This film was incredible - a heartrending, agonizing window into the lives of a couple struggling to make themselves BE happy. They are miserable, and put on the bravest of faces while inside they are screaming - at themselves, at each other, and occasionally at those that point their finger at the awful truth - their endless hopelessness. It is uncomfortable to watch at times, like when you are in a restaurant and overhear a couple nearby arguing - you can't help but listen, and at the same time feel incredibly uncomfortable witnessing their private lives.
Kate and Leo are awesome, there is no other word for it. Their individual ranges and their chemistry make for powerful love scenes and hate scenes. Their appearances as the happy and special couple, the Wheelers, are made all the more poignant and remarkable when contrasted with their passionate and volatile private relationship.
I can see how many viewers would see this as well worn territory for Sam Mendes, as the parallels with American Beauty are clear, right down to the musical score which works well in some places but eventually becomes annoyingly repetitive. But the look, script and pacing of the story are much better that American Beauty, as are the characters. These are real people in real distress, with no dream sequences to distract you from the ongoing onslaught that is their life.
It is a crime, big time, that Leonardo DiCaprio was not nominated for this. And Kate too. What were the academy members thinking? Michael Shannon was excellent in a fairly small role, and added a great spark to the fuse of the bomb that is the Wheelers' lives.
This film definitely gets added to my recommendations for 2008. Too bad I won't be able to vote for it at Oscar time.
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