Comments on: Trailers: ‘Revolutionary Road’ & ‘Ballast,’ Both Look To Be Must-Sees, For Different Reasons

By: Nick Plowman

Nick Plowman — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:14:19 +0000

Me too buddy, me too *cries, just a little, and then it’s over*

By: Rick Olson

Rick Olson — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:32:53 +0000

I am looking forward very much to both of these films, Nick …

Especially, perhaps, Ballast … I lived in Mississippi for 10 years, and now live in neighboring Alabama … I can’t wait, although paradoxically it may be on DVD if it ever gets there before I can see it.

By: Kerry

Kerry — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:16:05 +0000

I read the book by Yates and it isn’t much to write home about. I mean, its solid, its dramatic, gorgeously structured and successfully paced. However, I think the film has the potential to be better than the book because when you bring all the images (the cinematography, the costumes, the locations) to life, as we can see in the trailer to some extent, a certain air of richness is instilled. I didn’t feel that in the book. Winslet and Leo have a strong chemistry that carried ‘Titanic’ even in its more dodgy moments. Mendes is great at directing marital disasters, so overall, I am excited to see if I am right, and if the film turns out to be better than the book.

Ballast is, and I mean this, easily one of the best ‘art’ films of the year. Its better than any film by the guys who did ‘Babel’ et al in bringing together the characters after that tragedy. It is an icy film, very cold and dark, but the actors and the filmmakers really bring out the beating heart contained within its poetic framework. I am so going to catch it again, at the Film Forum, you can be sure of that.

By: GoshWatcher

GoshWatcher — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:27:06 +0000

Ballast looks better than Revolutionary Road! Gasp. But it really does.

By: Nick Plowman

Nick Plowman — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:07:05 +0000

A lot of people feel that way Just, I dig Mendes’ work though, so.

By: nina

nina — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:02:35 +0000

i’m just praying to god Deakins wins this year. I NEED him to win.

By: Salmaya

Salmaya — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:59:29 +0000

I think Rev Road looks uber-stylish, and the dramatics look scorching. I’m in for the Winslet-DiCaprio reunion, and hopefully the good film that comes with it.

Poor Ballast. You know, I haven’t seen it, but it’s a shame that it has been treated so badly. It deserves a real release, but ugh, most of the best films never get those. At least it is being seen in some capacity.

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:49:21 +0000

Rev Road looks too Mendes-esque for me, and I don’t like him much.

Ballast, on the other hand, looks flat out amazing.