Dream Scenario (2023) User Reviews

Really good, up to the point where it isn't.

[Lomax343 · 7/10 · 11 November 2023]

The first eighty percent of this film was excellent - it felt like the best Stephen King story that King didn't write. The slow destruction of the life of an ordinary man for reasons which were completely outside his control was well-conceived, well-plotted and well acted. Nicholas Cage's performance was pitch perfect.

To an extent, this film can be seen as a satirical condemnation of social media fame and cancel culture, though that's secondary to the theme of mounting paranoia - both from Prof Matthews and the wider world.

The fact that this film started out as a project of Ari Aster is no surprise, as it has much in common with Beau is Afraid - notably the hapless and powerless central character and some surreal and blackly comic moments.

Then, in the last fifteen minutes or so, the film loses its way. A new element is brought in which pretty much undermines what had gone before. The result wasn't bad, exactly, but seemed to belong in a different film. I think it would've been better if the film had had the courage of its convictions and followed Prof Matthews to his logical fate.

For all that, it's an interesting film, and I would urge you to see it.

Great look at fame

[masonsaul · 8/10 · 14 November 2023]

Dream Scenario is a really funny look at unexpected fame and how it's impossible to control how others interpret it. A be careful what you wish for story that's a lot stronger when primarily focusing on how fame changes a person than when it delves into cancel culture.

Uncomfortable with how his own image has been interpreted, Nicolas Cage is the ideal person for this. He plays the pitiful nature of Paul beautifully and brings none of the Cage rage he's synonymous with, in a nice change of pace. The film also feels aware of Cage's persona, understanding everything is funnier and weirder because it's Nic Cage specifically.

Kristoffer Borgli's direction really nails the dream sequences in particular. They're very surreal (obviously), brief and when they start to turn into nightmares they really don't hold back on the violence. It also has the second most hilariously awkward sex scene of recent memory, with Beau Is Afraid being number one which is so fitting since Ari Aster is a producer on this.

Deeply Depressing Satire on Fame

[cgearheart · 8/10 · 24 November 2023]

Horror Comedy? Uhm, yeah, no. Sure, there's a handful of funny moments and some scary stuff but it's far from being a horror comedy. This is a very traditional "Nicolas Cage" drama, through and through. It has an air of humor and awkwardness throughout all of it due to his performance, but overall, there's a bigger picture behind it. Oddly enough, in a lot of ways it felt like a very late companion piece to Cage's performance in The Weather Man, a movie where his character also deals with consequences of fame while dealing with a crumbling family life. The biggest difference is that Dream Scenario leans farther into the consequences of fame that celebrities never asked for and that consumers fail to understand because of the media. This is a very sad and upsetting movie that I would say accurately captures that feeling of not having control of your life. It's definitely among the best films I've seen this year.

Nick Cage reminds us he's one of the best actors

[FeastMode · 7/10 · 23 December 2023]

First, I recommend going into Dream Scenario knowing as little as possible about the movie. Avoid trailers, even synopses (maybe even this review). Discovering the premise is as enjoyable as the rest of the movie.

But even after being amused by this unique and creative premise, it didn't seem like there was anywhere else for this idea to go. But there's no reason to worry. The directions it takes are just as creative as the premise.

Even though it's very different, this gave me Eternal Sunshine vibes, especially with how original it feels. The humor is fairly dry, which I normally don't like. But it made me laugh a decent amount, usually loudly. And there are a few moments that hit hard.

Nick Cage. Oh Nick Cage. I watch all his movies. Most are bad, but Dream scenario is part of the resurgence (along with Massive Talent). And even though most people just want to see his hilarious freakouts, here he reminds us that he is one of the most talented actors out there. I haven't forgotten. I would love to see it more often.

(1 viewing, 12/22/2023)

so close to being amazing

[MikesIDhasbeentaken · 6/10 · 22 December 2023]

After the first half hour of this movie, i thought it was going somewhere amazing, it was funny and clever and nic cage is just really good in the mane role.

But i don't think it did nt he 2nd half of the movie, it kind of faded out, and missed such a massive oppotunity.

