Dream Scenario
Summary
author - director Kristoffer Borgli rescue a zany , evocative picture that examines the toll of fame , cancel refinement , maleness , and anxiety - repulse impotence . Dream Scenariostarts off as a series of comedic events that maturate dark over the course of the pic . And while the tonal shift does n’t fully work , and the final third barely scratches the surface of corporate - fund celebrity and fallout , Dream Scenarioboasts a superimposed performance from Nicolas Cage , and thought process - provoking , focused base that are largely well - executed throughout a magnetic , smart , and imaginative film .
Evolutionary biologist and tenured professor Paul Matthews ( Cage ) struggle to put up out . He ’s ignored by his peers , who do n’t call up very much of him , he ’s unable to stick out up for his family — including wife Janet ( Julianne Nicholson ) , who is generally rag by his inactive inactiveness — and his student are n’t very interested in what he has to say until he becomes a celebrity after inexplicably appearing in people ’s dream . The dreams are dissimilar for everyone , but Paul ’s function is always the same as he walk by wordlessly , see something ( potentially black ) hap and not filch a finger to help . Sometimes , he waves creepily or looks on calmly , unbothered by the circumvent distress . This bothers Paul , but when everyone realizes they ’ve been woolgather about the same guy , the mild - mannered professor quickly grow to notoriety . However , things take a turn of events when Paul starts appearing as an aggressor in masses ’s dreams .
Borgli ’s film is originative , with stylistic flourishes that raise the story . There ’s a good deal of stargaze involved , but the celluloid remains run aground thanks to the nature of Paul ’s journey . Dream Scenariogets to the bosom of Paul ’s anxieties of feeling less than , underappreciated , and overlook . This becomes clear-cut in his interactions with a fellow who seemingly used Paul ’s research to bring out . Paul ’s seriousness begins to shed as he ’s introduced to dissimilar scenario that either give him attention or push the bound of his previously private life . Borgli offer an intriguing juxtaposition between the Paul of before and the Paul of after . Because although Paul seems low about himself and his life before his ill fame , he ’s openly delighted to be in the spotlight — that is , until it ’s no longer profit his ego .
Benjamin Loeb ’s cinematography complements the film ’s themes and its change over narrative . As Paul finds himself on the receiving last of cancel culture — despite , in this case , having not actually done anything incorrect — Loeb ’s camera angles punctuate the changes . The dreams sometimes search the same , and are sometimes just as menacing , but as Paul ingest an active office in them , the fashion his physicality is centered reflects what ’s going on . This is helped by Nicolas Cage ’s own body language . The actor portray Paul as slimly timid and ill at ease , both of which are present in the way he moves and holds himself . As the film goes on , Cage sheds certain aspects of Paul ’s demeanor . He ’s repulse to places he never thought he ’d go , and John Milton Cage Jr. masterfully conduct the transition , bringing nuance , complexness , and drollery to the purpose by way of his strong-arm prowess and intonation . This might be one of Cage ’s skillful performance .
ByDream Scenario’send , however , it becomes unmortgaged that Borgli is n’t able-bodied to provide a smooth landing . The concluding third challenge delete culture and sensitivity wall being triggered by something or someone ’s military action , but barely scratches the surface . The comedy — and it does have multiple scenes of genuine humor — has something to say , but it does n’t full examine the overall substance of its theme . Dream Scenariois at its dependable when it ’s revolve around Paul and his inner world , and how his actions and events pretend his family . The celebrity fallout needed a bit more work , but it did n’t dissuade the motion picture overall , which include an fantastically touching terminal shot . It remained thoughtful , fascinating , piquant , and inspired throughout .
Dream Scenarioscreened at the 2023 Middleburg Film Festival . The film will be released in limited theaters on November 10 and nationwide on November 22 . It ’s 100 minute retentive and rated R for speech , violence , and some intimate content .
Nicolas Cage in Dream Scenario
Dream Scenario is a dingy funniness film by writer - director Kristoffer Borgli and follow the strange occurrences surrounding a man named Paul Matthews . Paul ’s simple fellowship life is uprooted when he begin appearing in the dream of million of stranger , leaving him to deal with his new fame status . However , when the dream begin to take darker form , Paul is force to navigate a strange novel world he hardly empathize .
Nicolas Cage and Julianne Nicholson in Dream Scenario
Nicolas Cage and Dylan Gelula in Dream Scenario
