Hi Friends-
In case you're not familiar with myself or great friend Sam Gooley, we've hosted our own awards show since 1999 honoring the films we believe should have won Best Picture.
Every year on Oscar night, we reveal the winners.
Since Shakespeare in Love somehow beat Saving Private Ryan for Best Picture of 1998, we decided something had to change. As we reveal previous winners over the weeks leading up to Oscar night, you can check out our entire list of nominess for the 2009 Sullivan-Gooley Awards for all films released in the 2008 calendar year.
All nominees are alphabetical.
Best Picture
The Dark Knight
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
The Wrestler
Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road
Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn -Milk
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Actress
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Lina Leandersson - Let the Right One In
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslett - Revolutionary Road
Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robery Downy Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
Michael Sheen - Frost/Nixon
Supporting Actress
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Director
Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Christopher Nolen - The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant - Milk
Original Screenplay
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Milk
Tropic Thunder
Wall-E
Adapted Screenplay
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
Art Direction
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Slumdog Millionaire
Revolutionary Road
Cinematography
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
Costume Design
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Slumdog Millionaire
Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Tropic Thunder
Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
Song
Down to Earth - Wall-E
The Wrestler - The Wrestler
Sound
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
Sound Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Nomination Leaders:
13 - The Dark Knight
11 - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
10 - Slumdog Millionaire
8 - Revolutionary Road
6 - Frost/Nixon
6 - Milk
6 - Doubt
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Top 10 Films of 2008
Hollywood has struggled over the past couple years. Although we saw a couple modern classics last year with the apocalyptic There Will be Blood and No Country for Old Men, 2007 and 2008 haven't brought the depth of quality we saw at the start of the new millennium.
With that said, 2oo8 wasn't a total disappointment. We've seen a revolution in the adaptation of comic books to film, Bollywood-turned-Hollywood, Pixar-turned-political, a Gay Epic, and one of the highest-performing documenaries ever.
Honorable Mentions:
Milk. Sean Penn rocks out with his ... nevermind. Whether we're desensitized to watching men have sex on screen, more accepting of the gay community, or simply enthralled with the true story of how a homosexual was elected to public office, Milk is Gus Van Sant's career-defining directorial achievement and the performance of Penn's life.
Iron Man. I've figured out how Robert Downy Jr. can say out of prison: keep him working. On top of his hilarious, Oscar-nominated performance in Tropic Thunder, and his work with Jamie Foxx in the upcoming release of The Soloist, Downy brings his wild-side personality to embody playboy billionaire Tony Stark in Iron Man. More to be said of comic-book movies later...
Fireproof. This may be the spark that launches Christian films into the limelight. Just a few short months ago, Fireproof - the story of a husband's commitment to wife, in good times or bad - etched its name as one of the top 10 highest grossing films of the week. With marriage now seen as a glorified relationship and not a commitment; with a divorce rate that's never been higher; Fireproof is a movie to all who've made a commitment to their spouse that anything is possible through Christ.
10. Gran Torino
"I got the best woman who was ever on this planet to marry me, and that was the best thing that ever happened to me. But you, you're letting Click-Clack, Ding-Dong, and Charlie Chan walk out with Miss Yum-Yum!"
No matter how old he gets, Clint Eastwood will always be a badass. Even if he plays an ignorant Korea veteran getting over the loss of his wife, he'll never back down from a fight.
Gran Torino is a western set in working class Detroit. It's a territorial struggle filled with the consequences of choosing your associations, and the how you choose to stand up for your allies. It's also touching, in an Eastwood sort of way. Despite his overarching racism, Walt will knows when to stand up for what's best, and the sacrifice it takes to preserve it.
9. Man on Wire
I'm afraid of heights. Just seeing images of the World Trade Center's construction had me on the edge of my seat; let alone watching Philippe Petit lie down on a wire 1,350 feet above death.
Just as intriguing is the formulation of the "artistic crime of the century." He knows he'll be caught; he knows what's at stake; but no one can stop a man determined to fulfil his dream.
8. Tropic Thunder
"You know Tom Hanks, 'Forrest Gump.' Slow, yes. Retarded, maybe. Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off Nixon and won a ping-pong competition. That ain't retarded."
