MovieChat Forums > Dream Scenario (2023) Discussion > Very good film that falls short of being...

Very good film that falls short of being great


Saw this last night and really enjoyed it, but wasn't quite as good as I was hoping it would be. Cage is great as expected and nails this role. It's one of the more original films I've seen this year and not surprising to see Ari Aster was a producer on this as it feels very much like something he could've directed. It's very funny and uncomfortable at times, although I wouldn't say it's as much as a comedy as the trailer sells it and it's certainly not a horror film aside from some of the dreams scenes which are all more brief than you might expect. If anything it's more of tragi-dramedy. What kept it from being great for me as it's a film with a lot of social commentary/ideas and it never really feels like it takes the time to flesh a lot of them out and only scratches the surface, especially during the 3rd act where it starts to become a bit of a mess in the last 15-20 minutes. It's still a very entertaining film that falls short of being great due to not fleshing out all of it's ideas and not saying as much as I think the director thinks it is. Still, I do recommend it for those who enjoy indie dramedies.

reply

At least it is an original idea. Finally. I'll probably support it for just that alone.

reply

It's a shame A24 is pushing that lame Priscilla Presley movie more than this. I doubt they will give it much of a wide release.

reply

Yeah I never even heard of this until I saw it here

reply

Only in 25 theaters in the country at the moment. It's suppose to get a wide release on December 1st, although I don't know how many screens it will expand to.

reply

I thought it was awesome and kept my attention the whole time. And the dream bracelet caught me off guard

reply

Very good and most unusual Nick Cage character!

reply

I'd say it was OK - 6/10
With better writing - the conclusion bit in particular - it could have been good.
If the ending is changed and a lot of filler material is cut in the middle - I'd even call it great.

Still - kudos to not being utter shite that Nick Cage stars in so often these days - and kudos to originality of sorts.
Oh and.... I think this film, while analyzing cancel culture/woke movement still stayed woke - that's a huge bummer.

reply

How is it woke?

reply

I'm with you on I thought it would be better. But it's a decent film I guess, although I wish they went more into detail on the dreams than everything else surrounding it.

reply

I don't think that they even had the intention to do any social commentary. Indeed, the story felt a bit limited, but they managed to do a good movie. I had good time watching it, it is well paced and great acting, but it is not a memorable film. The abrupt ending makes it too obvious that they didn't know how to conclude it. I'm glad that Cage's career is revitalized lately.

reply