Dreamland (I) (2006) User Reviews

Dreamy

[ArizWldcat · 7/10 · 29 January 2006]

This is an introspective film about a young girl named Audrey. Her mother has died, her father is agoraphobic, and her best friend is struggling with her health as well. They live in a beautiful area of New Mexico, but their home is a dismal trailer park. Audrey would like to escape this dead end life but sees no way out since most of the people she loves depend on her. This movie is about her (and their) journey to discover how they can escape their ruts.

The film is well made; the characters are all well developed, and Agnes Bruckner, John Corbett (in a big departure from his usual persona) and Justin Long (among others!!) all do a great job portraying their respective characters.

Unfortunately, this film won't reach a wide audience, but for what it's worth, I enjoyed it.

A good independent movie

[miker75058 · 7/10 · 21 May 2007]

I've been really down on independent movies lately for their tedious pace and bland characters. However in Dreamland, while we do have a slow pace so common in independent movies, the characters here a very interesting to watch and there is an emotional story in the movie.

In the movie, we have an eighteen year old high school graduate whose life revolves around taking care of her alcoholic father and her best friend diagnosed with MS. She has a chance to leave the trailer park for college but feels that she would be selfish to move away from the people that depend on her. She even lets her best friend date the new guy in town even though she has feelings for him. We see that it is her father and her friend who are actually being the selfish ones for for being too dependent on her kindness and not letting her move on with her life.

The performances here are outstanding and the characters are interesting especially John Corbett and Gina Gershon in a bit role. But I do have to agree with some reviewers here that Justin Long was miscast as the basketball prospect/ love interest. It would have been more believable if he were a track star and not a basketball star.

Keep on dreaming

[Galicius · 5/10 · 29 June 2008]

This film requires a huge suspension of disbelief. You take for granted what is presented, the setting, the characters, you go into the somewhat exotic world, a trailer park in the open sky world of the Southwest. But after about a slow moving half hour you start shaking your head at what is going on. How do most of these people survive here? How does an agoraphobic man end up in the desert? Who pays for the beer that he's been drinking for two years? You can't buy beer with Food stamps! And who gave him a job with a car no less after two years of doing nothing? It would be much tougher to write and stage his job interview. Who pays for the hospital stay? What kind of a hospital is this that leaves pills by the side of patient's bed? When you discover in the end that we were watching a young poetry genius you wonder why didn't some of that genius come out in her earlier words and actions.

Absurd claptrap

[vandino1 · 22 December 2006]

This is cliché-ridden nonsense not worth the time of day. Why even bother making a movie when the story is almost non-existent and the characters are thin retreads from a thousand other films? What on earth convinced a fine performer like Gina Gershon to take such a tiny, nothing role? Why on earth would the filmmakers hire a short and petite actor like Justin Long in the role of a potentially hot college basketball prospect? And how could the director not realize that exposing Kelli Garner's enormous chest in bikinis and plunging necklines would take attention away from everything else in her scenes? Regardless, nothing could cure this film from its essential ailment of triteness. C'mon, a coming-of-age love triangle? The intertwining lives of struggling dreamers in a small community? Ugh, Sundance/IFC Storyline Class 101. In fact, a small town young-people-in-love-triangle is as old as silent movies. Even getting past that, the filmmakers don't even have enough courage to make the characters tougher. They're all so soft, especially Corbett as the disconsolate alcoholic father. He's supposed to be such a handful that Agnes Bruckner's character feels the need to take care of him rather than go off to college, but he's such a mild drunk (no wild jags, no barking at the moon, no violence, no buried in his own vomit, etc.) and written without any clinging neediness for his daughter, that we never get any sense that he needs her around as his keeper. And when Garner needs watching over later in the film, Corbett drops the emotional burnout routine in thirty seconds flat and comes to her aid with barely a ripple of personal struggle. We also simply get told that Bruckner is brilliant and in demand as a potential college student with acceptances pouring in the mail, even though she lives out in the middle of nowhere in a trailer park. And with Long going back to college and Bruckner's nerdy work buddy going off to college, it seems Dreamland could create its own fraternity. Then there's poor Kelli Garner stuck with the cliché "sick-girl" role straight out of the Hallmark Channel (although there's no Sally Field-type mom/aunt rubbing her forehead). Sure she's got MS, and is supposed to be doomed, and even gets to be in the climactic accident, but she's filmed in swimwear and other revealing outfits and never looks less than quite healthy and voluptuous. And she gets to fool around with various absurd gimmicks to relieve her MS, including bee swarms and clutching live power lines. It's such nonsense that I half expected the filmmakers to take it to its ultimate combination at the finish -- by having Garner clutch a power line while in the middle of a bee swarm while wearing a bikini (and maybe a tin foil hat, too). Wait, perhaps I'm all wrong: could this film just be a bad joke played on the audience? You can only hope.