I must have quoted Robert Downy Jr. a thousand times. He and Tom Cruise. I still can't believe that was Tom Cruise. Scientologist, couch-jumping, crazy-man Tom Cruise. Asking an agent to leave his client for dead in the woods of Vietnam in exchange for a G-5 and lots and lots of money. Downy gives the performance, but Cruise steals the show. Why? Because he's a big-d!ck playa.
By far the funniest film of 2008, Tropic Thunder will give movie fans a better ab workout than a late-night infomercial. My recommendation: crack open a Booty Sweat, unwrap a Bust-a-Nut, and enjoy 2 hours of non-stop laughs.
7. Wall-E
Let me get this straight; man is lazy. If we don't clean up our act, all plants will die and we are damned to a life of space travel on a never-ending cruise.
I think William Shatner just wet himself.
Diet coke in our right hand, remote control in our right, flat-screen television in front of our propped-up feet; you don't need a futuristic CGI robot movie to let us know how mankind is now - not in the future.
Not a better time to include serious political undertones in a Disney/Pixar movie than an election year. In fact, now that I've addressed the major global warming issues that permeate Wall-E, I want to say that these issues are the only things keeping Disney/Pixar from celebrating it's best release ever.
Imagine this classic love story told without an agenda. Imagine a movie that depicted God as the catalyst to saving our world; not whether or not we can get a plant to germinate.
Or maybe that's the point. Maybe - since this is the first Disney film never to mention any of God's laws of prosperity - mankind has passed the point of being able to save its own planet.
Imagine the "theory" of evolution being taught as law. Imagine our children watching movies based on a godless society. Imagine how that'll affect their foundational behavior.
But like I said: we don't need a futuristic CGI robot movie to let us know how mankind is now - not in the future.
Wall-E is Pixar's best film, minus the issues that ruined it for me.
6. Frost/Nixon
Like we've never seen the liberal media attack a conservative president before...
The guy wasn't even President anymore - why the attack?
Here's why: a man must stand up and take responsibility for the mistakes he's made over the course of his life, including a Presidential term. You must overcome the shortcomings, not shrink from them.
Frost/Nixon exemplifies that very principle.
Headlined by powerhouse performances by Oscar-nominated Frank Langella and should-be-nominated Michael Sheen, Frost/Nixon demands from its actors what a heavyweight bout demands from its boxers. The film is set up exactly like that - a back-and-forth showdown between master rhetorists - and doesn't disappoint. If only Michael Mann could have directed it, I would have gone nuts.
5. The Wrestler
Talk about a tragic hero; Mickey Rourke is just that. And then there's the character he plays... Instead of a washed-up 80's movie star, he's a washed-up 80's wrestler. And boy, does he play the part.
Remember Napoleon Dynamite's uncle? The 40 year old ex-high school football star who can't escape the regret of not winning the state title? That's The Wrestler.
If Mickey Rourke and director Darren Aronofsky didn't pave the way in making this film, I guarantee The Wrestler would end up like the story of Napoleon Dynamite's uncle - a little funny, but totally stupid. Instead, Rourke gives the performance of a lifetime; and by the end of the film, the audience will have taken a journey filled with cheers, disappointments, and tragedy. Surely not to be missed, The Wrestler is one of the best pictures of the year.
4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
It's hard enough to tell the story of a man's life in less than 3 hours, especially a life as curious as Benjamin Button's.
An epic Christmas-time fantasy, this parable on love and loss reminds us that our lives are defined by the memories we create, the dreams we pursue, and the ones we choose to love along the way.
All true Christmas movies should motivate their audience to go out with a purpose and make the most of their lives. Benjamin Button's biography reminded me of how my time on earth is but a blip on the radar of eternity, and that each moment should be savored and never thrown to waste.
Also, it'll keep you wondering how they made Brad Pitt look like a 3'6" 80 year old child...
3. Revolutionary Road
There couldn't be a more important movie released this year. I just pray that enough people see it, and those people interpret the story correctly.
Although it takes place in 1950s Suburbia, Revolutionary Road is a perfect reflection of today's society, and the impact a failed dream can have on a marriage. DiCaprio and Winslett shine as a tarnished couple growing apart as each choose separate detours from their destiny. Kate and Leo are to marriage what Mickey Rourke is to wrestling. Each excel when giving it all they got and staying focused on living an extraordinary life. However, once they make the decision to go forward, simple temptations and distractions snowball into an avalanche of tragic mistakes.
