Grade: C+

Heart-wrenching story of an unhappy marriage.  Set in the 1950’s Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) and April (Kate Winslet) Wheeler move to the suburbs to raise their two children.  They had always considered themselves young and rebellious but now they feel like they’ve conformed and are frustrated with their limited lives.  Kathy Bates plays their friend and real estate agent.  While the couple tries to live the suburban lifestyle, they find it tedious, and try to break out.  But there are internal conflicts as well, and those end up coming between the two.  Sam Mendes, who is married to Winslet, directs, and does a fabulous job.  The performances are first rate all around.  But it’s hard to watch heartbreak and stress and disillusion and pain for two hours.  There are not many happy moments.  The end result is depressing.