I’ve got a few dream scenarios I’ll keep private for right now, but am I the only one in life who has master plans with several ‘rooms’ meaning ideas, and then when the moment actually occurs I only remember to execute like half of them? Then I proceed to kick myself to bruises the next day for forgetting to hatch the plans. Perhaps, why I’m not empress…
Much like unfulfilled plans are those frustrating dreams where you wake up before the scene gets to the good stuff… which leads me to Dream Scenario, a film much like the aforementioned unfulfilled promise…
Which is why I think Kristoffer Borgli might be a Sagittarius as well, since Dream Scenario accomplishes a good deal of quality film making, but then doesn’t stick the landing as far as closing the circuit on what could have been a very moving film.
First, a slim premise so you know what you’re walking into: Nicolas Cage (who should have won MANY more awards for Pig) puts in an Oscar nominating performance as an unassuming Professor who becomes a viral sensation. Four scenes sold me on this film and again highlight Cage’s acting chops:
1. the nervous bar scene with Dylan Gelula (who doesn’t appear on the film’s cast page…interesting) and Nicolas Cage.
2. the hilarious, awkward couch scene with the young PR rep played by Dylan Gelula
3. the PR conference table with Cage, Michael Cera (acting normal? Loved it!), Dylan Gelula and Kate Berlant. A realistic scene with social media cyphers going for Cage’s jugular.
4. the apology scene by Cage…vulnerable, crying jag, come on, this is top notch acting!
The film is a metaphor for the demonic cancel culture, yet the love story between Cage and his wife could have been amped and made the moving center piece for the film. The third act ruins this by going off on a dream access marketing project. But still, Dream Scenario is thought provoking and worth seeing.