This story should be the catalyst for every viewer to take a stand against compromise and mediocrity. "A man only gets a couple chances in life; if he doesn't grab them by the balls, before long he's sitting around wondering how he got to be second rate." If you don't believe me, take a look around your office or cube and take inventory of the amount of dreamers around you. Then read the mission statement at http://www.golivethedream.com/ and see if you don't get pissed off in a good way.
The biggest critique I've heard of this film was that nothing actually happens; that it's a constant downward spiral that'll leave audiences disappointed and heartbroken.
My message to all those critics: you are just like the Wheelers.
2. The Dark Knight
You can kiss corny comic movies goodbye in The Godfather Part II, Batman style.
Simple, yet deep. Entertaining, yet haunting. Observant, yet tragic. The Dark Knight packs the full punch.
It's simple in that it polarizes everything.
It's Good vs. Evil. The Good is tarnished and the Evil is pure. There is no humanity in Heath Ledger's Joker, yet there is some lacking in Bruce Wayne.
It's one side or the other. In one boat: criminals; the other boat: innocent civilians. In one location: your city's last hope; the other location: the love of your life. On one side of the coin: life; the other side of the coin: death. Only one thing's for certain: it's your choice.
The Joker's ambition isn't based on his own morals; instead it's the breaking point of an individual's sanity. His simple 50-50 tests have extraordinary consequences, which turns up the pressure on making the "right" decision. The real "joke" is that there is no right decision - only to not play the game.
I could go on for hours comparing Ledger's performance to the greatest of screen history, commending Christopher Nolan's vision of injecting realism into comic books adaptations, and figuring out the facial similarities between Katie Holmes and Maggie Gyllenhaal (it's the cheek bones); but I'll stop here by saying that this is the best blockbuster popcorn flick I have ever seen.
1. Slumdog Millionaire
Knowledge: The ability to regurgitate facts. (This is how most of us were able to pass multiple choice tests in college without ever learning anything.)
Intelligence: The ability to interpret facts for an intended purpose. (It's not knowing; it's understanding.)
Wisdom: The application of intelligence. (Lessons learned only from living life; the discovery of knowledge though experience.)
How has God proven his existance in your life? Chance occurances? Gut feelings? Miracles?
Although no life is pre-determined, each of us have a destiny. What's cool is this: God gave us the power to choose how we achieve it. Our eternity will be measured by the decisions we make during this short stint on Earth; and it's when you act on total faith and dedication does your destiny reveal itself.
In the case of Jamal Malik, he's on a journey to find her.
Slumdog Millionaire questions the acquisition of knowledge; emphasizes the power of love; and lets us know that God can put it all into action.
Jamal can only answer the questions he's given based on the wisdom he brings to the table. It just so happens that his life's experiences are in direct link to the questions he's given on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Why?
Because that's the only way he can find her. He didn't ask to be on the show; he had to be. He didn't ask to win all that money; he had to answer the questions so that the nation would tune in and she could watch. He didn't ask to stay in touch with Salim; he had to find him to get his phone number.
He didn't have to chase Latika; but he chose to fulfill his destiny.
With that said, 2oo8 wasn't a total disappointment. We've seen a revolution in the adaptation of comic books to film, Bollywood-turned-Hollywood, Pixar-turned-political, a Gay Epic, and one of the highest-performing documenaries ever.
Honorable Mentions:
Milk. Sean Penn rocks out with his ... nevermind. Whether we're desensitized to watching men have sex on screen, more accepting of the gay community, or simply enthralled with the true story of how a homosexual was elected to public office, Milk is Gus Van Sant's career-defining directorial achievement and the performance of Penn's life.
Iron Man. I've figured out how Robert Downy Jr. can say out of prison: keep him working. On top of his hilarious, Oscar-nominated performance in Tropic Thunder, and his work with Jamie Foxx in the upcoming release of The Soloist, Downy brings his wild-side personality to embody playboy billionaire Tony Stark in Iron Man. More to be said of comic-book movies later...
