Released in theaters on Wednesday, December 27, “Dream Scenario” plunges Nicolas Cage into the dreams of thousands of people without knowing why. What did the first viewers think of this astonishing film?
If Nicolas Cage’s career is not short on roles and rock’n’roll stories, Dream Scenario enters directly into the top of the basket. Released this Wednesday, December 27, the feature film by Kristoffer Borgli (Sick of Myself) produced by Ari Aster (Midsommar, Beau is Afraid) makes him a university professor who appears in people’s dreams. Including those he doesn’t know.
A study of celebrity that oscillates between black comedy and soft horror, which Nicolas Cage himself places among the five best scripts he has read and accepted in his career. But what did the first spectators think?
With an average of 3.4, obtained from the 114 ratings given to it*, Dream Scenario is currently at the same level as Sick of Myself, director Kristoffer Borgli’s previous film. Which was however rated by 624 people.
As for Nicolas Cage, this is his best film since Oliver Stone’s Snowden (4 out of 5 on average), released in 2016 and in which he played a secondary role. And since Joe (3.5 out of 5), if we focus only on the feature films in which he is the headliner.
THEY LIKED
“Exceptional” For tupper (4 stars out of 5), “excellent” For Philippe’s outings (same note), “Nicolas Cage brilliantly plays the complex role of Paul Matthews, bringing emotional depth to a character who goes from ordinary existence to supernatural celebrity” according to culturevsnews (4.5 out of 5).
The main selling point of the feature film, in a role that seems to have been written for him, the actor is also Dream Scenario’s greatest quality. We can even say that it is unanimous, because none of the reviews posted on AlloCiné make any reproaches against it. But the film is not just a one-man show, because the content and form are also praised.
Driven by convincing performances, an intelligent storyline and impressive artistic direction, the film offers a unique cinematic experience
“Driven by compelling performances, an intelligent storyline and impressive artistic direction, the film offers a unique cinematic experience”enthuses culturevsnews. “[Kristoffer] Borgli manages to capture the essence of fame and reality in unexpected ways, inviting audiences to question the very nature of their own dreams.”
For Proud R. (3.5 out of 5), “it’s convincing and sometimes brilliant when Borgli stages some of the said dreams revealing gratinated paintings which nevertheless represent well what these can be, one of the most mysterious and difficult things to grasp and represent in images, in pictures.”
All, according to tupperin “satire which denounces the ills of our society: hasty judgment, condemnation by social networks, the disproportionate and unjustified projection of one’s fears into reality.” But the message is a bit divided.
THEY DID NOT LIKE
If the initial premise seduced more than one spectator, in the same way as the first part of the story, the second disappointed several. As crossing1 (3.5 out of 5): “No doubt uninspired to finish his fable, Borgli somewhat spoils the last part of his feature film, when a more daring conclusion should have prevailed.”
“He remains a tad too wise on many levels”presses Proud R.which places it alongside A Talent in Solid Gold among Nicolas Cage’s recent and unfinished meta projects. “The film sometimes resembles an XXL episode of Black Mirrorand even if he runs out of steam a little, he has the good idea to only last 1h40 to offer us a caustic comedy which is well worth the detour”confirms Djifunk (3.5 out of 5) while providing nuances.
The intelligence of Dream Scenario is deployed almost exclusively on the level of ideas, sacrificing on the altar of narrative shift the cinema as a staging, here most illustrative and atonal
“A scenario like Spike Jonzewho deserved a better director and a better photo”regret Go to sleep (2 out of 5), going in the same direction as Let’s celebrate cinema (2.5 out of 5): “The intelligence of Dream Scenario is deployed almost exclusively on the level of ideas, sacrificing on the altar of narrative shift the cinema as a staging, here most illustrative and atonal.”
Words which remain more measured than those of Laura (0.5 out of 5): “Meaningless, slow, incomprehensible, useless…save your time and money.”
IN SUMMARY
“Dream Scenario is a more than estimable object, well written, dialogued and filmed, which allows us to see that Nicholas Cage, lost for a long time in projects without any interest, is still a major actor” : this review signed crossing1 could be a good summary of general opinions on the film.
But if Nicolas Cage seduces, in the same way as the dreamlike, funny and/or disturbing sequences, the second part of this satire on celebrity and cancel culture is more debated.
And you ? What did you think of this Dream Scenario?
*Notes as of Thursday December 28, 2023