Well Honed
The four best-written, most on-target paragraphs I've read anywhere about the performances by Revolutionary Road's Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, written by New York's David Edelstein:
"Unlike many child actors who've made the successful transition to grown-up roles, DiCaprio hasn't evolved in predictable ways -- there are no clear lines of demarcation. His boys were unusually centered, his adults unusually boyish. His wide face still carries some insulating baby-fat, like Elvis Presley's and Bill Clinton's (before the latest weight loss), and Mendes uses that insulation against him, sometimes cruelly: What was self-assured and spring-heeled in Titanic now looks dodgy.
"Mendes and Winslet push DiCaprio to places he has never been. At the height of her fury, April flays Frank, and both the character and the actor have nowhere to hide. DiCaprio loses his sure balance, his control, and has never been more vulnerable or electrifying: Winslet has forced him into the moment.
"Well, she could force anyone into the moment. In Revolutionary Road, her emotions are too big for her face; she's such an elastic actress, so in tune with her characters' feelings, that her features seem to expand or contract in every scene. Her movements are wary, overly tight, like a woman no longer at home in her body; and when she releases that tension and moves in on DiCaprio, it's as if she's finally able to breathe.
"There is a cost to that freedom: April demolishes the marriage to survive, yet she might not be equipped to survive its demolition. There isn't a banal moment in Winslet's performance -- not a gesture, not a word. Is Winslet now the best English-speaking film actress of her generation? I think so."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on December 31, 2008 at 7:03 AM
comment #1
Chase Kahn
says ...
I'm definitely pro-'Revolutionary Road' now after seeing it last night -- I think it's DiCaprio's best performance and Michael Shannon is getting unfairly shunned by everybody.
I also think it was you Jeff who said that Mendes gets every last dramatic moment out of each scene, they end right when they should -- never too quickly or too long. Completely agree (if in fact, you did say so, I could be mistaken).
Posted by Chase Kahn
at December 31, 2008 7:23 AM
comment #2
Breedlove
says ...
She or Cate Blanchett probably. deserve that 'Best' title if you look at the whole body of work. Both excellent. I'd put Toni Collette and Charlize Theron up near the top in terms of acting ability in that generation as well.
I know every movie needs it's marketing angle, but is anyone else a little over all the "Kate and Leo are best best best friends" pieces?
Anyway dying to see this. Mendes directed a couple of plays that are gonna be at BAM this winter as well.
Posted by Breedlove
at December 31, 2008 7:39 AM
comment #3
Chase Kahn
says ...
I wouldn't put Theron up there too high, Breedlove -- she's had her roles, but I consider them almost one-note. I don't see Winslet doing HANCOCK, either.
Posted by Chase Kahn
at December 31, 2008 7:47 AM
comment #4
berg
says ...
"Most people know about the emptiness, but it takes real guts to see the hopelessness" ... M Shannon for best supporting
Posted by berg
at December 31, 2008 7:53 AM
comment #5
perceptions
says ...
Chase
Ditto your comments about "RR"
Posted by perceptions
at December 31, 2008 8:33 AM
comment #6
Sabina E
says ...
I agree... Winslet is one of the finest actresses of her generation, along with Cate Blanchett.
Posted by Sabina E
at December 31, 2008 8:55 AM
comment #7
iamwhoiam
says ...
While Winslet is magnificent in RR, and obviously one of the greatest actresses of her generation, DiCaprio is the reason why i didn't like RR as much as i wanted. As it happens to him more often than not, he was just trying too hard, and most of time simply annoyed me. Michael Shannon is far more impressive.
Posted by iamwhoiam
at December 31, 2008 9:09 AM
comment #8
GeeseOPlenty
says ...
I strongly agree with the above. Winslet was great, full of barely contained emotions and living every inch of her character. DiCaprio responded with a kid doing the lead in a high school drama play. Get him out of here.
Posted by GeeseOPlenty
at December 31, 2008 9:50 AM
comment #9
the400blows
says ...
Althought I found Revolutionary Road to be fascinating, I agree that Di Caprio's performance was not Oscar worthy. Instead, I'd nominate Josh Brolin for "W." But, he'll probably get nominated for his supporting role in "Milk" instead.
Posted by the400blows
at December 31, 2008 11:41 AM
comment #10
austin111
says ...
I agree with Edelstein up to a point. I don't necessarily think that more credit should be given to Winslet than DiCaprio, though. I think from what they've both been saying that both pushed each other to places they've never been before. Still, I don't think DiCaprio has been this raw since his earliest performances. He has a great actor somewhere inside that in the right situation can jump out like a kind of Jack-in-the-Box. It scares the shit out of you when it happens. But there it is. I had the same feeling when I saw him in Gilbert Grape and in a couple of scenes in Basketball Diaries. I love seeing that when it happens. The bozos who keep saying they think he can't act need to get a life.
Posted by austin111
at December 31, 2008 3:23 PM
comment #11
janee
says ...
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Posted by janee
at May 19, 2011 5:59 AM