Fireproof. This may be the spark that launches Christian films into the limelight. Just a few short months ago, Fireproof - the story of a husband's commitment to wife, in good times or bad - etched its name as one of the top 10 highest grossing films of the week. With marriage now seen as a glorified relationship and not a commitment; with a divorce rate that's never been higher; Fireproof is a movie to all who've made a commitment to their spouse that anything is possible through Christ.
10. Gran Torino
"I got the best woman who was ever on this planet to marry me, and that was the best thing that ever happened to me. But you, you're letting Click-Clack, Ding-Dong, and Charlie Chan walk out with Miss Yum-Yum!"
No matter how old he gets, Clint Eastwood will always be a badass. Even if he plays an ignorant Korea veteran getting over the loss of his wife, he'll never back down from a fight.
Gran Torino is a western set in working class Detroit. It's a territorial struggle filled with the consequences of choosing your associations, and the how you choose to stand up for your allies. It's also touching, in an Eastwood sort of way. Despite his overarching racism, Walt will knows when to stand up for what's best, and the sacrifice it takes to preserve it.
9. Man on Wire
I'm afraid of heights. Just seeing images of the World Trade Center's construction had me on the edge of my seat; let alone watching Philippe Petit lie down on a wire 1,350 feet above death.
Just as intriguing is the formulation of the "artistic crime of the century." He knows he'll be caught; he knows what's at stake; but no one can stop a man determined to fulfil his dream.
8. Tropic Thunder
"You know Tom Hanks, 'Forrest Gump.' Slow, yes. Retarded, maybe. Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off Nixon and won a ping-pong competition. That ain't retarded."
I must have quoted Robert Downy Jr. a thousand times. He and Tom Cruise. I still can't believe that was Tom Cruise. Scientologist, couch-jumping, crazy-man Tom Cruise. Asking an agent to leave his client for dead in the woods of Vietnam in exchange for a G-5 and lots and lots of money. Downy gives the performance, but Cruise steals the show. Why? Because he's a big-d!ck playa.
By far the funniest film of 2008, Tropic Thunder will give movie fans a better ab workout than a late-night infomercial. My recommendation: crack open a Booty Sweat, unwrap a Bust-a-Nut, and enjoy 2 hours of non-stop laughs.
7. Wall-E
Let me get this straight; man is lazy. If we don't clean up our act, all plants will die and we are damned to a life of space travel on a never-ending cruise.
I think William Shatner just wet himself.
Diet coke in our right hand, remote control in our right, flat-screen television in front of our propped-up feet; you don't need a futuristic CGI robot movie to let us know how mankind is now - not in the future.
Not a better time to include serious political undertones in a Disney/Pixar movie than an election year. In fact, now that I've addressed the major global warming issues that permeate Wall-E, I want to say that these issues are the only things keeping Disney/Pixar from celebrating it's best release ever.
Imagine this classic love story told without an agenda. Imagine a movie that depicted God as the catalyst to saving our world; not whether or not we can get a plant to germinate.
Or maybe that's the point. Maybe - since this is the first Disney film never to mention any of God's laws of prosperity - mankind has passed the point of being able to save its own planet.
Imagine the "theory" of evolution being taught as law. Imagine our children watching movies based on a godless society. Imagine how that'll affect their foundational behavior.
But like I said: we don't need a futuristic CGI robot movie to let us know how mankind is now - not in the future.
Wall-E is Pixar's best film, minus the issues that ruined it for me.
6. Frost/Nixon
Like we've never seen the liberal media attack a conservative president before...
The guy wasn't even President anymore - why the attack?
Here's why: a man must stand up and take responsibility for the mistakes he's made over the course of his life, including a Presidential term. You must overcome the shortcomings, not shrink from them.
Frost/Nixon exemplifies that very principle.
Headlined by powerhouse performances by Oscar-nominated Frank Langella and should-be-nominated Michael Sheen, Frost/Nixon demands from its actors what a heavyweight bout demands from its boxers. The film is set up exactly like that - a back-and-forth showdown between master rhetorists - and doesn't disappoint. If only Michael Mann could have directed it, I would have gone nuts.
5. The Wrestler
Talk about a tragic hero; Mickey Rourke is just that. And then there's the character he plays... Instead of a washed-up 80's movie star, he's a washed-up 80's wrestler. And boy, does he play the part.