It's still a good movie, but it completely went in a different direction in the last half hour than i thought it would. Which was just such a shame.

Such a missed oppotunity in my book, but still worth a watch. When the dreams turn darker i think there was such a great set up for a better last half hour or so. Shame.

Worth watching but didn't reach it's potential.

Bizarre Film

[vengeance20 · 6/10 · 11 November 2023]

So, having heard nothing about this film, never mind seeing a trailer or preview for it, I went into this one blind with only the synopsis to go by.

The film stars Nicolas Cage as a hapless family man who finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. When his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish & sinister turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound stardom.

I found the film to be bizarre. I'm still right now trying to process what I watched. It was pretty engaging despite being dragged out in places & kept you wanting to know more & why the main lead was being dreamed about & of course, why the dreams about him turn sinister & violent.

The film's story & concept is definitely unique & did remind me (& is funnily enough parodied here) like A Nightmare On Elm Street. The horror aspects (what little there was) were good & there's some awkward, yet funny & humourous scenes to be had.

What annoyed me about the film was the lack of explanation as to why people were dreaming about Paul Matthews & of course why the dreams turned sour.

Moreover, the unlike-ability of the characters in the film, the family members, the students, his friends & others treating him like he was a criminal. Couldn't these people in the film tell the difference between fantasy & reality? Were they that gullible & dumb to not know the difference? The way he was treated in the film really made me feel sorry for the guy. It was both annoying & hard to watch to be honest. Not to mention they way they blamed him for something that was completely out of his control. Unbelievable.

The film itself was pretty depressing in a lot of areas & towards the end we didn't get any reconciliation of the characters that treated him badly & continued to blame him for the nightmares they were having. The film did have a decent runtime of 1 hour & 36 minutes (96 minutes) & not bad pacing despite being sluggish in areas.

Overall, it's a mixed bag this one. There's some good points & bad. It's an out there type of film which is neither good or bad, but ok & bizarre. Judge for yourself when you come to see it.

6/10.

Original, hilarious and even touching

[jtindahouse · 8/10 · 1 October 2023]

Quick Review: My biggest pet peeve in films is dream sequences (I don't even love 'Inception' - don't hurt me). However the way they are done in 'Dream Scenario' was perfect. This film was a blast.

Talk about getting everything out of a concept. The movie starts and you think, okay this is a lot of fun, but where are they going to go from here? Have no fear, they have plenty of tricks up their sleeves and the wild ride continues throughout.

The film is hilarious. It contained some of the biggest theatre laughs I've heard in a long time. But it's more than that too. It actually gets quite touching and sad and has some real thought-provoking stuff going on. This was an excellent film. 8/10.

Clever and well-acted.

[RMurray847 · 7/10 · 27 November 2023]

DREAM SCENARIO is a very interesting movie that could generate a lot of post-viewing discussion. It asks some interesting questions about celebrity & "cancel culture." It did occur to me afterwards that the movie is completely ridiculous and posits a scenario that is beyond impossible, and thus, spending a lot of time talking about its implications seems a bit silly. But, I err on the side of it being a worthwhile intellectual exercise. To say nothing of being a terrific showcase for Nicolas Cage.

Cage is Paul Matthews, an aging, balding (and apparently always cold because he wears gigantic, ill-fitting coats throughout the film) tenured professor at a modest college. His students pay little attention to him (even though, to be honest, it seems like he's a more interesting professor than many I experienced myself). He leads a frustrating professional life. Early in the film, he has lunch with an very distant colleague who is preparing to publish a paper that touches on subjects that Matthews worked on decades ago. He feels these topics still somehow belong to him, and wants some credit for the paper. He mentions that he's working on a book on the topic...but it turns out he hasn't actually started writing the thing. It's an idea he has and apparently has had for many years. He's a guy who imagines doing great or interesting things, but it will never happen for him. We meet his loving wife (Julianne Nicholson, always under-rated) and his doting daughters. From the viewer's perspective, he's a bit of schlub. An uninspiring instructor, eaten up by his own failures, and sadly unable to see that his great family really means he's got it pretty darn good. Nice house. Nice kids. Nice wife.

