A Movie Set in Darien: Revolutionary Road
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If you were to ask a resident living on Raymond Street, Red Rose Circle, or Chasmars Pond in Darien to describe their 2007 summer, they may tell stories of inconvenient traffic; an irritating movie crew; or the always present sound of “Action!” or “Cut!”. But was all of this worth it? Three Oscars, a Golden Globe and 19 other award nominations later, it is pretty clear that “Revolutionary Road” was well worth any inconvenience.
Darien got a little taste of Hollywood when DreamWorks Studios descended on Darien. For the summer we were able to experience a real movie set right in our area. There were some who stopped by to check out what it was like, and there were some who spent every minute they could on the set, which included just about any teen girl looking to catch a glimpse of Leonardo DiCaprio. People came from all over the country to experience Leo and his “Titanic” costar Kate Winslet reunited after thirteen years.
The 1997 blockbuster “Titanic” was an instant classic. The movie starred the two young actors Leo and Kate. The pair had undeniable chemistry, which was no doubt one of the many reasons the movie did so well. Many years later, they were reunited to work on “Revolutionary Road”. The movie got a lot of media attention due to the fact that not only were the actors doing another film, but also a drama/romance film. But while the actors and genre may be the same, the two movies are quite different.
The film takes place in the 1950’s. Young suburban couple Frank and April Wheeler (DiCaprio and Winslet) are seen as the perfect couple by their neighbors. While their life may seem great from the outside, in reality, they are unhappy. Frank hates his job and works to put food on the table while April never fulfilled her dream of becoming an actress. They come up with plots to escape their reality, yet nothing really goes as planned.
Along with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, who worked along side the two in “Titanic”, stars in “Revolutionary Road.” Michael Shannon also gives a fantastic performance as the insane neighbor who tells it like it is. Although everyone involved did a great job, I think Kate Winslet really stole the show and gave the best performance in the movie.
I would not only recommend this movie for a Darien resident looking to see a familiar set, but for any fan of “Titanic.” The movie does a great job of bringing the viewer into the world of a couple living in the 1950’s. The movie is rated R for some mature situations, nudity and harsh language, but for anyone old enough to go out and see the film, it is very much recommended that you do.
