..."Dreamland" showcases a number of rising young talents both in front of and behind the camera. Neophyte director Jason Matzner (who is this guy and why isn't he at work on a new project?) breathes life and beauty into Tom "nobody's heard of me, either" Willett's freshman screenplay with grace and love, ably assisted by DP Jonathan "The Omen 2006" Sela's evocative camera-work and a winning cast. Agnes "Blood and Chocolate" Bruckner plays Audrey, a young writer fresh out of high school who seems tied to her role of caregiver to a grief-paralyzed father (John "Northern Exposure" Corbett) and her best friend Calista (Kelli "Thumbsucker" Garner), who suffers from MS and dreams of being the next Miss America. The arrival of Mookie (Justin "Live Free or Die Hard" Long), gives rise to a love triangle that eventually leads to Audrey's freeing herself from a self-imposed martyrdom. Though perhaps overly sentimental and a little too neatly wrapped-up at story's end, "Dreamland" remains an effective coming-of-age film, and one that is significantly superior to most of its big-budget competition. Bruckner and Garner shine as young adults aching to shed their adolescent skins, Long rises above his physical miscasting (UNLV basketball prospect? I think not), and Corbett and the rest of the supporting cast handle their roles with an easy naturalness. I found myself drawn into the unlikely trailer park community of "Dreamland" despite myself, and wanting to know what happened to its residents after all was said and done. Though far from a classic, "Dreamland" is certainly worth a watch, if only to see Bruckner and Garner strut their stuff amidst the gorgeous New Mexico scenery.
