This issue, discover a film about suburban desperation in the 1950s and a new television series about modern day desperation in California. We'll take a look at the Academy Award-nominated "Revolutionary Road" and the Starz original series, "Party Down."



Revolutionary Road

(R, Avail. 6/2)

Eleven years after "Titanic," Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet reunite for this adaptation of the 1960s Richard Yates novel. Set in the summer of 1955 and directed by Sam Mendes ("American Beauty," "Jarhead"), "Revolutionary Road" tells the story of the Wheelers.

We meet Frank (DiCaprio) and April (Winslet), miserable suburbanites, on Frank's thirtieth birthday. Coming off an epic fight in the film's opening moments, April remembers the night she met Frank, and comes up with a plan to save their marriage and their hopes.

April suggests moving to Paris with their two young children so that Frank can finally figure out what he wants to do with his life, and so they can truly live, something they feel unable to do in Connecticut. Frank finds the idea absurd at first, but it's not long before he is won over.

"Revolutionary Road" is a film with a pervading sense of doom, even in the lighter moments when Frank and April excitedly plan their escape from suburbia. As they tell friends, neighbors, and Frank's co-workers about the idea, it is uniformly met with the same reaction--shock at the "childish" nature of the plan. The one exception to this rule is the mentally unstable son of the woman who sold them their too perfect house.

John (Michael Shannon, "World Trade Center") is all too happy to admit that he's "crazy," but he openly and articulately cheers the Wheelers on. Later in the film, after they have abandoned their dream, John takes them to task. Shannon only appears twice, but he is sensational, delivering the best performance in "Revolutionary Road."

The two leads each give performances that are outstanding the majority of the time. There are a few moments however, most noticeably during their first argument, when they seem stilted. In one moment, both DiCaprio and Winslet can be so natural, believable and mesmerizing. In the next, you feel like you're watching a play as they deliver their lines as though they are reading Yates' novel aloud. The inconsistency is strange and jarring.

All in all, "Revolutionary Road" is a very good film that is almost great (for similar subject matter "Mad Men" still reigns supreme). It is also deeply cynical and depressing, even more so than I prepared myself for. 8/10.



Party Down

(Fridays at 10:30 on Starz)

"Are we having fun yet?" asked Henry Pollard (Adam Scott) in his one shining moment as an actor. It was the beer commercial seen round the world, but Henry's dreams of making it big never materialized and now he's a caterer. The only thing that really separates Henry from his fellow employees at Party Down is that, unlike them, he's let the dream go.

His fellow caterers include the loopy failed (but eternally optimistic) actress Constance (Jane Lynch), Kyle Bradway (Ryan Hansen), a star in his own mind, bitter "hard sci-fi" writer Roman DeBeers (Martin Starr, "Freaks and Geeks" and easily the best movie so far this year, "Adventureland"), and comedienne Casey Klein (Lizzy Caplan, "Mean Girls"). Their boss, Ron Donald (Ken Marino) has no acting aspirations but he does have a dream of his own--to open a restaurant called Souper Crackers.

Week after week, Henry and the rest of the Party Down team cater whatever event requires their services, whether it's a singles mixer called "Seniorlicious" or a spoiled brat's sweet sixteen party. With each episode taking place in decidedly different venues, "Party Down" remains fresh, and the bevy of guest stars works as opposed to feeling like stunt casting. All the while, the crew remains dysfunctional and underachieving, much to Ron's chagrin.

And no matter where they go, Henry is recognized for his moment of glory. "Hey! You're that guy!" they exclaim before hounding him to deliver his one and only line. The only thing keeping him from giving up hope is his budding but unstable romance with Casey.

"Party Down" boasts an impressive group of writers (including Rob Thomas and John Enbom, both of "Veronica Mars," and a guy you may have heard of named Paul Rudd) and a top notch cast. Scott has been quietly terrific in many small roles and is probably best known for being the funniest thing in the otherwise middling "Step Brothers." It's nice to see him in the lead role in something so good.

Lynch is, as usual, very funny, while Hansen and Starr hilariously bicker in a contest to see whose character can be more unlikable. Caplan makes Casey relatable and likable, but she's undeniably a mess. Marino's work as the self-important but pitiful Ron is comic gold.

In a time when good TV comedy is hard to come by (especially now that the wonderful "Scrubs" has said goodbye), "Party Down" is a most welcome sight. It airs on Starz every Friday night at 10:30 with every episode available On Demand.



Also coming to DVD and Blu-Ray



May 26:

The Closer: Season 4

New In Town (PG)

Jeeves & Wooster: The Complete Series (before Hugh Laurie was House)



June 2:

Weeds: Season 4

Prison Break: Season 4

Defiance (R) - 7/10

He's Just Not That Into You (PG-13)



Questions or comments about DVD reviews or release dates? Send an e-mail to [email protected].