Movie: Revolutionary Road * Trailer * Official Site	In Theaters: Dec. 26, 2008; On  DVD: June 2, 2009
Runtime: 119 minutes	Directed by: Sam Mendes
MPAA Rating: R for language and some sexual content/nudity	Gecko Rating:

As a rule, I generally don’t like movies that revolve around couples arguing. But as you can see above, I gave "Revolutionary Road" 5 out of 5 Geckos, and the reason is simple: Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.

As I was watching this movie, I kept thinking, here’s a couple who really work well together. It’s like they’re hardly acting, because they’re so natural with each other, their dialogue and actions playing beautifully off each other. They’re a modern-day Kate Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, only way more intense and dramatic.

"Revolutionary Road" takes place in 1955 and follows the story of Frank and April Wheeler (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet). They’ve been married seven years and reside in a Connecticut suburb with two young kids. Frank takes the train to NYC where he works in the same office his father worked for 20 years. April stays home and tends to the house and kids.

But they’re both miserable. They realize they’ve bought into the whole picket-fence business, but neither is happy about it. While Frank was never quite sure what he wanted to do with his life, April once dreamed of becoming an actress.

One day, she brings up the wild idea of moving to Paris. They’ve got six months of living expenses saved up; now is their chance to make a break for it. The plan is for April to land a high-paying secretarial job for one of the major international organizations, giving Frank the free time to figure out what he wants to do.

Without giving away any major spoilers, their plans abruptly change. The story gradually turns from a couple seeking to break away and live the life they’re always dreamed about, to an angst-ridden housewife who will do whatever it takes to escape from her current life.

If you’d like to retain any nostalgic feelings you have about the 1950s, you’d best not see "Revolutionary Road." It’s a depressing look at an era where people were expected to follow a certain path, and those who didn’t were looked upon as crazy. In fact, the only person who seems to understand where the Wheelers are coming from is their realtor’s son, who’s logged time in a mental hospital. Kathy Bates plays their realtor; Michael Shannon plays her son.

You get the feeling that some people would love to escape from their lives – including the Wheeler’s neighbors, Shep and Milly Campbell (David Harbour and Kathryn Hahn) and the realtor’s husband (Richard Easton). But they realize it’s just a dream. They’re destined to live out their days going to a job they hate and perhaps living with a person they hate, as well.

This movie has been making the rounds on the awards circuit; including three Oscar nominations, a Best Actress Golden Globe for Winslet; and several other wins and nominations. It’s easy to see why. I loved everything about this movie, especially the performances of Winslet and DiCaprio, so nuanced and spot-on in their angst and passion and desperation.

The original music by Thomas Newman is captivating; also, great attention was paid to the wonderful 1950s-era details: clothes, cars, homes, furniture, everything just took you right back to that era. Check out the pictures below, and you’ll see what I mean.

DVD Bonus Features:

• Commentary with director Sam Mendes and screenwriter Justin Haythe
• Deleted scenes with optional commentary by director Sam Mendes and screenwriter Justin Haythe
• Lives of Quiet Desperation: The Making of Revolutionary Road

Images: Revolutionary Road, DreamWorks Distribution, 2008

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Revolutionary Road (R). Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio team up again (remember “Titanic”?!) in this tale of repressed suburbia in the 1950s. Film Gecko Review [Official Site]

Defiance (R). Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, and Jamie Bell are three Jewish brothers who escape into the woods to escape the Nazis, and end up helping others in the process. Based on a true story. [Official Site]

Buy these DVDs and Blu-rays on Film Gecko’s DVD Store on Amazon!

Images: Amazon.com

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Hollyscoop.com caught up with the 2009 Oscar winners in the press room at the Kodak Theatre. Watch and see what Kate Winslet, Sean Penn, Penelope Cruz, Danny Boyle and Heath Ledger’s family had to say:

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I just felt like this was a really sweet, intimate moment between Kate and her dad that we got to be a part of. And I kept hoping Kate would just breathe for a second. I was so afraid she would pass out up there!

For more Film Gecko Oscar coverage: Live-Blog; Heath Ledger’s family accepts award; Ben Stiller does Joaquin Phoenix; Photos; Winners; Recap; Red Carpet Fashions.

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My favorites included Winslet’s darkish-blue gown, Hathaway’s shimmery mermaid affair, and Penelope Cruz’s princess gown. What about you? Did you have a favorite dress this year?

For more Film Gecko Oscar coverage: Live-Blog, Winners, and Photos.

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We live-blogged the show right here on Film Gecko (and had a blast!). Read the transcript here, and check out the full list of winners here.

So did you watch the Oscars? What did you think? Any favorite moments? Voice your opinions in the comments below the photos!