Remember Napoleon Dynamite's uncle? The 40 year old ex-high school football star who can't escape the regret of not winning the state title? That's The Wrestler.
If Mickey Rourke and director Darren Aronofsky didn't pave the way in making this film, I guarantee The Wrestler would end up like the story of Napoleon Dynamite's uncle - a little funny, but totally stupid. Instead, Rourke gives the performance of a lifetime; and by the end of the film, the audience will have taken a journey filled with cheers, disappointments, and tragedy. Surely not to be missed, The Wrestler is one of the best pictures of the year.
4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
It's hard enough to tell the story of a man's life in less than 3 hours, especially a life as curious as Benjamin Button's.
An epic Christmas-time fantasy, this parable on love and loss reminds us that our lives are defined by the memories we create, the dreams we pursue, and the ones we choose to love along the way.
All true Christmas movies should motivate their audience to go out with a purpose and make the most of their lives. Benjamin Button's biography reminded me of how my time on earth is but a blip on the radar of eternity, and that each moment should be savored and never thrown to waste.
Also, it'll keep you wondering how they made Brad Pitt look like a 3'6" 80 year old child...
3. Revolutionary Road
There couldn't be a more important movie released this year. I just pray that enough people see it, and those people interpret the story correctly.
Although it takes place in 1950s Suburbia, Revolutionary Road is a perfect reflection of today's society, and the impact a failed dream can have on a marriage. DiCaprio and Winslett shine as a tarnished couple growing apart as each choose separate detours from their destiny. Kate and Leo are to marriage what Mickey Rourke is to wrestling. Each excel when giving it all they got and staying focused on living an extraordinary life. However, once they make the decision to go forward, simple temptations and distractions snowball into an avalanche of tragic mistakes.
This story should be the catalyst for every viewer to take a stand against compromise and mediocrity. "A man only gets a couple chances in life; if he doesn't grab them by the balls, before long he's sitting around wondering how he got to be second rate." If you don't believe me, take a look around your office or cube and take inventory of the amount of dreamers around you. Then read the mission statement at http://www.golivethedream.com/ and see if you don't get pissed off in a good way.
The biggest critique I've heard of this film was that nothing actually happens; that it's a constant downward spiral that'll leave audiences disappointed and heartbroken.
My message to all those critics: you are just like the Wheelers.
2. The Dark Knight
You can kiss corny comic movies goodbye in The Godfather Part II, Batman style.
Simple, yet deep. Entertaining, yet haunting. Observant, yet tragic. The Dark Knight packs the full punch.
It's simple in that it polarizes everything.
It's Good vs. Evil. The Good is tarnished and the Evil is pure. There is no humanity in Heath Ledger's Joker, yet there is some lacking in Bruce Wayne.
It's one side or the other. In one boat: criminals; the other boat: innocent civilians. In one location: your city's last hope; the other location: the love of your life. On one side of the coin: life; the other side of the coin: death. Only one thing's for certain: it's your choice.
The Joker's ambition isn't based on his own morals; instead it's the breaking point of an individual's sanity. His simple 50-50 tests have extraordinary consequences, which turns up the pressure on making the "right" decision. The real "joke" is that there is no right decision - only to not play the game.
I could go on for hours comparing Ledger's performance to the greatest of screen history, commending Christopher Nolan's vision of injecting realism into comic books adaptations, and figuring out the facial similarities between Katie Holmes and Maggie Gyllenhaal (it's the cheek bones); but I'll stop here by saying that this is the best blockbuster popcorn flick I have ever seen.
1. Slumdog Millionaire
Knowledge: The ability to regurgitate facts. (This is how most of us were able to pass multiple choice tests in college without ever learning anything.)
Intelligence: The ability to interpret facts for an intended purpose. (It's not knowing; it's understanding.)
Wisdom: The application of intelligence. (Lessons learned only from living life; the discovery of knowledge though experience.)
How has God proven his existance in your life? Chance occurances? Gut feelings? Miracles?
Although no life is pre-determined, each of us have a destiny. What's cool is this: God gave us the power to choose how we achieve it. Our eternity will be measured by the decisions we make during this short stint on Earth; and it's when you act on total faith and dedication does your destiny reveal itself.
