Sam Mendes has such a talent for making films about depressed people who feel desperate and stuck. His dreamy and flush-colored drama about a young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s is a nice work of art. You would expect great performances from Kate and Leo but I really thought Michael Shannon stole the show as the genius yet troubled son of Helen Givings played by Kathy Bates.

This is a crafty drama brilliantly directed by Mendes. There were many frames of the film that could easily be displayed in an art gallery. Just like “American Beauty”, he can take a simple shot and make it compelling and memorable.

If you’re looking for a bowl of laughs or a cup of cheer, this probably won’t be for you. If you appreciate intelligent dramas about real people struggling with the inner turmoil of life and coping with very difficult realities, you will really like this movie.