A poetic indie chick-flick...

[MrGKB · 7/10 · 18 March 2008]

..."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.

Misuse of Kelli Garner's talent

[stevegc · 6/10 · 20 February 2011]

Plot The story centers on a young girl named Audrey that lives in a trailer park in the New Mexico desert. We soon learn that her best friend Calista, also from the trailer park, has succumbing to the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis and that her father can't leave the grounds of the trailer park because he's so emotionally crippled by the death of his wife, our protagonist's mother. Enter stage left ... Justin Long, now and forever known as the Apple guy, stumbles upon their trailer park on his way to a basketball tryout at UNLV.

Central Conflict Audrey is a girl destined for greatness who hides her fear of failure in the stoic duties of taking care of her emotionally crippled father and her friend Calista who's diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. As Justin Long's Character, Mookie, starts to gravitate towards Calista, we see Audrey start to project her dreams and desires of leaving the trailer park behind onto him. The friendship between Audrey and Calista unravels as the two girls fight for his affection. And in the end, you really don't care who ends up with him.

This movie drowns in what I'll refer to as the "victim mentality." The lead character blames her dead mother, her father, her friends and her trailer park for not being able to move on with her life. And instead of doing what she already knows is the best thing for her to do, she allows herself to be paralyzed by her self pity. It takes Justin Long to come along and give her something she had all along ... self respect.

This movie is just too contrived, clichéd, unoriginal and has been done before in better movies such as Bodies, Rest & Motion and Gas, Food Lodging. Also, it's as if the script was written by Debbie Downer ... "I want to be Miss America but I have MS" ... queue the Wah-Wah trumpets.

Characters Justin Long cast as an undiscovered basketball prodigy living in the desert? Really? Soccer maybe but not basketball. Kelli Garner cast as the second fiddle in a trailer park that only contains two girls? Really? Was the casting director blind? Gina Gershon's part consists of us watching her unpack Justin Long's crap? Really? Central Casting! I need a super hot actress in her late thirties to early forties that can unpack the back of a truck? Horrible casting but I blame the script more than the cast for this epic failure.

http://scottishtexan.blogspot.com

Strangely captivating

[kennoth-sasa · 7/10 · 27 February 2016]

I would have normally never watched this kind of movie, or even heard about it for that matter, had I not caught it on TV this evening. However, once I did start to watch, it sucked me right in.

Story-wise it is nothing extraordinary, a teen coming of age story that we've seen a hundred times. But add a little of strange, solitary atmosphere, quirky characters and lovely cinematography, and you get something worth your time. I especially appreciated almost a noir-like feeling present in the movie. The movie manages to be on the verge of hopelessness, but at the same time it projects an aura of hope. I suppose the bittersweet ending is therefore somewhat fitting.