But he's a bit clueless. And when he suddenly starts appearing in the dreams of millions of people around the world, he becomes a clueless celebrity (or at least, cultural phenomena). His classroom is full of people who want a selfie with him. He's on the news. He's written about. He's beloved. And he's done nothing to deserve the positive accolades. For some strange reason, he is a background character in the dreams of millions of strangers. He just hovers there, really doing nothing. But just the fact that he's at the center of this weird thing makes him popular. And when talent agents come calling, he sees his opportunity to get a book deal.

But then, things go abruptly wrong, and he goes from saint to demon overnight. None of it is his fault, but he's suddenly a pariah. And he handles it very, very badly...putting at risk everything good in his life.

It's all so unfair. Paul did NOTHING to make these dreams happen. The "character" he is in the dreams bears no resemblance to his true persona. He is right to rail against his vilification. Yet his own unpleasant character traits tee us up to NOT sympathize with him. Does he have it coming? Did his own flaws somehow taint his benign dream persona? Why doesn't the public understand that the dream Paul and the real Paul have nothing to do with each other?

It's all very interesting, and Cage makes it all matter thanks to the best performance he's given in some time. With this movie and the excellent, over-looked PIG...Cage demonstrates his true acting chops. Yes, he's delightful in THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT, but even in well-received films like THE COLOR OUT OF SPACE, his performances are over-the-top and even unhinged.

Enjoyable...absolutely. But fine acting? No. He's always a bit broad in his performances, but DREAM SCENARIO harnesses his energy and spins Paul Matthews into a complex character we can understand and feel things about. The script is tight and energetic and clever and funny. The supporting cast (again, special kudos to Nicholson) is on the right wavelength. And the questions the film asks are very relevant in our time of social media, overnight sensations and overnight demonizations. It's a fun film on the surface, very much worth it for Cage's well-done work...but it also rewards some reflection and discussion. I heartily recommend it.

Nicholas Cage continues his rebirth

[michael-kerrigan-526-124974 · 8/10 · 15 November 2023]

Dream Scenario. The increasingly brilliant Nicholas Cage continues his renaissance following his recent superb performances in Mandy, Pig and The unbearable weight of massive talent. Cage plays a run of the mill university professor who oozes normality. His students take no real notice of him. His former colleagues publish papers in top journals whilst he hasn't even started his book yet. But he's happy enough, if not fulfilled. Then, for no apparent reason, he starts appearing in people's dreams. Not just people who know or have met him. Anyone. And in the dreams they tend to be in difficult positions but he does absolutely nothing. He has no control over this. The first half of the film is hilarious - the whole cinema (the lovely Electric, Birmingham) we're in stitches as we see the dreams played out. And then the second half of the film takes a sinister turn, to reflect a changing nature of the dreams. And whilst the comedy ends at this point, the drama begins. Whilst the first half is the better half it would be wrong to say the second is disappointing. Cage is quickly becoming one of my favourite actors. Long may it continue. 8 out of ten.

Borgli enters the big leagues with perhaps the most intriguing film of the year

[Stay_away_from_the_Metropol · 7/10 · 23 November 2023]

I must say first that Dream Scenario is not at all what I expected it to be. After falling in love with writer/director Kristoffer Borgli's previous film Sick Of Myself, then exploring all of his recent short films on YouTube, I thought I had a grasp on what to expect from Dream Scenario, but I was off and that makes it a bit more challenging to form a solid opinion on. One thing is for certain though: regardless of how much you feel like you are enjoying the film as you are watching it, this is the kind of movie that will have you thinking and talking about it, trying to find all the analogies, for some time afterwards. Though my girlfriend left the theater a total of 4 times due to anxiety, she pulled even more apt metaphor out of it than I did when it was over - it gave us a lot to discuss, far more than the average movie.

