What Dreams May Come (1998)

Director:

Vincent Ward

Writers (WGA):

Richard Matheson (novel)
Ronald Bass (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

After life there is more. The end is just the beginning.

Plot:

Chris Neilson dies to find himself in a heaven more amazing than he could have ever dreamed of. There is one thing missing: his wife...

Plot Keywords:

Heaven | Hell | Soul | Death | Suicide

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Chris Nielsen
Cuba Gooding Jr.	...	Albert Lewis
Annabella Sciorra	...	Annie Collins-Nielsen
Max von Sydow	...	The Tracker
Jessica Brooks Grant	...	Marie Nielsen
Josh Paddock	...	Ian Nielsen
Rosalind Chao	...	Leona
Lucinda Jenney	...	Mrs. Jacobs
Maggie McCarthy	...	Stacey Jacobs
Wilma Bonet	...	Angie
Matt Salinger	...	Reverend Hanley
Carin Sprague	...	Best Friend Cindy
June Carryl	...	Woman in Car Accident (as June Lomena)
Paul P. Card IV	...	Paramedic
Werner Herzog	...	Face

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving death, some disturbing images and language.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA | New Zealand

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:Livre | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIA | Italy:T | Netherlands:12 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Alameda, California, USA

Company:

Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Trivia:

The director's mother is among the people flying around in the great library.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Christy and Ann are in the park watching the clouds, the leaves in her hair disappear and reappear between shots.

Quotes:

The Tracker: Your wife love you as strong ? We'll find her. But when we find her nothing will make her recognize you. Nothing will break her denial. It's stronger than her love. In fact, reinforced by her love. You can say everything you long to say, including good-bye. Even if she can't understand it. And you'll have the satisfaction that you didn't give up. That has to be enough.
Chris Nielsen: You just get me there, I'll decide what's enough.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Cell (2000)

Soundtrack:

Chris & Annie's Theme

an impressive "tug" at heartstrings

I am not that crazy about Robin Williams, though I don't dislike him. But he was adequate in this movie, because it called for a real sensitive and really nice guy. I feel that, from almost every one of the actors, there was a luminous glow emanating from their faces, like there was some sort of special lighting used. (There probably was!) As a result, the audience has empathy toward the characters and actually cares about what is happening to them. I've heard so many complaints about how it tries to pull at your heartstrings. Excuse me, but if there WAS a movie out there that made people cry without trying to, I would stay as far away from it as possible...

.....YES, I believe there IS merit to be deserved by a movie if it creates any kind of obvious emotion. I think that crying at a movie either scares or annoys some people.

I like how the movie made me feel awed during the first half, and even more awed during the second half; all the while making me feel sad throughout the movie at the same time. However, there is a difference between 'sad' and 'depressing'. I think the sadness helps any audience realize some parts of their inner-selves.

While very memorable, curiously, the movie never intends for its audience to be close-minded enough to think that this is, with certainty, what happens after you die. It is more of a suggestion, an analogy, of how precious life is, and how deep the bond of love is between some people, no matter what happens.

Rent this one today.