Last touch was also subtle, but important soundtrack that helped create the ambiance of a beautiful desert solace. The actors themselves did a stellar job, though I don't find them to be the strongest points of the movie. Overall, a surprisingly good indie film. 6.8/10

It's pretty, but so absolutely ridiculous I can't stop trashing it

[sonicboom23 · 3/10 · 7 April 2006]

Saw the premiere at GenArt festival in NYC on 4/5. The audience couldn't stop laughing. Unfortunately, "Dreamland" is not a comedy. It IS the biggest ego trip I've seen a filmmaker go on in years. "Let's extend this shot for another fifteen seconds so they can really FEEL the emotion. No, THIRTY seconds!" I'd blame the casting director for the hilarious choices, but I have a feeling final calls were made by Mr. Matzner. As ridiculous as it is to have us believe that four of the most beautiful humans on the planet (Gershon, Corbett, Garner, Bruckner) live next door to each other in a trailer park, the casting of Justin Long takes the cake. Even my sports-hating PR girlfriends have heard of UNLV -- we're supposed to believe a 5'8" 130-lb weakling plays basketball for an elite program? Now THAT's comedy! SKIP THIS MOVIE

Young woman's coming of age drama

[annette_s · 9/10 · 29 January 2006]

This film premiered at Sundance.

It is a beautifully photographed, sensitively presented, leisurely paced drama set in "Dreamland", a trailer park in New Mexico. Unlike most coming-of-age stories that focus on young males, this is one that centers on an 18-year old female. The main character, Audrey (Agnes Bruckner), is a recent high-school graduate who gets involved in a love triangle that includes her ailing best friend, Calista (Kelli Garner), and Mookie (Justin Long), a newcomer to Dreamland.

John Corbett's nuanced portrayal of Audrey's concerned but agoraphobic father is the best film acting he's done yet. The young actors all have good screen presences and create believable characters.

Although the main audience for this movie may be teen-aged girls, it may also be appealing to young men (Audrey and Calista look quite fetching as they hang out in a hot tub). The film may provide valuable insights to anyone who deals with teens and their issues--and it may strike an emotional chord with adults who went through loyalty or love-triangle issues when they were teens.

I saw it again at the Gen Art Film festival in NYC last night, and appreciated it even more the second time around. Most of the people in the audience (an almost full house at the Ziegfeld Theater) seemed to respond to it favorably, and the overall "buzz" sounded enthusiastic to me.

Low-key, reverential drama about various dreamers in a desert trailer park

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 28 June 2017]

Released in 2006 and directed by Jason Matzner, "Dreamland" is slice-of-life drama about several people at a small trailer park called Dreamland in the New Mexican desert. A blossoming poetess (Agnes Bruckner) and her sickly Miss America wannabe bestie (Kelli Garner) are both stirred by a newly arrived basketball protégé (Justin Long), which eventually creates conflict. Also on hand are a drug-addled "boy toy" (Brian Klugman), a father struggling with grief & alcoholism (John Corbett) and a couple musicians (Gina Gershon & Chris Mulkey).

This is a subdued and mundane indie drama with beautiful New Mexican cinematography, a spiritual soundtrack and reverential tone. From the get-go it is pictorially established that the looming transmission towers represent the Fountain of Life (the Creator) and the healing powers thereof, which draw the physically, mentally or spiritually broken. The cast are at various stages of searching, lost-ness or suffering.

One critic panned the film on the grounds that it seemed like "Debbie Downer" wrote the script, but this simply isn't accurate. Yes, there are some sad or foolish facts-of-life addressed, but there's something intangibly beautiful and transcendent going on behind the scenes throughout. Not every loose-end is tied up at the end, but the movie leaves you with a sense of hope. It also leaves you wondering.

The film runs 88 minutes and was shot in New Mexico (Placitas, Rio Rancho & Albuquerque). WRITER: Tom Willett.

GRADE: B/B- (6.5/10)

Casting?

