Divaliciously & Deliciously Devilish

Talkin' 'Bout A Revolution

Over a decade has passed since that film about a sinking boat swept the world OVER and OVER and OVER (and over and over again...and...you get the picture).

Since those most dizzying times, the starlets who graced that film have gone on to acheive critical acclaim on their ascent to the A-List (BILLY ZANE I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU!!). Amazingly, Revolutionary Road is the first time 'Our Kate(TM)' and Leonardo Di Caprio have shared a scene together since 1997.

Revolutionary Road, adapted from the Richard Yates novel of the same name, tells the tale of Frank and April Wheeler (DiCaprio and Winslet) and their entrapment in suburban dystopia in post-war America. Frozen socially (and spiritually!), the couple set up to move to Paris with their two children. However, unplanned events pullulate awkwardly creating the rumblings which precede an EMOTIONAL AVALANCHE.

Without giving too much away, the film succeeds as a good adaptation of a classic work. Admittedly the screenplay lacks the boldness or depth of characterization developed in the novel but it still delivers a gut punch mainly due to the strong performances of the ensemble cast. Kate Winslet is terrific as April Wheeler. Open and stubborn, loving yet aggressive. Ultimately its the fragility of the woman she is portraying that gives the performance that extra dimension. It was a toss up as to which performance she would be nominated for come Oscar night. I actually prefer this performance to The Reader (I guess Ricky Gervais was depressingly right. NAZIS! WINSLET! HOLOCAUST! WEINSTEIN! OSCAR! OSCAR! OSCAR!).
Thankfully, Michael Shannon's scene stealing performance was recognised in the supporting actor category.

Finally I must insessantly clamor for recognition of the work done by Roger Deakins, cinematographer of classics such as No Country For Old Men, Fargo and Shawshank Redemption. His work is what elevates the film into much more than the sum of its individual performances.

Grade: B (7/10)

Revolutionary Road (Dir. Sam Mendes) is released on Friday 30th January.

DGA Ruminations

The DGA (Director's Guild of America) announce the winner of their coveted award on Saturday 31st January at the Hyatt Regency Central Plaza Hotel (what a name!) in Los Angeles.

The DGA has a strong track record of predicting the winner of the Best Picture Oscar, 15 of the last 20 winners matching with the Golden Bald One.

This years nominees are:

DANNY BOYLE - Slumdog Millionaire
DAVID FINCHER - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
RON HOWARD - Frost/Nixon
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN - The Dark Knight
GUS VAN SANT - Milk

Should Win - Gus Van Sant (Milk)
Classy biopic, great performances. All brought together under the steady guidance
of a director whose great body of work has been left in the shade too often by
award bodies.

Will Win - Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
The trumpets and general fanfare started (what is beginning to feel like..)
months and months ago. Where were the academy when Trainspotting crept out
of the murky underground?

Well we'll see...

It isn't about escaping, its about running away from yourself...