Nick and Nora on Revolutionary Road
This week I viewed two films that couldn’t be anymore different, but have so many similarities - Revolutionary Road and Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist.
First up is Revolutionary Road, an in-depth analysis into not only the characters' mature relationship, but your own. Are you sure you want to watch this one with your wife/husband?
Although I start off on a very suspicious note, I do so with full accolade to Sam Mendes, his real-life-wife, Kate Winslet, and her on-screen husband, Leonardo DiCaprio.
The glory of this film is not the storyline. That's been done before. The true glory of this film is in Winslet’s portrayal of April, a housewife and mother of two who is fighting against the 1950’s mould of the white picket fence. Her husband, Frank, is an office man on the brink of snapping at work, restless with his obligations to be what others expect. Things come to a head when they decide to move to Paris to escape - until April becomes pregnant. Frank is lured to stay by a promotion, and they begin to despise each other.
Now I’m no psychiatrist, but I know this film will strike close to the bone of most relationships. You empathise with both April and Frank, and as they lash out, the audience feels the pain of their fights. In the middle of this is Michael Shannon, a neighbour’s son, who is being treated in a psychiatric ward. He manages to shine in his five minutes on screen by deconstructing the situation perfectly. In a way, he’s the subconscious in us all - we deconstruct situations and understand them but often decline to accept things and lie to ourselves.
The depth in this film is so vast, the acting so intense, and the outcome so soul destroying, I would like to think you could watch this and take something away as constructive criticism for your own relationship without going through this yourself. Yes, it's that good!
Then we move onto its equal opposite, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. “The missed pleasure of growing up in Manhattan,” I say.
Nick (Cera) speaks volumes about the film when he says to Norah (Dennings), the young female lead, “You’re my musical soulmate”. It’s an endearing, light-hearted romantic teen. The dialogue isn’t as sharp or as brash as other recent quirky teenage comedies, but then again, it’s not after that audience. It’s as much about the music scene of Manhattan and the freedom the young generation enjoys as it is about comedy or romance.
The story is about two high school kids who fatefully meet on a night out in Manhattan and decide to hunt down an underground indie band. Along their journey they deal with typical teenage challenges while moving from places like Rubuland in Brooklyn to Arlene’s Grocery on the Lower East side.
As opposed to Revolutionary Road, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist is by the youth for the youth - or for those who missed being a youth in Manhattan. I’m the latter, and after watching this I miss it even more!
Although I start off on a very suspicious note, I do so with full accolade to Sam Mendes, his real-life-wife, Kate Winslet, and her on-screen husband, Leonardo DiCaprio.
The glory of this film is not the storyline. That's been done before. The true glory of this film is in Winslet’s portrayal of April, a housewife and mother of two who is fighting against the 1950’s mould of the white picket fence. Her husband, Frank, is an office man on the brink of snapping at work, restless with his obligations to be what others expect. Things come to a head when they decide to move to Paris to escape - until April becomes pregnant. Frank is lured to stay by a promotion, and they begin to despise each other.
Now I’m no psychiatrist, but I know this film will strike close to the bone of most relationships. You empathise with both April and Frank, and as they lash out, the audience feels the pain of their fights. In the middle of this is Michael Shannon, a neighbour’s son, who is being treated in a psychiatric ward. He manages to shine in his five minutes on screen by deconstructing the situation perfectly. In a way, he’s the subconscious in us all - we deconstruct situations and understand them but often decline to accept things and lie to ourselves.
The depth in this film is so vast, the acting so intense, and the outcome so soul destroying, I would like to think you could watch this and take something away as constructive criticism for your own relationship without going through this yourself. Yes, it's that good!
Then we move onto its equal opposite, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. “The missed pleasure of growing up in Manhattan,” I say.
Nick (Cera) speaks volumes about the film when he says to Norah (Dennings), the young female lead, “You’re my musical soulmate”. It’s an endearing, light-hearted romantic teen. The dialogue isn’t as sharp or as brash as other recent quirky teenage comedies, but then again, it’s not after that audience. It’s as much about the music scene of Manhattan and the freedom the young generation enjoys as it is about comedy or romance.
The story is about two high school kids who fatefully meet on a night out in Manhattan and decide to hunt down an underground indie band. Along their journey they deal with typical teenage challenges while moving from places like Rubuland in Brooklyn to Arlene’s Grocery on the Lower East side.
As opposed to Revolutionary Road, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist is by the youth for the youth - or for those who missed being a youth in Manhattan. I’m the latter, and after watching this I miss it even more!
Here Is The Writer : Omer Bhatti
Omer Bhatti, Head Sales Trader of WorldSpreads and markets commentator during the week, is always happy to go to a cushy cinema and devour films on the weekend. No film is ruled out, be it French film noir, Hollywood CGI action, or Japanese Manga. Look to Omer for input on where to go and what to see, whether it’s for a first date, family outing, Sunday recovery session, or guy's - or girl's - night out. (Just don't make him watch Sex & the City again.)
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