The overall tone was way different than I was expecting. The trailer had me thinking this would be a quirky adventure into dreams and personalities, but Dream Scenario is FAR more horror-leaning than I'd imagined. Having seen Borgli's previous work in combination with the choice to have Nicolas Cage as the lead, this really threw me off. Once you get into it, it often feels like the work of Ari Aster, which made a lot more sense to me when the ending credits hit and I saw that Ari Aster had produced it. Apparently Aster was originally set to direct this film with Adam Sandler as the lead, but after Sick Of Myself did well, Aster pushed to get Borgli in the director's chair for A24. Overall, the movie has its signature Borgli moments but it definitely feels like a combination of Borgli, Aster, and A24 vibes rather than simply a Borgli piece.

There is not nearly as much comedy as I thought there would be, and most of it is very subdued. I felt like I was laughing more than anyone else in the theater, and it was not much, to be honest. Laughs are simply not one of the primary focuses of the film, in my opinion. And on the subject of atypical focuses, there are hardly fleshed-out characters in this movie at all - they are more like archetypes or vessels that allow the themes to be explored. The way Cage's character works is that he is an effective "every man" in the sense that he's not really likable, but also not especially unlikable - he could be just about any average person, and that's the point. The real "main character" is society and their response to what's happening in a collective manner.

While it's not the most riveting or throughly enjoyable film, it is incredibly original and does seem to have a lot to say underneath it's surface of "simplicity". I was expecting something in the realm of Charlie Kaufman, but what I got was perhaps something I can't compare to almost anything else. At one point in the film, there is a book that is released, and when it does the character who wrote it exclaims "It was supposed to be called Dream Scenario", then the publisher responds, "Is there something wrong with the new title, I Am Your Nightmare?". I feel like this is a fitting summary of my entire experience with this film. I'm not sure if that was all set up on purpose, as a "haha" at the viewer's expense, but knowing Borgli and his specific style of genius-level trolling, I'd say he knew exactly what he was doing.

Dreamy...

[JK-WhatsUpWeirdoPodcast · 8/10 · 16 November 2023]

Dream Scenario is very sweet and very sad. And ya know what, that's ok. Not every movie is a happy movie. Like most a24 films it will make you feel all the feels. I don't think I've ever seen dreams portrayed so realistically. It also really palpably got that thing where a dream seems so terrifying just to you, then when you tell someone about it out loud it doesn't seem as scary as it was when you were in it. Just beautifully directed by Kristoffer Borgli. Every single time I see a Nicolas Cage film I think no one else could've played this role, & I think that's really special.

For fans of Everything Everywhere All At Once, Being John Malkovich, Vanilla Sky.

CANCELLED Overnight Fame

[Slarkshark · 6/10 · 30 January 2024]

Watched this with family thinking it was going to be a clever dry comedy. A part from maybe a few subtle laughs at the start, this is far from a comedy, though it is dry and weird. If anything it's a just a weird type of tame horror. Needless to say, it was a bit of an awkward watch, as it was simply not what we were expecting. The trailer is definitely misleading. An interesting take on the instant fame and cancel culture though.

I will say that Nicholas Cage is absolutely fine in the film and I applaud his continued come back into the main stream... not that he ever went anywhere. I can't say the wife, played by Julianne Nicholson, is a bad actress, but I literally despise every character I have ever seen her as, and they seem to all be the complete same.

Following this film, I had to watch something else that I knew would cheer me up; and like many dreams or nightmares, cause this film to be forgotten after a short time, which I'm sure it will be.

Leaves viewers with a sense of unfulfilled potential

[cemozdogan · 5/10 · 22 December 2023]

"Dream Scenario" falls short of expectations, failing to deliver the cathartic experience viewers seek. Despite an intriguing premise, the film's weak screenplay undermines its potential, leaving audiences frustrated. The lackluster narrative fails to engage, making the otherwise interesting plot lose its appeal. The film's inability to provide a satisfying resolution only exacerbates the viewer's dissatisfaction. With an unconvincing storyline, the movie struggles to maintain interest, leaving audiences questioning the overall creative direction. The weakness in character development further compounds the film's narrative shortcomings. "Dream Scenario" lacks the depth needed to connect emotionally with the audience, resulting in a missed opportunity for impactful storytelling. The film's failure to establish a cohesive and compelling storyline leaves viewers with a sense of unfulfilled potential. In essence, the movie's disappointing screenplay overshadows any redeeming qualities it may have had, ultimately leaving audiences dissatisfied and questioning its overall merit.

