Dream Scenario is the latest movie to come from the fast moving and forecer evolving production line of A24, who themselves, are very quickly becoming one of the most unique and most reliable production companies out there.
This film revolves around the character of Paul Matthews who finds his life flipped 180 degrees when he suddenly begins appearing in the dreams of millions of strangers all around the world.
First of all, Nicolas Cage who is tasked with the responsibility of bringing the character of Paul Matthews, does an exceptional job. It's fair to say that Cage has been heavily criticised over the past few years for some of his performances across various films.
But Cage seems to do everything but miss in this film as the veteran actor does a brilliant job of finding the balance between comedy and depression throughout playing the character of Paul Matthews.
This movie is written and directed by a young filmmaker called Kristoffer Borgli. If you're wondering where you have heard that name before, you probably haven't.
Borgli is just the latest example and most recent addition to a long list of young filmmmakers that A24 have given huge opportunities to, that have evidently paid off.
Early on in the film, as audience members it's difficult to dig deep and find a specific moral message or voice that Borgli is trying to convey throughout this movie. But as time goes on, you can't help but feel that the purpose of this story is a clear and blatant comment on modern-day society's 'Cancel Culture'.
For those of you infamiliar with that term, 'Cancel Culture' is essentially when a large audience completely strip a person or group of people of their assets (such as fame, popularity, likeability etc.) because of something this person may have done.
In essence, they have been 'cancelled' by the media.
And this is very much something we see happen to Paul Matthews.
I feel as though there will be a fairly even split throughout the audience in regards to who actually likes Paul Matthews as a person. I for one couldn't help but side with him and constantly root for him throughout. But I can also see why some audience members may stand opposed to this.
And in an attempt to keep this spolier-free, there are certain events that occur in this film that doesn't allow Matthews to receive any justice whatsoever, which at the end of the film seems like a real slap in the face (if you are on his side).
But then again, I applaud Borgli for being brave enough to blend the world of fiction and non-fiction together throughout this movie.
The fiction being the fact that there's no way the entire world could dream about one man and one man only. And the non-fiction aspect being the struggles and real life consequences that the protagonist faces because of this.
Although the film itself is only 100 minutes long, I do feel as though it goes on longer than what it needs to and that there is a specific moment towards the end of the film that Borgli seems to go on an unnecessary tangent.
Without pointing it out specifically, I think it's fair to say that you'll know it when you see it.
Aside from this, Dream Scenario is a unique and impressive movie from A24 which only adds to their impressive lineup of productions over the past few years. Cage gives a standout performance, and the direction of Kristoffer Borgli will certainly make you keep an eye out for what the filmmaker does next over the coming years.
Overall Rating: 8/10
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