BrianSez's Review

Summary - Great 4.0

Kate Winslet and Leonardo DeCaprio give us tremendous performances in this hard-hitting drama. Did the oppressive 1950’s expectation to get the 2.5 kids and white picket fence drive people to such stark depression and an aching suppression of our inner passion? I’m not so sure, but if anyone can make the dramatic handling of such unhappiness believable, it is Kate and Leonardo. This movie is quite engaging, even when it isn’t so plausible, because it fundamentally speaks to little voices inside all of us.

Acting - Really Great 4.5

Kate Winslett and Leonardo DeCaprio have fantastic delivery of both the highs and lows of personal drama. From falling in love, to all out fights, excitement, frustration, and gut wrenching depression. Their performances are among the best of their career, and yes – that includes Titanic. My other pick for the film is Michael Shannon – who does an enlightened crazy-man shtick that is awesome. Kathy Bates is a great fit as the nosy real-estate agent. Dylan Baker also has a few good moments.

Film - Very Good 3.5

There wasn’t much of a warm-up. The movie kind of blew through the marital happy years and got right down to dramatic business. The highs and lows were more akin to being bi-polar than the more normal mood swings of folks – but it made for some great movie watching. A depressing ending, but I suppose that made it hit harder, so yeah, well done!

Edge - Risqué 2.0

Reality - Glib 1.7

2 Comments

• BrianSez Jun 13, 2010 1:59PM

  Yeah – maybe I was a bit liberal with that acting. Mostly due to Kate – who impressed me in this one.

• Wick Jun 13, 2010 12:16AM

  Regarding BrianSez’s Review
  So you graded a movie more liberally than me, Bri. Rare. Mostly you went 4.5 on the acting, while I couldn’t see more than 4.0. No harm, no foul. T’was great acting. Really great? Maybe. But I’m comfortable sticking at just great.

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