Writer-director Kristoffer Borgli delivers a zany, evocative film that examines the price of fame, cancel culture, masculinity, and anxiety-driven impotence. Dream Scenario starts off as a series of comedic events that grow dark over the course of the film. And while the tonal shift doesn’t fully work, and the final third barely scratches the surface of corporate-funded celebrity and fallout, Dream Scenario boasts a layered performance from Nicolas Cage, and thought-provoking, focused themes that are largely well-executed throughout a magnetic, smart, and imaginative film.
Evolutionary biologist and tenured professor Paul Matthews (Cage) struggles to stand out. He’s ignored by his peers, who don’t think very much of him, he’s unable to stand up for his family — including wife Janet (Julianne Nicholson), who is generally frustrated by his passive inaction — and his students aren’t very interested in what he has to say until he becomes a celebrity after inexplicably appearing in people’s dreams. The dreams are different for everyone, but Paul’s role is always the same as he walks by silently, watching something (potentially disastrous) happening and not lifting a finger to help. Sometimes, he waves creepily or looks on calmly, unbothered by the surrounding distress. This bothers Paul, but when everyone realizes they’ve been dreaming about the same guy, the mild-mannered professor quickly rises to notoriety. However, things take a turn when Paul starts appearing as an aggressor in people’s dreams.
Borgli’s film is creative, with stylistic flourishes that elevate the story. There’s a lot of dreaming involved, but the film remains grounded thanks to the nature of Paul’s journey. Dream Scenario gets to the heart of Paul’s anxieties of feeling less than, underappreciated, and overlooked. This becomes clear in his interactions with a colleague who seemingly used Paul’s research to publish. Paul’s sincerity begins to shed as he’s introduced to different scenarios that either give him attention or push the boundaries of his previously private life. Borgli offers an intriguing juxtaposition between the Paul of before and the Paul of after. Because although Paul seems modest about himself and his life before his notoriety, he’s openly delighted to be in the spotlight — that is, until it’s no longer benefitting his ego.
Benjamin Loeb’s cinematography complements the film’s themes and its shifting narrative. As Paul finds himself on the receiving end of cancel culture — despite, in this case, having not actually done anything wrong — Loeb’s camera angles accentuate the changes. The dreams sometimes look the same, and are sometimes just as menacing, but as Paul takes an active role in them, the way his physicality is centered reflects what’s going on. This is helped by Nicolas Cage’s own body language. The actor portrays Paul as slightly timid and awkward, both of which are present in the way he moves and holds himself. As the film goes on, Cage sheds certain aspects of Paul’s demeanor. He’s driven to places he never thought he’d go, and Cage masterfully conveys the transition, bringing nuance, complexity, and comedy to the role by way of his physical prowess and intonation. This might be one of Cage’s best performances.
By Dream Scenario’s end, however, it becomes clear that Borgli isn’t able to provide a smooth landing. The final third challenges cancel culture and sensitivity surrounding being triggered by something or someone’s actions, but barely scratches the surface. The comedy — and it does have multiple scenes of genuine humor — has something to say, but it doesn’t fully examine the overall message of its themes. Dream Scenario is at its best when it’s centering Paul and his inner world, and how his actions and events affect his family. The celebrity fallout needed a bit more work, but it didn’t deter the film overall, which included an incredibly touching final scene. It remained thoughtful, fascinating, engaging, and inspired throughout.
Dream Scenario screened at the 2023 Middleburg Film Festival. The film will be released in limited theaters on November 10 and nationwide on November 22. It’s 100 minutes long and rated R for language, violence, and some sexual content.