In the case of Jamal Malik, he's on a journey to find her.
Slumdog Millionaire questions the acquisition of knowledge; emphasizes the power of love; and lets us know that God can put it all into action.
Jamal can only answer the questions he's given based on the wisdom he brings to the table. It just so happens that his life's experiences are in direct link to the questions he's given on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Why?
Because that's the only way he can find her. He didn't ask to be on the show; he had to be. He didn't ask to win all that money; he had to answer the questions so that the nation would tune in and she could watch. He didn't ask to stay in touch with Salim; he had to find him to get his phone number.
He didn't have to chase Latika; but he chose to fulfill his destiny.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A Revolutionary Reminder
"A man only gets a couple chances in life. If he doesn't grab them by the balls, before long he's sitting around wondering how he got to be second rate."
Such are the words so confidently delivered to Frank Wheeler, who has just been offered The Big Promotion over a martini lunch with his senior vice president. Frank already knows a man gets a couple opportunities to define his life, which is why he is leaving.
Leaving his job; leaving his cozy house on Revolutionary Road; leaving the "hopeless emptiness" of 1950's suburban life.
Now it is 2009. Today we inaugurate a president considered by many the catalyst of change, hope, and inspiration to a nation of millions buried behind under their fear of what others might think.
Why have so many people turned to this man for change? The answer is simple. It's because we have not taken ownership of our life.
Instead of chasing our dream, lassoing the moon, and fulfilling the promises we made to our wives, we settle on a life that pays the bills, affords the children, and blends in with the rest of the neighborhood.
We play it safe. We turn to others to put the food on the table. We change the definition of "Revolutionary" from "an American Patriot" to "a suburban street sign."
We lose our dream.
What better a time to adapt Richard Yates' 1961 novel, Revolutionary Road. As the novel covers the emergence of Corporate America through 1950's consumerism, you don't have to stretch far to say that the Wheelers face a lot of the same problems Corporate Americans face in the 21st century.
As our country fades from the Land of Opportunity to the Land of Guarantee, its citizens exchange a life of greatness for a life of convenience. After years of convenience, several of us will soon realize that we haven't lived the life God called us to lead. We have instead been unable to perform at a higher standard; love with more passion; and live a life at a higher level. We are numb; we are everyone in Frank Wheeler's life.
As Frank tries to inject genuine feeling into his every day life, he opens up to a vulnerable secretary over lunch. "Growing up, I hated everything my father did with his life - ignoring my mom, working overtime at Knox, and not paying me two bits of attention. Today I'm 30 years old and am also a Knox man. After everything I hated, I end up following in his footsteps."
Frank's life is about to change. An opportunity has entered his life. A dream has been awoken. Thanks to the encouragement of his beautiful wife April, Frank decides to leave it all behind and start anew with his family in Paris. Traveler's cheques ready; trip booked; co-workers and neighbors alerted; in 3 months, the Wheelers start a new life.
Such are the words so confidently delivered to Frank Wheeler, who has just been offered The Big Promotion over a martini lunch with his senior vice president. Frank already knows a man gets a couple opportunities to define his life, which is why he is leaving.
Leaving his job; leaving his cozy house on Revolutionary Road; leaving the "hopeless emptiness" of 1950's suburban life.
Now it is 2009. Today we inaugurate a president considered by many the catalyst of change, hope, and inspiration to a nation of millions buried behind under their fear of what others might think.
Why have so many people turned to this man for change? The answer is simple. It's because we have not taken ownership of our life.
Instead of chasing our dream, lassoing the moon, and fulfilling the promises we made to our wives, we settle on a life that pays the bills, affords the children, and blends in with the rest of the neighborhood.
We play it safe. We turn to others to put the food on the table. We change the definition of "Revolutionary" from "an American Patriot" to "a suburban street sign."
We lose our dream.
What better a time to adapt Richard Yates' 1961 novel, Revolutionary Road. As the novel covers the emergence of Corporate America through 1950's consumerism, you don't have to stretch far to say that the Wheelers face a lot of the same problems Corporate Americans face in the 21st century.