Bad dreams, no pills for this crazy, but interesing film.

[donmurray29 · 7/10 · 12 November 2023]

Giving this an 7/10 rating

Oddball film, another for Nicolas Cage, who produces this one too, plays a college professor, who for some strange reason pops up in peoples dreams, and not in a helpful way either.

What starts off as weird, soon becomes disturbing and the moves into the good and evil of social media, corporations, the need too be recognised, self worth, mental health, technology and the abuse of trust and power. This all happens in this movie, with Cage as the driving force.

Cage totally look unrecognisable as the professor, bald head, gruff beard, funny walk, he really goes for it. And has too. Everyone else is collateral damage and the enemy. It's a cleaver film on what is going on in the world and media right now, spun into this strange world, which I would not want to a part off, but we are, like it or not.

Mixed bag on this one, it's good, but will divide everyone, and people will see things differently, which is the point.

Thought provoking

[comps-784-38265 · 6/10 · 12 November 2023]

Others have put this film as 'hilarious' and I went expecting a comedy

I would not describe it as a comedy however, there was one scene I laughed out loud at .

I took this film as a metaphor for how people are arbitarily cancelled.

Cage put in a great performance as a professor 'cancelled' without any morale justification or evidence, and every one knows he did nothing wrong. I presume is an analagy to how 'the woke' arbitarily cancel others with a nod to hypocrisy at the end where ideas are then embraced.

Other than that, I'm not really sure what this film is about and in the last 15 minutes are so I was hoping it would end soon.

Would I watch it again ? No

It's quite a dissmal / dark film (in my opinion). Don't get me wrong, it is well made, well acted (particularly by Cage) and certainly an original idea.

I'm glad I watched it, but didn't particularly enjoy it 6.5/10.

Dangerously Funny (MAMI MFF 2023 #10)

[nairtejas · 7/10 · 31 October 2023]

Dream Scenario is right up my alley. A timid professor who has awkward experiences almost daily gets to steal the limelight when he starts to appear as an impassive spectator in other people's dreams. He enjoys the fame, which seems to flutter his immediate family. And so starts a ride to uncharted territory, speaking a lot about the current state of affairs around us. Cancel culture, 'gram influencers, AI, mind implanting - everything gets a nod in this superbly structured film that I could relate with so much. Nicolas Cage is so good as the central character, almost making me feel that he was enacting me on onscreen. The right amount of awkwardness, perfect look and air, and an honest outlook. This is the best film I watched at the 2023 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival so far.

Another Nicholas Cage Movie!? How many are going to come out this year!?

[subxerogravity · 8/10 · 12 November 2023]

Nick Cage goes completely bonkers again with Dream Scenario. Similar to Adaptation or The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent ,Cage plays a man who needs everyone to know how smart he is in a way that makes him unlikeable slightly, which makes it interesting when life happens to him and the world starts to intergrade him into their dreams for no known reason and it takes an unfair turn that gives a vivid reflection on culture and social media if you ask me.

It was an eye opener that made me laugh out loud because the metaphor on social commentary was just so dead on.

Greatest Nicolas Cage movie of the year and Reinfeld came out this same year (along with a lot of other Nicolas Cage movies actually)

Surreal, comic, horror--It's all that with Cage acting like his Oscar.

[JohnDeSando · 2 December 2023]

"Do you think I have the emotional maturity to carry on an affair?" Paul Matthews (Nicholas Cage)

Few Nicholas Cage characters could be accused of having emotional maturity. Now he has gone about as far as an actor can go with the satire Dream Scenario, helmed by Norwegian, LA-based Kristoffer Borgli. Together with producer Ari Aster (Hereditary), Borgli has ventured into the rare arena of "surrealist horror-comedy."

Paul Matthews is a tenured professor who suddenly finds he's inhabiting others' dreams, most often in strange silence and motionless. For the first instance, his daughter Sophie (Lily Bird) has a dream of objects falling from the sky as she begins to levitate and he dumbly watches.

