We saw this movie on Tuesday at the dollar theater. As you may remember, it's had terrific reviews and has been touted as a very important film. Kate Winslett won golden globes for both this movie and "The Reader." The book it was made from has been seen as a mirror of life in the 1950s.
It was pretty much a bomb at the box office. My guess is because it's really talky, is a real downer and has no car chases.
The Wheelers, April and Frank, are seen as a perfect couple, living on a perfect street with perfect children, etc. They feel superior to all others. But they both feel trapped by their stereotypical rolls and are miserably unhappy.
When the got married they each got a life sentence. So they spend most of the movie trying to destroy themselves and each other. And they pretty much succeed.
I wish that somebody had explained to them that meaning comes from caring for and about other people.
Hello April and Frank! You have two children. Get a clue.
But I do believe that this would be a great movie for groups of couples to watch and discuss. (Be forewarned. It's rated R for good reason.)
But on another note I was sidetracked by the amount of chain smoking and binge drinking.
Do you remember that scene in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" when Robert Redford's afraid to jump off the high cliff into the raging rapids because he can't swim? And Paul Newman laughs out loud and says "Are you crazy? The fall will probably kill you!"
When April and Frank were suffering through all this angst and self pity I kept thinking, Don't worry about it, the smokes and booze are gonna kill you!
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