make teens feel. What kind of parents were they? How do you think children are affected by a relationship like April and Frank's? Also, how does the era in which the story is set shape it? What were the 1950s and 1960s like for men and women? Were gender roles limited? Why did April and Frank -- and scores like them -- try to adapt? How did they try to retain their individuality? Were they successful?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
Perfect for mature teens
- I rate this title off for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
GREAT MOVIE IFFY FOR TWEENS
LOVED THIS MOVIE!!!!! the actors are wonderful and you were able to relate and feel for both kate winslet's character as well as Leonardo Dicaprio's character WONDERFUL MOVIE
- I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
Achingly Real and Undeniably Powerful
"Revolutionary Road" is among the finest films I've seen. As great as "American Beauty" is, this one should go down as Mendes' masterpiece. Kate Winslet's April (who poses question of mental ilness) is the best work done by an actress in 2008, or possibly the decade. DiCaprio gets off to a bumpy start as Frank, but soon becomes so real that he dissolves into Frank's guise. Michael Shannon (as a mentally unstable realtor's son) is simply outstanding, unflinching and brilliant. The film tells the story of Frank and April Wheeler, a couple living out the seemingly perfect suburban lifestyle, though underneath the mask of suburbia their world is falling apart. He secretly wants to be a bigshot, to step out of his father's footsteps and his cubicle on the 16th floor of the Knox building; she wants nothing more than to lead a remarkable life, to do somehing extraordinary. When the two realize that their dreams are hopelessly out of reach, they attempt to move to Paris. Though underneath their sunny outlook on the idea, they each know that it could never work. While battling their inner demons, salvation comes from a walk through the woods with their realtor's mentally ill son (a brilliant Michael Shannon) cursed with saying anything that comes to mind. The placing of his character in the film is brilliant, as he outright says what lies inside Frank and April. The fight scenes between the couple are raw and deeply affecting, and the film is beautifully and artfully shot. *SPOILER ALERT* When April finds she is pregnant, she desperately decides to abort the child, feeling it an intrusion on her dream. But when Frank tells her not to she obeys. That is, until a fight when he tells her he "wishes to god" she had done it when she has the chance. Wanting to escape the hopelessness of suburbia and give Frank what he asked for, she does, resulting in her death. Through the story there are heartbreakingly true and insightful lines (courtesy of a brilliant script), most notably when April declares to Frank "Our entire lives are based on this great premise that we're superior to the whole thing, but we're not. We're just like everybody else. Look at us, we've bought into the same ridiculous delusion, this idea that you have to settle down and resign from life the moment that you have children." That's good stuff. This is a film with heavy subject matter, brief nudity, language, and some graphic (though fully-clothed) sex scenes, so not for the youngsters.
- I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
Revolutionary Road shocking and disturbing.
Talented director Sam Mendes gives us the tragedy of suburbian life. The movie stars actor Leonardo Dicaprio and wife of Sam Mendes Kate Winslet. The movie can get carried away by the fighting and depression but it is great acting on their part plus the Oscar-nominated support Michael Shannon is pure. If you want to see a happy reunion with these two than don't see it, but if you want to see two great actors acting great than see it.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 100% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
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