Dreamland (2006)

Thanks for the memories!

Great Film overall

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Released in 2006 and directed by Jason Matzner, "Dreamland" is slice-of-life drama about several people at a small trailer park called Dreamland in the New Mexican desert. A blossoming poetess (Agnes Bruckner) and her sickly Miss America wannabe bestie (Kelli Garner) are both stirred by a newly arrived basketball protégé (Justin Long), which eventually creates conflict. Also on hand are a drug-addled "boy toy" (Brian Klugman), a father struggling with grief & alcoholism (John Corbett) and a couple musicians (Gina Gershon & Chris Mulkey). This is a subdued and mundane indie drama with beautiful New Mexican cinematography, a spiritual soundtrack and reverential tone. From the get-go it is pictorially established that the looming transmission towers represent the Fountain of Life (the Creator) and the healing powers thereof, which draw the physically, mentally or spiritually broken. The cast are at various stages of searching, lost-ness or suffering. One critic panned the film on the grounds that it seemed like "Debbie Downer" wrote the script, but this simply isn't accurate. Yes, there are some sad or foolish facts-of-life addressed, but there's something intangibly beautiful and transcendent going on behind the scenes throughout. Not every loose-end is tied up at the end, but the movie leaves you with a sense of hope. It also leaves you wondering. The film runs 88 minutes and was shot in New Mexico (Placitas, Rio Rancho & Albuquerque). WRITER: Tom Willett.GRADE: B/B- (6.5/10)

Agnes Bruckner plays Audrey, a self-sacrificing friend and daughter. Audrey dreams of leaving the Dreamland cocoon and experiencing life. Instead of acting on her college and life's desires, she puts herself at the disposal of others (her devastated, widowed father and her chronically ill best friend).Pragmatically speaking, she simply has to nudge her dad out of his comfort zone. Teach him how to live again by dragging him out of the trailer and going places - initially with her. Like many challenges in personal relationships, this is easier said than done because feelings trump practicality.In the end the father helps himself in order to help his daughter. When he finds her letters of acceptance to the various colleges that she has kept hidden from him, he realizes he MUST step-up, and transform from being Audrey's dependent to being her dad. This is a very satisfying Dad and Daughter movie with an interesting cast, nice music and scenery.

The film's acting, cinematography, story line and all other major film mechanics were all there. I think, for a first and only film, the director did an incredible job of capturing so much of a slice of life; the pains of growing up and the strength of family ties despite external obstacles. I read a lot about the film being called "slow" as if that was something negative. It's not at all.........so much happens beneath the surface and in the eyes of the actors that to miss it means you really should be watching more mainstream popcorn movies or crash bang boom films that seem to dominate the market. This film, if watched and not just on for noise, is a treasure trove of action, but it's deep down and requires an imagination and an emotional Geiger counter to know the heart and depth of the filmmaker's journey.My only quibble was with the casting. The acting was superb but the casting of type was not. Or more specifically the make up mirrors were working overtime. I doubt if anyone as attractive as the two lead females would be in a trailer park setting with perfectly coiffed hair dos and flowing sensual clothing roaming the desert in dream like fantasies. The harsh realities of that lifestyle and some of the redneck thinking and prejudices were totally missing and replaced with ego trips to the make up mirrors....too bad as it's the only false note in the film.I'd like to find out what other films Jason Matzner has planned or if the low box office on this film prevents him from doing another. It's a shame if it does because it's a wonderful film that engages you unknowingly and holds you to the end, which BTW, is a perfect ending to an almost perfect film.I hope the film gains an audience and a second breath in the DVD and Netflix market. Too bad we can't go back and muss up some of the gals lipstick and hair dos! Or introduce some characters, at least one, with more downtrodden existences in their trailer community.....they do sometimes, have those folks in trailer parks.....sometimes too often.

This is a compelling, evocative coming of age story that has uniformly terrific performances and expert cinematography. The film invites and earns comparison with indie landmarks like GAS FOOD LODGING and RUBY IN PARADISE but is far more than a mere imitation. The stunning photography eschews the grainy, hand-held look of many independent films in favor of a classical expressionism that beautifully conveys the emotions at the story's core. Those emotions are in turn beautifully portrayed by a flawless cast that is given solid support by an unusually strong score and collection of source songs. For viewers looking for a solid character-based dramedy, this is a must see.