Dreamscape
Have you ever thought about somebody--then the phone rang, and it was them?
Or even picked it up to call that person, and they're on the other end
already? Funny thing about that last one was, it just happened with my Mom
and I.
What about the idea of sensing something is not right with somebody and
getting news shortly later that something has happened?
Do you believe in psychic ability, mind control, or what your dreams are
telling you?
Well, if you do, don't, or just aren't sure, the movie Dreamscape might
clear some of those and other questions up for you.
Alex Gardner (Dennis Quaid), who was at the top of his game in the psychic
world, suddenly left it to pursue a less popular form of entertainment, but
a more lucrative one in a negative sense; he now places winning bets on
horse races and has some money-hungry low lives breathing down his neck
looking for the inside scoop. (Now, if Alex was such a phenomenal psychic,
he should've known better than to play that kind of game!)
When dream research at Thornhill College is in need of some "dream
researchees," Paul Novotny (Max Von Sydow) searches for Alex, who once was
a part of his research team when Alex was a teenager.
Paul presents Alex with an offer that cannot be matched by any other; if
Alex doesn't accept the position, he'll be hand-delivered to the IRS
because it looks like Alex's gambling winnings have audit written all over
them.
Alex knew the right answer to that question without any psychic persuading.
He agreed to join the team.
A beautiful doctor, Jane DeVries (Kate Capshaw), is working with Alex on
getting his skills sharpened for the experiments he'll soon be researching.
But that's not all that's developing between these two engaging minds.
Alex also finds himself drawn into the nightmare world of Buddy (Cory
"Bumper" Yothers), a troubled little boy whose nightmares are eating him up
and have already caused one psychic to go mad with fear.
This sleep research turns into more of a nightmare than the nightmares
themselves. You see, Alex has competition, or more to the fact that Alex is
competition for Tommy Ray Glatman (David Patrick Kelly). He's another
psychic whose demented lifestyle has him actually risking the lives of
critically endangered patients. Tommy Ray has discovered a way to
communicate inside one's dream and alter the final results of it.
The nightmare still progresses with the underhandedness of another
high-profile member of the research team, Bob Blair (Christopher Plummer).
Bob happens to be the man who runs the whole operation, and whose unethical
and very disturbing philosophy behind this research includes harming the
President (Eddie Albert).
Alex must race to find a way to get into Tommy Ray's nightmares so he can
stop him from his deadly mission to wreak destruction on the lives of the
innocent--lives that will include Alex's!
Dennis Quaid is a charmer on film. With a smile wider than the Pacific
Ocean, it's hard not to resist his chiseled handsomeness that contributes
100% to his sizzling hot-blooded sex appeal on-screen.
With all that good stuff going--yes, there's a ton more to this
gentleman--he's a hands-down fantastic actor whose impish, freshly
invigorating smartness, and strong cocky attitude is demonstrated with
excellence.
So Dennis... Mr. Quaid... even Mr. Everybody's All American, you've come a
long way in Dreamscape.
Kate Capshaw's dazzling image of intelligence, softness, and sexiness was
immaculate.
The following men, Max Von Sydow, Christopher Plummer, and Eddie Albert,
are all in an elite group of skilled, first-rate actors whose work in
Dreamscape enhanced each of their fine standings in film.
David Patrick Kelly had a chewy role to swallow, and he devoured it!
Overall, this is an intriguing movie with a lot to say about the mysteries
of the unknown within the sleep cycle, and the psychic abilities we can tap
into. It's a movie where your REM can do you more harm than relaxation.
Flashy and neat are the special effects. Moody and bleak is the backdrop of
music which awakens the nightmares.
There are times when graphic images are presented through the nightmares of
the President, whose heart is burdened with decisions of war--a very touchy
subject as we all know recently.
Dreamscape truly is about the intriguing worlds where dreams and nightmares
live in each of us.
So, I guess there's one last thing to say... Sweet dreams!
Written by: Lynda Dale MacLean
Reviewers Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 8.33
Reader's Votes: 6
Added: 25-Jan-2003
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