I wanted to watch this movie at first so bad, thinking I'll get a reason to get back at my friends who have self-justifying daily rants about not wanting to get married and settle down and all that. Let me tell you upfront that if you're going to reiterate that they are doing the right thing by abstaining from 'married life' and 'suburbia' - you will not find it in this film. You will find a dark and disturbing twist contrary to the movie's advertising ploys and trailers, which I guess implying a rather real double meaning to suburban life itself.
Praise goes to Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet for a job well done. Minimal make-up, props, and general background 'noise' coupled with a compelling and highly emotional set of circumstances bring out the true colors in these two actors' roles.
Kate Winslet (April Wheeler) is highly believable as a struggling suburban wife bent on leaving her private cul-de-sac for a life in the lights. As Wheeler schemes and rushes and makes timely remarks, Frank Wheeler (Leonardo DiCaprio) falls into her big open traps, but the thing is, it is so believable I got confused halfway through the movie.
If you are a fan of the popular TV hit series 'Mad Men' - you will like this movie. It is set a decade or so before 'Mad Men', but the general challenge-the-status-quo theme is undeniably present.
It is a poetic and slowly drawn out movie, and it borders on being an arthouse. So if you're used to poppy, fast-paced eye candy, you will probably want to give this movie a miss. If you're not and willing to try something different, treat yourself to a rare gem in the movie world for its script, acting, meaning, and general watch-ability.