Have you read Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates? Huh? You have? Then why the hell haven't you told me about it? What's your problem, anyway? And where has this book been all my life?

There's a movie version of Revolutionary Road on the way, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, and directed by Sam Mendes. It's set to be released at Christmastime, and is widely expected to be a major player in the Oscar race. But here I have to betray this column's reason for being. F*** the movie. Read the book.

Published in 1961, Yates's first novel was more acclaimed than popular. It is a merciless, intense and pitch-black social satire – funny only in the most uncomfortable way, like being cleverly mocked by someone who sees clean through to your soul. The jacket pitches it as being about "the opulent desolation of the American suburbs," but Revolutionary Road is not another of those books that merely mocks the empty lives of well-to-do suburbanites. It's about our attitudes toward life and love and each other. Almost a half-century after it was published, it contains as much devastating insight into human nature as just about anything else I've ever read.

Great day in the morning! Two of my favorite actors on the planet are joining the cast of Sam Mendes' increasingly promising 2009 comedy, which has yet to find a title. According to a Focus Features press release that landed in my inbox, Jeff Daniels and Catherine O'Hara will round out an ensemble that already includes John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Toni Colette, Cheryl Hines and Allison Janney. The screenplay was co-written by McSweeney's founder and Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius author Dave Eggers and novelist Vendela Vida. The film "follows the journey of an expectant couple as they travel the U.S. in search of a place to put down roots and raise a family."

O'Hara is probably the funniest woman on the planet, and Daniels can bring heart and humanity to any film, so this is good news indeed. With Christopher Guest taking a break from making the movies that have been her bread and butter over the years, O'Hara can use the high-profile work; her only screen appearance this year or last has been in the underrated Penelope.

Mendes also has the DiCaprio-Winslet reunion movie Revolutionary Road in the works -- it will headline the 2008 Oscar season -- but this new project will be his first stab at comedy. Eggers co-wrote the adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are with Spike Jonze, which should finally see the light of day next year as well.

After Jack succumbed to the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean, did you ever think you'd get to see him reunited with Rose? (Aside from that weird ending, I mean). Well, ten years after Titanic, you can now at least see Leo reunited with Kate in this new still from the upcoming movie Revolutionary Road. We've already shown you some photos from the set of the movie, but this is the first in which the actor and actress are seen together. And isn't it wonderful? So, they don't really look anything like Jack and Rose anymore, and so, the time period is 40 years later -- just seeing those kids embracing brings tears to my eyes. Of course, there isn't much going on in the photograph other than Leo and Kate holding each other (are they dancing?). Someone could have just taken a pic of the actors in downtime sharing a hug and we'd have the same effect.

Directed by Kate's husband, Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road tells of a bored, suburban married couple who move to France in order to find new fulfillment in life. Sounds kinda like Mendes' American Beauty mixed with Do Not Disturb. The script is by Justin Haythe, who penned the underrated Robert Redford movie The Clearing, and it is based on the novel from Richard Yates, co-writer of the 1969 war movie The Bridge at Remagen. In addition to reuniting Les o and Kate, the film also reunites the two with fellow Titanic star Kathy Bates. Kate also gets to work with her husband for the first time and she again gets to work with child actor Ty Simkins, who we last saw in Little Children as Patrick Wilson's son -- this time he plays Kate's (and Leo's) son. Revolutionary Road doesn't hit theaters for another 17 months, so hopefully the single photo satisfies you for awhile.

The pictures, they are a-rolling in. On Tuesday, Erik Davis shared the first peeks of Kate Winslet on the set of Revolutionary Road -- the film notable not only because it's Kate, but because it is reuniting her with Leonardo DiCaprio under the helming eye of Mr. Winslet, Sam Mendes. The images showed the actress with a head full of curly hair and a spunky, retro white dress. Now Just Jared has got some more clips of Kate as well as the first look at Leo, in all his dapper glory. He's got that Frank Abagnale Jr. look going on, and I'm sure many an anti-smoking in film activist will be thrilled that he's puffing away.

Unfortunately, mens fashions haven't changed drastically over the last century, so there's not much to his pictures -- especially since this isn't the first time he's put on some retro attire. As for Kate, it's looking like the stylists weren't too big on her curly hair. JJ's pictures have the same dress, shoes and gloves (with a white clutch added), but these images show her hair neatly pulled back. Or, maybe her character never changes, and she just wears the same white dress every day -- having a miraculous talent in keeping it clean, or who scrubs at it furiously each night as her husband Frank sleeps? I'm hoping they don't have her raising kids in a perfect attire. That's too Donna Reed for me. And just to recap: the movie is about a suburban couple bored with their mundane life who want to move their family to France to spice things up. The flick is currently filming in the Big Apple.

At first glance, it's just another Kate Winslet looks for love-type flick. Look a little closer and you'll realize that Revolutionary Road marks the first on-screen reunion for Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio since Titanic. Ooohh, the goosebumps! Some of the first pics of Winslet from the set of Revolutionary Road have arrived online, and from the looks of it she's gone all 1950s on us -- I mean, what's up with those weird button-like things on her dress? From what I can tell, there are a host of other pics online at the Kate Winslet fan website, but you have to register and stuff in order to see those galleries. I didn't have the time, but feel free to dive in you Winslet fanatics.

