Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageWhat Dreams May Come (1998)
Director: Vincent Ward
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
The blissful existence of Dr Chris Nielsen (Williams) and his wife Annie (Sciorra) shatters when their children are killed in a car smash. Later, Chris too dies in an accident. But, as it says on the poster, 'The end is only the beginning': we follow Chris to a celestial afterlife, where his burning will to be reunited with his family is complicated by his guilt about the kids and the discovery that Annie has committed suicide. How to find her again, when her soul has been consigned to the underworld? Ambitious is too small a word for Ward's film: it encompasses a visionary journey into the beyond and considers the power of emotions to contend with death itself. Since Annie is a painter working in traditional landscapes, the film allows Chris to construct his own heaven out of the art history they shared, from Caspar David Friedrich to Salvador Dali. Even in today's effects sated market, this conjures a real sense of wonder, imagining hell as a Sargasso Sea of twisted metal and doomed human faces. On the downside, the script spews Californian psycho-babble as friendly guides (Gooding and Sydow) explain the ground rules of paradise. As we make an Orphean trek towards a conventional finale, Ward dazzles the eye and boggles the mind, but leaves the heart relatively untouched.Author: TJ
User reviews of this film
-
- Aaa said...
- Posted on Jun 29 2009 22:06 The soapy tale of a couple who have it all, lose it all and magically get it all back again.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Sam said...
- Posted on Jan 15 2009 16:00 An amazing film that reaches into the inner soul, holds it and discovers the true joy of love and life.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Vincent Ward
Producer: Stephen Simon, Barnet Bain
Cast: Robin Williams, Annabella Sciorra, Cuba Gooding Jr, Max von Sydow, Jessica Brooks Grant, Josh Paddock full cast
Duration: 113 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now