As our country fades from the Land of Opportunity to the Land of Guarantee, its citizens exchange a life of greatness for a life of convenience. After years of convenience, several of us will soon realize that we haven't lived the life God called us to lead. We have instead been unable to perform at a higher standard; love with more passion; and live a life at a higher level. We are numb; we are everyone in Frank Wheeler's life.
As Frank tries to inject genuine feeling into his every day life, he opens up to a vulnerable secretary over lunch. "Growing up, I hated everything my father did with his life - ignoring my mom, working overtime at Knox, and not paying me two bits of attention. Today I'm 30 years old and am also a Knox man. After everything I hated, I end up following in his footsteps."
Frank's life is about to change. An opportunity has entered his life. A dream has been awoken. Thanks to the encouragement of his beautiful wife April, Frank decides to leave it all behind and start anew with his family in Paris. Traveler's cheques ready; trip booked; co-workers and neighbors alerted; in 3 months, the Wheelers start a new life.
In 3 months...
It's amazing how much someone gets tested the moment they make a major decision - the bigger the rose, the greater the thorn.
Revolutionary Road traces the struggles Frank and April face in their fight to take ownership of their life. At first, their desire to leave Connecticut attracts the admiration of Frank's cubicle buddies, their realtor, and couple next door. Soon Frank is barraged with questions from his coworkers about what it feels like to be free; April is introduced to the "handicapped" son of their realtor; and both Frank and April become best friends to neighbors Shep and Milly Campbell.
Once a pigeon at work, Frank now sits across a lunch table sipping martinis with a senior vice president begging Frank to take a promotion. As one man sees the promotion as an opportunity, another man sees it as a transition to a different cage.
It's not until the Wheelers face another challenge does Frank even consider the promotion. Unfortunately I don't spoil movies I like, so you'll have to see it to find out what challenge they face.
What I can spoil are many things. First, Leonardo DiCaprio delivers the performance of his career. Frank Wheeler is a weak man with great intentions, but lacks the guidance and encouragement to stay true to his convictions. DiCaprio's childlike charisma fits perfectly into Frank Wheeler's inconsistant ambition; but what separates this performance is the emotional depth and maturity displayed in what can only be described as heavyweight bouts with April Wheeler, portrayed superbly by Kate Winslett.
The Titanic duo takes us on a two-hour emotional thrill ride that'll have you exhausted by film's end. DiCaprio and Winslett face off in romance, motivational pick-me-ups, and tragic confrontations.
Breakfasts will never be the same...
Although Winslett took home the Golden Globe for her performance and will enter February as the favorite to win Best Actress at the Academy Awards, it's DiCaprio who carries the film from the roadside fight to the swingset stare.
Like all Sam Mendes films, Revolutionary Road could just as easily appear on stage as it does on film. With the same flair that made American Beauty a modern classic, each shot is carefully crafted to achieve a maximum effect. From the production design, costumes, and trademark cinematography, Revolutionary Road will burn images in your mind long after you leave the theatre.
Characters are inserted like props to maintain the plot's continuity. Pay close attention to Michael Shannon's performance of the "insane" John Givings, whose brutal observations of the Wheeler family serve as a voice of truth and sanity.
"Hopeless emptiness - what a unique choice of words," says Givings, quoting April. "We can all say that this lifestyle is empty; but it takes courage to call it hopeless."
I hope the audience realizes Givings isn't just speaking to the Wheelers - he's speaking to us.
His critiques of the Wheelers over the course of their relationship serve as shock treatment to the numb observer in the third row. His last burst of anger in the Wheelers' dining room is their last chance to make something of themselves. If they've decided to act against their dream, and refuse to take the advice of an honest man screaming for them to change, they can no longer help themselves.
They have settled. They are numb. They have become hopeless. They are just like everyone else.
Revolutionary Road is our reminder to take responsibility for our life, and what life can turn into if we miss our opportunity. It's not a threat; it's an open invitation.
Today we have innaugurated a man to be our President, not our provider. As we strive forward to re-define America, we must first re-define how each one of us make it great. I guarantee it's not because of a job that pays the bills, affords the children, and gains approval of a next door neighbor.
It's in our ability to dream.
"Where can you find the seeds of greatness in this country?" asks pastor Joel Osteen. "You can find most of them buried in cemetaries in every town across the United States."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