Based on the 1961 novel by Richard Yates (and adapted for the screen by Justin Haythe), Revolutionary Road is set in the 1950s and finds Winslet and DiCaprio married and stuck in a boring, same-old-routine kind of marriage. In an attempt to spice things up, the couple (along with their two kids) move to France, but not even a geographical shift can save these two from jumping ship. Directed by Sam Mendes, pic seems to place the helmer back in American Beauty mode as both films appear to share similar suburban themes, except for the fact that one takes place a few decades before the other. Another interesting little sidenote is that this will mark the first time that Mendes and Winslet (who are married in real life) work together on the same film. (I'm not aware of any Little Children-esque sex scenes, but I imagine it would have to be tough for a guy to watch his wife with another man, let alone be the one giving directions.) Due out in 2008, there's currently no release date. But, as soon as we have pics of both Titanic stars together, you'll be the first we share them with.

Looks like we're going to get a tasty Titanic reunion for Sam Mendes' Revolutionary Road. Not long after Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet signed on to star, comes word from the Hollywood Reporter that Kathy Bates (who played the unsinkable Molly Brown in that ship flick) has joined a cast that also includes David Harbour, Michael Shannon and Zoe Kazan. It's weird, for someone who appeared in five films last year, currently has four in post-production and one in pre-production, I feel like we never see her. Perhaps it's because Bates has made a name for herself by taking on smaller, more memorable roles -- stuff that sort of blends her into the background, until you leave the theater trying to come up with the name of the actress who stole the show. "Oh yeah, Kathy Bates. That's it. Didn't she try to kill James Caan once?"

Based on the 1961 Richard Yates novel, Revolutionary Road places Mendes back in a familiar, comfortable, award-worthy arena. Somewhat like his break-out Oscar-winning hit American Beauty, Road is a 1950s-set drama which chronicles the life and times of a married couple whose relationship is sinking faster than ... well, ya know. Bates will play the friendly woman who sells the couple their new home and helps introduce them to the town. The film begins shooting outside New York in June, with an eye on a (fall?) 2008 release. Though it's a fine novel, I'm worried too many people will immediately compare this pic to American Beauty; I mean, it's set in suburbia, features a guy so fed up with his corporate job that he turns to the bottle (instead of pot) and embarks on an affair with his secretary. All we need now is a trippy soundtrack and rose petals, and we have ourselves a sequel. In all fairness, it's a different story with some fantastic talent involved. I'm a huge fan of Mendes' work (even if Jarhead felt like an awkward acid trip following the gems that were Beauty and Road to Perdition), and so I'm sure his take on troubled marriage in the 1950s will, at the very least, be entertaining to watch.

That's right! Ten years after Titanic rocked the socks off many a person and in the process set new box office records that may never be broken, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet have signed to co-star in another film. What makes this news most interesting is that while they will once again play lovers, obviously, they will not be in an epic adventure or "chick-flicky" romance. It's almost as if they're going to wipe away their past collaboration and start fresh. The film in question is Revolutionary Road. It's not a 1700's war flick, but rather Sam Mendes' next project.

As you might recall, the American Beauty director is married to Winslet, so for her this film will not only mark a return to working with Leo, it will also be the first time her husband directs her. From a screenplay by Justin Haythe, the film will be based on the 1961 novel by Richard Yates, which is about a suburban couple in the 1950's who seem happy on the outside with their two-child family. The truth is, however, that they're both unhappy with their daily monotony and feel that they are better than those in their suburban wonderland. To fix things, they decide to move to France and be arty, which doesn't help as their relationship crumbles. Not quite the epic romance of Kate and Leo's past, eh? This should be an easy job for Mendes when things gear up this summer, as it basically sounds like a period version of his first film. That being said, I'm still interested.

John Hart and Jeffrey Sharp have said goodbye to partnership and are moving on to their own film production companies. Hart Sharp Entertainment has been responsible for films such as the Academy Award nominated You Can Count on Me and documentary Super Size Me. They also have numerous films and Broadway plays in production that each partner has decidedly left with.

Variety stated that the 10-year-old company's split was eminent and even predicted but the full reason for the split is unknown. Irreconcilable differences? The company has produced numerous successful independent features that have walked away with great honors. Boys Don't Cry for one provided Hilary Swank with her first Best Actress Oscar win.

Who is taking what with the divorce? It's reported that John Hart has created a company named Evamere that will produce Life During Wartime by filmmaker Todd Solondz -- director of Palindromes -- and Revolutionary Road by Justin Haythe. Nothing yet has been announced on what Sharp will depart with.

Thus I say ado to the partnership that has created so many films I love to watch. It's sad to see them go as they were so great at fulfilling their company's mission statement which was "to produce socially relevant works that entertain, engage, and ultimately tell a good story."