For the obvious academic world, he's expressing the nightmare frequently of impressing, especially younger students, with his hidden psycho-sexual urges and his longing to have students desire him. As he tries to migrate to branding with the help of a skctchy ad agency and a hot, young intern Molly( Dylan Gelu).

Yet, this is not just the mixed-up Freudian underworld of a professor, for anyone who has taught, performed, or played political, the psyches of those who see us do our thing are usually excluded from our knowing. In one particularly insightful sequence, he inhabits the dream scenario of Molly, with whom he has an uncomfortable sexual encounter in that dream world. In her dream, he expresses his reservations about the difference in their ages and eventually doesn't perform well thanks to a comically-placed fart, even after the act was successful in a previous dream.

Beyond the sexual, Matthews suffers the ignominy of being universally known to inhabit violent dreams and therefore held in contempt as any public figure might be. Subsequently the cancel culture condemns him, calling for his academic head, he being protected by his tenure but not immune from his growing lust for fame.

Dream scenario takes several paths to display Matthews' existential mix up, none of which is dull and all suggesting more about our fragile psyches longing to be accepted and revered. When his academic and public heads are being called for, Matthews is tapping our innermost anxieties about being cancelled and ignored. Cage continues to explore his and our place in the human zoo, and he's darn good at it.

I suspect Cage, with his filmography of more than 120 entries, is searching for an identity in addition to loving his craft and paying sizeable alimonies. His recent Pig shows his considerable acting talent, and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, in which he plays himself in an action-comedy, lets him comfortably inhabit multiple genres.

His Oscar was not a fluke-he is a consummate actor.

Captivating but...

[slyvrr · 6/10 · 18 March 2024]

Undoubtedly brilliant film with dozens of ideas and paradoxical situations. A well-conceived and publicized production in which the expert hand of seasoned producers can be seen. But. There is a very important but to present, that is, the originality of the basic idea coincides perfectly with that of the infamous 2006 website "thisman dot org". I won't explain anything in detail here because I would go on too long, it will be enough to do a quick search to understand that perhaps the screenwriters were aware of this "thisman dot org". Beyond this non-negligible detail, the film remains a mini jewel in which all the dynamics work wonderfully and therefore absolutely recommended.

A look at fame? Nah, gotta look a little deeper.

[atomicben · 8/10 · 24 January 2024]

I never comment on here but I have to this time. I'm still watching it and it's really getting to me emotionally because this is a look at cancel culture, mob rule, psychological contagion, bullying, social exclusion, and how we are living in times when feelings trump facts.

This guy does/did nothing wrong. Heck he's one of the most harmless and invisible people in the world.

And when he was the new cool thing everyone loved him and then when things changed his life gets destroyed and everyone is talking about having to feel safe and comfortable.

When the pressure gets to him and he yells at people it's like "See it's confirmed! He's a monster!

And then the look at how marketing works and how they want to 'get into your head' and manipulate you and how many people want to be a social media "influencer."

Sure, you could see this as a commentary on the benefits and drawbacks of fame, and that is a layer, but it doesn't stop there.

This is a movie of what happens when the mob turns on you. Far too many so-called 'modern humans revert to Salem Witch Trial stuff. From reputation destruction to social exclusion (exile) to lynch mobs.

Today it's done mostly via social media and often anonymously so you can't confront your accusers and the bullies get to disperse responsibility across the mob like looting during a riot.

This is serious stuff. It might feel good to be part of the mob but just wait for the day the mob turns on you. And the only way to mitigate that in anyway is just be a sheep. Do what everyone else expects of you. Have no mind of your own or they're going to come for you.

In Japan they have a saying, "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down."

This movie shows you what it's like to be that nail.

