Directed by Sam Mendes
Screenplay by Justin Haythe
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and Kathy Bates
A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.
Why It Will Win: Sam Mendes, is a past winner of Best Director and inevitably had a film that won Best Picture (American Beauty). This latest film by him looks to be similar, a family drama, yet in a 50s landscape. You have to love the cast as well. You have Mendes's wife, Winslet, along with JACK! It's like Titanic all over again (hopefully not..). Then Kathy Bates, one of my favorites. Also an Oscar winner. Also, the simple family drama seems lately to be discluded from the Best Picture lineups. Not since In The Bedroom, has there been a dramatic, hard-hitting portrait of a family that has garnered a Best Picture nod. Does that work against it? Probably not. The Academy may want to diversify. Plus, you got Scott Rudin, reigning champ.
Why It Will Not Win: The old early front-runner curse. I don't see any logic to this theory, but...I don't know. Uh. There's the screenplay. Justin Haythe's only feature film screenplay is The Clearing with Robert Redford and Helen Mirren. Not a great film, but not a bad one either. Yet I'm not losing sleep over this dimension because he's getting a good story based off Richard Yates novel and great actors, a great director, and overall great people that will make his script look hella' good. Other than those blemishes, a curse and a questionable screenplay that will probably get an Oscar nod, things are looking pretty damn good for RR.
Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Lead Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio; the first of his two noms?)
Best Lead Actress (Kate Winslet; this might be her year..)
Best Supporting Actress (Kathy Bates)
Best Cinematography
Best Art Direction
Best Costume Design
Best Original Score
Bottom Line: Don't doubt Revolutionary Road. It'll rake in 10 nominations.
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