[vorazqux · 4/10 · 27 August 2007]

Who cast this movie? First off, Justin Long seems like a nice enough fellow, but a college basketball prospect? He's about 30 years old, 5'6'' and 125 pounds. And how come a trailer park has so many nice looking residents around? I'd move there! I don't mean to trash trailer parks, but statistically speaking, over 50% of the residents could not be that attractive in just about any place. It's a shame the casting is so poor because the film had potential. I love how John Corbett suddenly overcomes his "ailment" at the end of the film without a hitch. I wonder why the actors did not tell the director about altering some of these scenes, but then, if you're going to have Justin Long cast as basketball stud, I suppose no one either cared or was paying attention. Still, if you can get by all of the setbacks (maybe a miraculous intervention or drunken flurry?), Dreamland just might be entertaining enough for you.

riveting

[postmanwhoalwaysringstwice · 9/10 · 11 January 2007]

With echoes of Allison Ander's "Gas, Food, Lodging", "Dreamland" tells a believable and engaging coming of age tale through the eyes of Audrey, a recent high school graduate caught at a personal crossroads. She lives in the ironically titled trailer park in the middle of the desert called Dreamland, which acts as a place to dream of something more, but few hold the hope required to get anywhere else. It's a stunning work with a muted visual canvas, showing images that evoke the desolation and abandonment the characters feel. Agnes Bruckner, who gave a stand-out performance in the little seen gem "Blue Car", again shows true skill as she keeps her highly conflicted character from becoming maudlin.

Lighthearted, pleasant indie drama

[NateWatchesCoolMovies · 7/10 · 14 June 2016]

Dreamland is an introspective little indie drama concerning the life of Audrey (Agnes Brucker). She lives in a sleepy trailer park way out in the desert somewhere, far and away from anyone else. She longs for a life somewhere else, but is torn between that and caring for her agoraphobic father (John Corbett), who is severely broken following the death of his wife and her mother. Fresh life is breathed into their environment with the arrival of kindly Herb (Chris Mulkey), and his musician wife Mary (Gina Gershon). Along with them is Herb's son Mookie (Justin Long is a tad miscast), who immediately has eyes for Audrey. The two strike up an easygoing romance that is tested by her rebellious nature, and the commitment she feels for her ailing father. Corbett is sensational, giving the best performance of the film as a damaged soul that needs caring for, and to find the strength to move on. Mulkey and Gershon are real life guitars strummers, giving their characters an authentic, earthy feel. The title matches the tone nicely; everything is non rushed, relaxed, laid back and dreamy, as one would imagine life out there might be. I was lulled into the hazy routines and moving relationships that bloom for these individuals out on the far side of nowhere. Great stuff.

Mediocre, kind of lame.

[peolly · 3/10 · 25 August 2008]

Pretentious plot. Okay acting. Shallow characters The verdict? So-so.

What first turned me off was Calista, or Cindy, or whatever her name is, the character had about the same IQ as your average eggplant. She changed her name to Calista because it sounded "hot" like a porn star name? It just shows why the rest of the world hate America, ha. And as the story progresses, some cute basketball player moves into the trailer park that both Audrey and "Calista" were drooling over, but you know, since Calista was dying and everything, Audrey as her best friend backed off of the guy (not spoiling anything, it's made fairly obvious what's going on from the beginning). And the two start dating and whatever while Audrey watches from the side and she realizes that she's in love with him or something. Ha, ha, little girls, we'll talk when you can tell the difference between love and infatuation. It's just stupid teenage melodramatic bull, aren't you supposed to go through that stuff when you're like 14? Okay enough ranting, now for the good parts of the film, the cinematography, absolutely gorgeous, I cannot even imagine how many hours and days someone would have to film at that same spot to get those stunning shots of the sky. Conclusion? The plot and the characters aren't so great but it is quite something to look at.

Caring for Others, Taking Care of the Self

[gradyharp · 9/10 · 22 December 2006]

DREAMLAND is one of those little Indie films that sneaks up on you, draws you in and leaves you feeling fulfilled. Written by Tom Willett and directed with great sensitivity to both style and message by Jason Matzner, the film boasts a truly remarkable cast in every role and the ensemble acting is some of the finest in this year's lineup.