Dream Scenario

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 23 November 2023]

When college professor "Matthews" (Nicolas Cage) starts appearing in the dreams of strangers (oh, and his wife!), his whole life is turned topsy-turvy. Initially it's all a rather benign phenomenon with his appearances fleeting, inconclusive and harmless. Until, that is, he meets one person who has been having a rather more intimate experience. Not only does this meeting not go very well (on various levels!) but it seems to change the very nature of the illusions for everyone, turning them more into nightmares... A predictable, occasionally violent, backlash ensues which makes the man's life - and that of his family - all but insufferable. What to do now his fame has come back to bite him? I quite enjoyed the first half hour of this quirky and entertainingly written drama. Cage is always rather good at taking the rise out of himself, and he seems to be enjoying the ride at the start. Once the story turns a bit darker, though, it runs out of steam. It's charm and uniqueness becomes rather subsumed in a rather unsubtle whack at the "cancel culture" that exists amongst those who live their lives via social media. It's not the first or the best to draw a parallel between what's real and what's fact - even when such distinctions are easily identifiable, and after a while I felt the film had no clear idea of how to conclude without actually proving it's own, rather depressing, point. The idea is interesting, the delivery is fine - but the end product is all a bit underwhelming.

Fame ... what you get is no tomorrow

[ferguson-6 · 8/10 · 28 November 2023]

Greetings again from the darkness. David Bowie's 1975 song "Fame" has a line, "Fame ... what you get is no tomorrow", and that stuck with me during the second half of this terrific and wild film from Norwegian writer-director Kristoffer Borgli (SICK OF MYSELF, 2022). Borgli not only tackles the issue of sudden fame and the weight that goes with it, but he also comments on ego and today's cancel culture. Subtext runs throughout a film that feels descended from the mind of Charlie Kaufman and/or Spike Jonze.

Oscar winner Nicolas Cage is perfectly cast as Paul Matthews, a bland Evolutionary Biology professor, living a satisfactory life with his wife Janet (the always strong Julianne Nicholson) and their two daughters Sophie (Lily Bird) and Hannah (Jessica Clement). As for his career, Paul, always dressed in a sweater and green jacket, is frumpy and awkward and an undistinguished faculty member who speaks frequently of writing a book, though he never actually writes anything.

Things change quickly for Paul as he begins showing up in people's dreams. As in his life, Dream-Paul doesn't do much other than 'be there', but as the number of people who experience this grows exponentially, Paul becomes a celebrity ... leading to the publicity machine we've witnessed many times in real life. Basically, Paul goes viral. Cage masters the delivery of this line: "Have you been dreaming about me?", and it's the point where we recognize he is delivering an outstanding performance. When do-nothing dream-Paul turns aggressive and violent in folk's dreams (now nightmares), his experience shifts dramatically. Cancel culture kicks in and Paul becomes an outcast or pariah. Filmmaker Borgli could draw from numerous real-life situations where teachers have been dismissed for absurd reasons ... OK, maybe not as absurd as actions in a dream, yet the concept is the same.

Borgli was surely inspired by Spike Jonze's excellent ADAPTATION (2002), which featured Nic Cage in a dual role (as Kaufman and his fictional brother). Although this isn't technically a dual role, Cage certainly gets to carve a wide swath through the film and through dreams ... and he appears to be having a great time doing so. Supporting work is provided by Dylan Baker, Tim Meadows, Dylan Gelula, and Kate Berlant. Michael Cera has a humorous sequence as a PR agent at a marketing firm that is trying to cash in on Paul's newfound fame as a "dream influencer". We even see capitalism at work in a further attempt to create an industry out of this flukey situation.

The brilliance of the film stems from Borgli presenting this as an entertaining comedy-horror film with 'everyman' Paul at the center. It's a clever idea that is not-so-subtle in its willingness to show us how easily cancel culture can spin out of control and how monetizing our addiction to attention can go wrong. One specific thing that I admired in Borgli's approach was how he made Paul a normal guy, and yet, he's one of those who always believes someone has wronged him or stolen his work - despite the fact that he never actually produces any work or takes his own risk. There is so much to like about this film, not the least of which is one of Nicolas Cage's best ever performances (even in David Byrne's oversized suit).

Opens in theaters on December 1, 2023.