Images: Russ Einhorn / Splash News

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I know a lot of people were pretty nonchalant about the awards ceremony, but I still think people tune in to check out the fashions, see who wins, see if there’s any awesome acceptance speeches, and just get out of their own world for a few hours.

If you missed our live-blog of the event, you can still replay it here, and read the full list of winners here. Overall, I thought it was a good show, and the live-bloggers and I loved hanging out together. Highlights for me:

Hugh Jackman. I loved his singing and dancing, and his musical numbers were a high point of the show for me. The live-bloggers and I all wanted more Hugh.

The Fashions. Jessica Biel’s look was the only one I really didn’t like (one of the live-bloggers said it looked like she forgot to take her dinner napkin off after she got done eating). My favorites were Kate Winslet and Natalie Portman, but most of the dresses were either very nice or downright spectacular.

Heath Ledger’s family. Their acceptance speech was so emotional, and I wept right along with the audience. And I loved how his mom said that they wanted to celebrate his life and be happy. That was really classy.

The Veteran Actors. Whoever decided to gather past Oscar winners and have them present to the nominees should get a raise. It was not only awesome seeing them all on stage together, but it was an incredible gift for the nominees. You could tell that they were all very touched.

The “Slumdog” Kids. They were so cute! What a thrill it must have been for them to do the red carpet, then climb onstage when the movie won Best Picture. It’s these moments that remind me how much fun it is being a film buff. 

Kate Winslet’s Shout-Out to Her Dad. How cool and sweet when she asked her dad to whistle so she knew where he was. It was like we all got to be part of his intimate moment with her family.

Sean Penn Forgetting to Thank Robin. First of all, I think we all know that Robin Wright Penn is a saint, but it’s totally unacceptable if Sean forgot to thank her in his acceptance speech. I didn’t hear anything – did you? Sometimes there just aren’t enough rocks.

Queen Latifah’s Song. She has such a beautiful voice, and I’m once again reminded what a versatile performer she is. Loved her song, even if the camera work was a little goofy during that segment.

So what did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Image: Russ Einhorn / Splash News

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Best Motion Picture of the Year:

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Actor in a Leading Role:

Sean Penn, Milk

Actress in a Leading Role:

Kate Winslet, The Reader

Achievement in Directing:

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Best Foreign Language Film:

Departures

Original Song:

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Original Score:

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Achievement in Film Editing:

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Achievement in Sound Mixing:

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Achievement in Sound Editing:

THE DARK KNIGHT

Achievement in Visual Effects:

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Best Documentary Short Subject:

SMILE PINKI

Best Documentary Feature:

MAN ON WIRE

Actor in a Supporting Role:

Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Best Live Action Short Film:

SPIELZEUGLAND (TOYLAND)

Achievement in Cinematography:

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Achievement in Makeup:

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Achievement in Costume Design:

THE DUCHESS

Achievement in Art Direction:

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Best Animated Short Film:

La Maison en Petits Cubes

Best Animated Feature Film:

WALL-E

Adapted Screenplay:

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Original Screenplay:

MILK

Actress in a Supporting Role:

Penelope Cruz, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

Image: Copyright and TM, 20th Century Fox Film Corp., All Rights Reserved

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I mean, really! Check out her Awards page on IMDB.com. It’s a mile long! And this is nothing new for her; she’s been winning awards since the 1990s.

Winslet has taken her clothes off in a lot of those movies, but now she’s saying no more. In an interview with Time magazine, she says, “I think I won’t do it again: a) I can’t keep getting away with it, and b) I don’t want to become ‘that actress who always gets her kit off.’” Such a way with words she has.

Winslet credits her workaholic tendencies to her upbringing, saying she comes from “a long line of real cart horses.”

“Very stoic, insides-made-of-iron people. So I can take any s*** you can fling at me. I can cope with any workload. I can deal with lack of sleep. I can multitask like you’ve no idea. But two weeks ago, I actually had a panic attack, my first one. I didn’t know what it was! … I called my sister and said, ‘I can’t breathe, and I feel like I’ve got a brick on my chest and I’m seeing funny, and it sounds like everyone’s talking to me in Hebrew.’ She said, ‘Yeah, that’s a panic attack.’”

So even though she’s an accomplished actress, good to know she’s still like the rest of us!

Image: Newscom

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All of the nominees are having a whirlwind week, and that’s putting it mildly. Each year, they gather for the Nominees’ Luncheon, and this year’s attendees included Kate Winslet, Anne Hathaway, Robert Downey, Jr. (so darn cute, I can’t stand it) and a host of other stars. See what they had to say about all the hoopla. 

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