"Dreamland" is the name of a very small trailer park in New Mexico, out in the sticks, yes, but surrounded by the magnificence of majestic clouds in crystalline blue skies and a land free of industrial detritus - except for the powerlines that play such an important role in the story. In a sad trailer house live Audrey (Agnes Bruckner), a poet who has given up chances for college to remain with her father Henry (John Corbett), a man decimated by the death of his wife to the point that he is unable to leave the trailer even to buy the beer and cigarettes that sustain his life. Audrey also is caring for her closest friend Calista (Kelli Garner), a beautiful girl who dreams of becoming Miss America but knows her life is to be shortened by the fact that she suffers from Multiple Sclerosis. Audrey writes her poetry but her life is consumed by being the caretaker for Henry and Calista.

Into the trailer park moves a new 'family' - hunky young Mookie (Justin Long) and his mother ex-singer/performer Mary (Gina Gershon) and her live-in boyfriend Herb (Chris Mulkey). Audrey and Calista watch them unpack and while both girls find Mookie attractive, Audrey talks Calista into dating him. Audrey's only male contact is her 'sex-buddy', tacky and gawky Abraham (Brian Klugman) who works at the local convenience store with Audrey. Mookie and Calista begin an affair while Audrey looks on longingly, and when Calista lets Mookie know she has MS the relationship is strained: Mookie also is leaving for the university soon.

Audrey confesses her feelings for Mookie and Calista flees on a motorcycle to chase the now departed Mookie. She is in an accident and is hospitalized and since she has broken her relationship with her caretaker Audrey, Henry manages to draw enough courage to leave his trailer to sit at Calista's hospital bedside - along with visits from Mookie. Calista's accident makes her even more aware of her fractured future and she releases her feelings for Mookie, reconnects with Audrey, and Audrey's father discovers her many letters of acceptance to college she has hidden to prevent abandoning her role as caretaker and convinces Audrey to flow with her dreams instead of being imprisoned in Dreamland. And the manner in which each of the characters in the film resolves the changes now facing them is the tender ending of the story.

DREAMLAND is created by a very strong cast of fine actors who dwell solidly within their characters' psyches, making this somewhat surreal story very real indeed. The setting is extraordinary in its ordinariness and the camera-work by Jonathan Sela is impeccable. This is a strong story about coming of age, about quality of love, and about being human. It is a treasure. Grady Harp

An excellent coming of age story with terrific performances

[hemphill-1 · 10/10 · 3 February 2006]

This is a compelling, evocative coming of age story that has uniformly terrific performances and expert cinematography. The film invites and earns comparison with indie landmarks like GAS FOOD LODGING and RUBY IN PARADISE but is far more than a mere imitation. The stunning photography eschews the grainy, hand-held look of many independent films in favor of a classical expressionism that beautifully conveys the emotions at the story's core. Those emotions are in turn beautifully portrayed by a flawless cast that is given solid support by an unusually strong score and collection of source songs. For viewers looking for a solid character-based dramedy, this is a must see.

Almost Great

[bla75 · 8/10 · 12 April 2006]

Dreamland is a film about hopes and dreams, fear and regret. Audrey and her father Henry live in a trailer park after Henry's wife has passed away. Henry is a drunk and deathly afraid of physically leaving the trailer park, where he has lived for the past several years. Calista, Audrey's best friend, is a beautiful, aspiring Miss America who has MS, counting the days until she dies. Dreamland explores a common theme of breaking personal boundaries (real or perceived) and having to face your own truth. It works because the context is exquisitely executed. The imagery is extremely well done, and Kelli Garner's performance, a hint of Marilyn Monroe, is the most difficult and deserves recognition. John Corbett's character does push his limits but he does a fine job. Gina Gershon has a bit part but does it well. The main flaw is the ending, and I wish they would have taken a more risqué approach rather than wrapping everything up in a nice bow.