Very enjoyable (even with a so-so ending)

[paul-allaer · 7/10 · 21 March 2024]

As "Dream Scenario" (2023 release; 102 min.) opens, we are introduced to Paul, a professor at the local university. After a theater outing, Claire, an old friend of Paul's runs into Paul and his wife Janet. Claire confesses that Paul is routinely pooping up in her dreams. Next things we know, this is happening with many other people as well (but not with his wife or daughters). What is going on here? At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: "Dream Scenario" is the brainchild of writer-director Kristoffer Borgli (a native of Norway). Here he comes up with the off-kilter idea: what happens to a guy who is popping up in people's dreams? The movie is plot-heavy so the less said of that, the better. Just watch! What I can say is that good chunks of the feel like an out-0f-body experience. I also was reminded of "Requiem For a Dream", even though "Dream Scenario" is NOT a drugs-related movie. And then there is Nicolas Cage, as Paul. Cage brings a performance that is one of the very best of his career, I'm not kidding. Michael Cera plays the head of a digital marketing company. Upon-and-coming Dylan Gelula has a nice role in Molly (also at that marketing company). For me the movie was very, very good until about three-fourths of the way through, Then it seems Borgli wasn't sure how the wrap things up.

"Dream Scenario" premiered at lsat Fall's TOronto International Film Festival to immediate acclaim (and buzz about Cage's "comeback"). The movie played in theaters in December (and earned Cage an Golden Globe nomination). The movie is currently rated 92% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and for good reason. The movie is now streaming on Max, where I caught it last night. If you are in the mood for an off-center and original psychological drama starring an outstanding Nicolas Cage, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Good idea, that isn't well explored

[o_oraculo · 5/10 · 22 December 2023]

The story: University Teacher feels his life is passive.

Starts showing up on people's dreams.

People start giving him preferentiable treatment like he's a movie star.

His introverted wife just wants him to appear on her dream in a sexy way, and doesn't like the spotlight.

Ad agency wants to commercialize his image.

He shoots down their ideas, he justs wants to write a book about ants.

A girl from the ad agency tells him she has intense sexual dreams about him.

He tries to have a fling with her, but gets so nervous he farts, and embarassed he leaves.

He feels angry about a former colleague stealing his ideas.

Starts showing up on people's dreams killing them.

People start antagonizing him in the real world.

He doesn't know how to react to that, and becomes combative, which worsens the situation.

His wife distances from him due to shame.

Some time passes.

The teacher has stopped appearing in people's dream in America.

Humanity develops the technology to make people enter other people's dreams.

Vapid pretty teens are paid to make ads into people's dreams.

The teacher eventualy learns to use the new technology and enter his wife's dream to appear in a sexy way. Happy ending.

The analysys: The story is an allegory for fame. People who don't particularly want it, become viral, get used, don't know how to deal with the media, become adored and/or vilified, pay so much attention to the shiny new things that come into their life, that they lose sight of what they wanted the most. While other explore the new way to become viral for commercial purposes.

The opinion: The movie has no opinion, doesn't try to teach you anything, doesn't take the concept into any interesting venue. And in the end, the moral is sort of "all you need is love", and "cancel culture is bad". Has anyone in the world not heard that boring idea a million times over at this point?

Here are some interesting concepts they could've taken it: What made his powers start? What made his powers stop? What would happen if he tryed to feel other emotions before sleeping? What if he tryed lucid dreaming? What if he tryed to stop dreaming? What if he was smart enough as a college professor and avoided conflict and called the cops and sued people, instead of getting physical with them? Why only one girl had sex dreams with him?

Good one, the half of it

[nikolaospspad · 6/10 · 16 March 2024]

It had the potential to be great. Somewhere after the middle it became more and more depressing and all of a suffen a new element brings "inception" dream technology and the movie ends without bringing it back. One idea would be at the end him entering on purpose the dreams of traumatised people and helping them.

One more thing is that it would be nice to somehow give an explanation or this to happen to one more person. It doesnt make sense this phenomenon and our curious mind gets furious a bit.

Nic Cage is great in the movie. Great acting with great haircut choice.

As many said is about cancel culture, social media present society allegory.

I wanted a more comedy movie but what can you do.