Year of Release: 2023
Director: Kristoffer Borgli
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Jessica Clement, Tim Meadows, Dylan Baker, Lily Bird, Dylan Gelula, Kate Berlant, Paula Boudreau, Marc Coppola
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
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Synopsis and Review
Writer/director Kristoffer Borgli made a name for himself with the feature "Sick of Myself", which was selected for the "Un Certain Regard" section of the Cannes Film Festival in 2022. "Dream Scenario" has earned him more attention and accolades since its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in 2023. The film follows the story of Paul Matthews, a tenured Biology college professor, who has always been a mild mannered individual, one who has pushed his dreams and ambitions to the side. He has longed held the ambition of writing a book, but never set that plan in motion, resenting some of his colleagues for doing so. Things start taking a different turn, when suddenly random people start recognizing him. Initially thinking it's a lark or a coincidence, Paul doesn't waste too much time on it. But things escalate quite quickly, with Paul appearing in other people's dreams, simply standing there and doing nothing. He seems to be an omnipresent figure in everyone's dreams, save for his wife's. A public relations firm wants to capitalize on his newfound fame, possibly getting him to endorse products or brands, whereas all Paul wants is to write a book on the subjects that he has expertise on. As his presence on people's dreams takes a darker turn, Paul's career starts to get affected, as does his wife's and ultimately all his relationships.
"Dream Scenario" at times can't help but coming across as a variation of a Charlie Kaufman script, only without a fulfilling emotional core and an effective third chapter. The premise upon which the film relies on is fantastic, with the surreal aspect of an ordinary person appearing on everyone's dreams never truly explained or justified. Where the film starts losing a bit of its steam, lies with the fact that the writer/director doesn't really know what to do with this charged statement. Paul is illustrated as an everyday man, someone with mild ambitions, whose relationships have somewhat neutered him, leaving him like a forgotten passenger of his own life. His wife, his daughters, almost everyone in his life treat him as someone placid and passable, which makes the introduction of his persona in everyone's dreams even more of a shock. And while the film initially handles the disconcerting aspect of this quite well, the exploitation part of it, across everyone on Paul's life, simply doesn't hit the same note. By the time the fall from grace happens, it's a virulent scenario, one that is also not properly explored. There are aspects of this film that feel very akin in style and approach to the work of Todd Solondz, even more so than Michel Gondry's or Charlie Kaufman's, however Todd Solondz doesn't shy away from probing deeper into his characters, whereas here we get glimpses of Paul, but very little from everyone else. And as much as someone is an every day person, there's always more to someone than a passively rendered individual as Paul ends up being characterized by. The film merits much of its attention to Nicolas Cage's performance, who once again dials down his intensity, and creates a truly arresting performance, this time with good supporting turns from Julianne Nicholson and Michael Cera. The production team is solid, with highlights going to Owen Pallett's score, Benjamin Loeb's cinematography and Zosia Mackenzie's production design. It's a flawed, but interesting viewing experience.
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