Who made these rules?

Sam Mendes' gripping and emotional film based on the Richard Yates novel of the same name "Revolutionary Road" very well may have been slighted at the Oscars. It may well also prove to be an invaluable social commentary on the rise and fall of the American dream. The film centers around the relationship of two thirty somethings living in the suburbs of New York and melting into the beige landscape of the middle class. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet reignite their "Titanic" flames to play a middle manager and a failed actress turned housewife desperately wanting to escape the doldrums of suburban life. As the two age and become parents they are constantly left asking the questions of how did they get to be miserable and how do they get out. To cope the pair simply float through their existence with an air of superiority. They see themselves as bright, talented and destined for more. A far cry from their neighbors who have sold out to the idea that a house, kids and a pointless job via a long commute is what responsible adults do. The couple hatch a plan to move their family to Paris to re stoke the life fire that seems to be all but smothered in their lives. At one point, Frank (DiCaprio) laments "people are alive there like no where else". As Mr. Murphy's Law works its way into their lives they are left to decide to do the culturally responsible thing and stay where they are, thus stay miserable or commit to the socially irresponsible and go to Paris. Aside from the other modern social tones of adultery and gender roles addressed in the film, there seems to be one inescapable point. Who made these rules? Are these distinctly American rules of middle class bliss to blame for the current economic crisis now spreading across the globe like a financial bubonic plague.

When did the American dream start? Who made the rules that the way to happiness is a spouse, 2.2 kids, two car payments, a house in the suburbs, pilates every Tuesday and Thursday and a meaningless job? At what point did the pursuit of material possessions and signing out of life for a one size fits all existence become the American dream? I submit that the current crisis is a direct result of what the film depicts as American life starting in the 1940's after World War II. What was once seen as fitting in with the neighbors gave way to Starbucks, Super Target, McMansions, loose credit and recession. Our striving to keep up with the Joneses has made the middle class the biggest culprits in the worst financial crisis to hit the US since the Great Depression. At some point we stopped building a dynasty and opted for the comforting bosom of mediocrity and warm glow of mass produced consumer goods. To make it worse, after the war fought by the Greatest Generation we stopped living within our means. We craved it like a recovering heroin addict craves methadone. And what did the banks, credit cards companies and mortgage brokers do? They gave us what we asked for. Why? Because they had two car payments, pilates and a 2300 square foot cookie cutter box in the 'burbs to pay for too. Somewhere along the way the American dream gave way to a stifling middle class that has forsaken creating, thinking and truly living for a lifestyle on the inside cover of some ridiculous contrived magazine. So, what is the answer? Well, for me... I'm going to Paris.