Dream Scenario

⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2 (out of 5)

There is always the dream that one day there will be that complete film that will satisfy from beginning to conclusion. Not that these films don’t exist in cinematic history, but one can dream that they would occur more frequently. Over the years, Nicholas Cage can be credited with attempting this feat with the sheer quantity of work. He periodically hits the mark with a few of these independent excursions, but is his latest more nightmare than fantasy?

The Academy Award-winning actor plays biology professor Paul Matthews, who has struggled to find the recognition he believes he deserves from his work. As he attempts to engage with his students and family, something bizarre that involves him begins to occur to people around the world. This tenured professor is inexplicably entering people’s dreams around the world. Initially, Paul doesn’t do anything in the dreams except observe what is happening to those who dream. After an article about these bizarre experiences and an interview with a local reporter goes viral, the teacher becomes a worldwide phenomenon. His popularity with his students, his family, and the media soars until his dream-state manifestation begins to head down darker paths in people’s subconscious. Then Paul’s world goes into an unexpectedly dramatic tailspin as quickly as his meteoric rise to fame began.

Initially, writer/director Kristoffer Borgli’s film had the vibe of Marc Forster’s Stranger than Fiction as it delves into the mediocre world of its central character as he experiences bizarre supernatural experiences. Cage’s character begins this journey as pathetic and likable, but there is the hope that he will emerge as the victor. Yet, after the initial setup and the premise for the film are set into motion, the subsequent acts of the screenplay delve into nightmarish elements that take this tale from endearing to heartbreaking. Less comedy and more repulsive melancholy show how fame can be a double-edged sword in our social media culture.

Not to say that Nicholas Cage and the cast don’t give their all to this twisted script of this poor man's version of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Julianne Nicholson (Blonde) is compelling as Paul Matthews’ understanding, but skeptical wife who questions the value of his sudden fame. Along with Michael Cera (Barbie) as the PR director who must figure out how to manage the career of this odd client who brings an unusual set of problems to his firm. All of them add to the fascinating commentary provided by this script about the viscous nature of social media, influencers, the over-sensitivity of current generations and how powerful mental imagery can be in people’s lives.

Dream Scenario had a dream-like beginning that descended into a chaotic nightmare. Still, the film does open the door to cultural phenomena that expose the dark underbelly of modern fame and should serve as a cautionary tale for those who seek it.

Reel Dialogue: Fame and influencers

Click on the image and listen to the God in 60 Seconds radio spot that talks about the cost of fame and where we can find our identity.

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