What Dreams May Come

Starring: Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra, Max von Sydow, Rosalind Chao, Lucinda Jenney, Werner Herzog
Directed by: Vincent Ward
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
1998

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary:
After dying in a car crash, a man (Robin Williams) eventually learns that his wife (Annabella Sciorra) has died as well. He begins an epic journey, risking everything to find her.

Review:

Tim: What Dreams May Come is a bit of a difficult movie to pin down. The first time I watched it, I remember leaving the movie just feeling sad. Even though much of the movie was uplifting and beautiful, there was just this sadness that pervaded my experience. I remember thinking this wasn't the easiest movie to watch and I didn't really want to see it again. However, I started The Movie Files in 2001, and I needed to rewatch every film I'd seen to put it into my "official" count. So, I sat down to watch it again, 15+ years later.

The second viewing was similar to the first, but with some differences. The story is just brutally sad. We are introduced to a bunch of characters and most of them end up dead in the very beginning of the movie. This is fairly atypical and those sequences are presented in a dramatic, melancholic way. I still don't enjoy the beginning of this movie because it's too much death, sadness, and regret. The rest of the movie is more uplifting, but there is something inherently depressing about considering death for you and your loved ones, and what happens in the great unknown after we have shuffled off this mortal coil. It's good for movies to explore topics like this and I appreciated the attempt here to be different and bold. Unfortunately, if I could use everyday vernacular, this movie just bums me out. It bummed me out a decade plus ago and it bummed me out on this second viewing. Make no mistake, this is a good movie, but man, I really have no desire to sit through this again.

The biggest attraction here are the special effects. It's pretty insane how the afterlife is depicted here- Heaven, Hell, and everything in between. The visuals in this film are truly astounding and one of the most memorable aspects of this film. Whether it's the world as a painting, the ship in the storm, the lost souls immovable and stuck, or any of the dozens of other crazy sights, this movie runs the gamut of what we might expect to see in a single movie. It's not all that surprising that this film won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects- it truly is remarkable to watch (for the time- some of the visuals are a bit dated at this point).

The cast is good, for the most part. Robin Williams always works so well in these kinds of roles, but it's always a little odd seeing him not in full-on comedy mode. He's a strong actor, though, and manages to carry the movie adequately. I wouldn't say I truly loved his performance, but it was good enough for the film. Cuba Gooding Jr. is above average in a smaller supporting role. He has a few good moments, but isn't given nearly enough to do. This movie is really about Williams and Annabella Sciorra. I actually struggled with Sciorra. It felt like her performance was too inaccessible. I couldn't quite break through into her character to understand and identify with her. I just didn't enjoy her performance and therefore, I wasn't that invested in her character. That undermines much of the film. Max von Sydow is good in a small role- his presence is always a welcome one.

What Dreams May Come deserves credit for its amazing visuals and its unique, risky story. However, the movie just strays into the melodramatic for me and it creates a depressing, unsatisfied feeling. I'd consider this a good movie- it's absolutely worth seeing. However, it's one of those good movies that I appreciate but don't exactly like. It's the kind of movie that makes you want to have a drink afterwards, but the payoff from the film isn't worth the emotional stress the film puts you through.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Defending Your Life, The Lovely Bones, Patch Adams