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."
wow, wonderful writing and keen observations. I am glad that someone else appreciated what a fantastic performance Dicaprio's really is - I 've been surprised that his work in this film hasn't been as acclaimed as Winslet's. The scene that still stays with me - the look on Frank's face when he comes home to find April waiting at the door for him after his fling with the office secretary - a look filled with mixture of shame, happiness, confusion..all in a space of seconds....
ReplyDeleteAimee, thanks for your comments and agreements!
ReplyDeleteThat scene at the doorstep: classic. Talk about heartbreaking, right?!
I guess the reason DiCaprio hasn't gotten the praise of Winslett is because she's been the "dual threat" with "The Reader" taking home accolades. Also, Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn have stolen the spotlight in male performances; but it's only a matter of time before DiCaprio gets the glory he deserves.