Much better than you might expect!

[bwdude · 8/10 · 24 February 2008]

Last night I was in the mood for a movie - any movie - and so I popped "Dreamland" out of the unseen stack of my DVD collection.

I did not expect all too much, so I was very pleasantly surprised to find out that it was actually very good.

The first thing I noticed was the beautiful photography. There are some really breathtaking shots, at least if you watch it on a big enough screen.

Secondly the story, while slow paced, is kinda nice and comes in several layers. Sort of a "feelgood-movie", even if all of the characters have their problems throughout the movie.

The acting was pretty good, but especially John Corbett blew me away. No more nice guy like in Sex and the City or the Greek Wedding. Instead he sometimes reminded me of Jeff Bridges in "The Big Lebowski". Which in fact is a big compliment, coming from a guy who watched Lebowski for Idontknow how many times.

Definitely a well-earned eight on my scale!

White trash inside out

[GerFalcon · 26 March 2009]

This is one of those movies that chills the heat out of your bones. It depicts a world in which white trash circles within its own boundaries and can't seem to escape from it. It's a movie about feelings and how to handle them in your daily business. Two young girls seem to be stuck in a provisionary trailer park called "Dreamland", those two girls only have themselves to cling to until a new family moves in, one of the new members is a college boy that aims at being a star at pro-basketball at a the local club. He's just a jerk with little prospects but he impresses both girls and hooks up with the one who has MS and is due to die soon. Maybe it's his compassion, that is not clear, she's the most beautiful of the two (not to my opinion), well if you like big breasts then maybe. However, the relation those two girls had, after the boy arrived deteriorates; for the girl with MS spends all of her time on him (who doesn't recognize that?) so the two girls don't have these long hours together reminiscing about their future anymore. But it's about more than that, it's about loyalty, caring for the ones next to you without consent, longing for an escape to break the inevitable circle of life. Despite some cheap scenes this movie is a desolate cry for help to the humans next to you, a solemn oath to the ones closest to you.

Satisfying Movie: Daughter Rehabs her Dad and Gets a Life

[FairReview · 10/10 · 14 February 2009]

Agnes Bruckner plays Audrey, a self-sacrificing friend and daughter. Audrey dreams of leaving the Dreamland cocoon and experiencing life. Instead of acting on her college and life's desires, she puts herself at the disposal of others (her devastated, widowed father and her chronically ill best friend).

Pragmatically speaking, she simply has to nudge her dad out of his comfort zone. Teach him how to live again by dragging him out of the trailer and going places - initially with her. Like many challenges in personal relationships, this is easier said than done because feelings trump practicality.

In the end the father helps himself in order to help his daughter. When he finds her letters of acceptance to the various colleges that she has kept hidden from him, he realizes he MUST step-up, and transform from being Audrey's dependent to being her dad. This is a very satisfying Dad and Daughter movie with an interesting cast, nice music and scenery.

Great movie *contains spoilers*

[actresswb-1 · 10/10 · 4 January 2007]

This was an amazing movie. I swear, It was amazing. First off, Agnes Bruckner was a great actress. How she always makes the drama so real. It's almost as if she's not even acting. She's making it like "Dreamland" is her life. Second, Kelly Garner did great with the romance. Only thing is, she acted too much like Justin Long was her boyfriend. But she did the whole, "I'm dying" thing perfectly. When she was (Spoiler! If you don't wanna know, don't read.) hit by a car and put in the hospital, she made the drama more real than Agnes Bruckner did. Third, Justin Long was a terrible actor! He always looked like he was ready to say, "Can I try that again?" I mean, a 5'8, 28 year old playing some 19 year old athlete wasn't good acting. He was terrible! He made the movie seem more like a comedy than a drama/romance. Aside from JJL's bad acting, this movie was great. I highly recommend it.

Dreamy little Dreamland

[crispy_owl · 10/10 · 22 August 2007]

Yeah, okay, so it wasn't so trailer park trashy, but unless you have the emotional depth of a wading pool, you'll enjoy it.

If you've ever been the girl that put others needs before your own instead of being the kind of person who only cares about themselves, you'll love this movie.

If you have ever let your best friend have a boy you liked then regretted it and made bad choices in life, you'll love this movie.

I could really identify with the main character. I'm also empathic, so maybe I felt it more deeply than the person who posted before me.

All I know is I bawled like a baby for a good portion of it and even threatened my husband with bodily harm if he touched or breathed in the general direction of the remote control. (He has to watch the Weather Channel the second he walks through the door.) I liked the ending. If you're a deeper person than others, you probably will too.

I loved this film...it made me feel like eighteen again!

[rushmore-6 · 10/10 · 2 September 2006]

This is an excellent film about love, friendship and believing in yourself. The cast does an awesome job - especially Justin Long as the guy caught in the middle of two best friends. I also really liked John Corbett's performance - he really had me routing for him.

Agnes Bruckner plays Audrey, the faithful friend and dutiful daughter. Instead of pursuing her dream to go to college, Audrey worries that her widowed father and best friend couldn't survive without her. When a new cute guy arrives on the scene, Audrey is forced to choose between love and friendship. In the process, she learns how to let go and fulfill her dreams while those around her learn how to embrace their independence.

Dreamland is a place I'd like to visit!

Hey Crispy_Owl

[leum60 · 21 October 2007]

I just saw this movie and while I liked it mainly throughout, I did feel the ending was slightly disappointing, not to mention that the movie was a bit weird, but still worthy of watching, at least once.

But that is not why I am writing you. I too am a weather station addict, and soon I believe that there will be meetings like AA for us weather addicts as it is very compulsive and addicting, so since you do claim that you are empathetic, cut your guy a little slack as he probably has trouble controlling his weather urges, especially if there is an exciting storm coming or brewing somewhere. Weather is cool!

We humans are a very weird group, are we not?

And of course, I guess that does screw up your movie though if he watches for long, but just let him watch on commercials.

Ahhh! Just my worthless two-cents worth.

You take care, and I agree that overall this was an interesting movie.

The Leum

Engaging Film

[josephlord-1 · 8 October 2007]

The film's acting, cinematography, story line and all other major film mechanics were all there. I think, for a first and only film, the director did an incredible job of capturing so much of a slice of life; the pains of growing up and the strength of family ties despite external obstacles. I read a lot about the film being called "slow" as if that was something negative. It's not at all.........so much happens beneath the surface and in the eyes of the actors that to miss it means you really should be watching more mainstream popcorn movies or crash bang boom films that seem to dominate the market. This film, if watched and not just on for noise, is a treasure trove of action, but it's deep down and requires an imagination and an emotional Geiger counter to know the heart and depth of the filmmaker's journey.

My only quibble was with the casting. The acting was superb but the casting of type was not. Or more specifically the make up mirrors were working overtime. I doubt if anyone as attractive as the two lead females would be in a trailer park setting with perfectly coiffed hair dos and flowing sensual clothing roaming the desert in dream like fantasies. The harsh realities of that lifestyle and some of the redneck thinking and prejudices were totally missing and replaced with ego trips to the make up mirrors....too bad as it's the only false note in the film.

I'd like to find out what other films Jason Matzner has planned or if the low box office on this film prevents him from doing another. It's a shame if it does because it's a wonderful film that engages you unknowingly and holds you to the end, which BTW, is a perfect ending to an almost perfect film.

I hope the film gains an audience and a second breath in the DVD and Netflix market. Too bad we can't go back and muss up some of the gals lipstick and hair dos! Or introduce some characters, at least one, with more downtrodden existences in their trailer community.....they do sometimes, have those folks in trailer parks.....sometimes too often.