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What Dreams May Come

Plot

Based on a metaphysical 1978 novel by science fiction and horror author Richard Matheson, this romantic fantasy-drama won an Oscar for its expensive and impressive visual vistas depicting an imaginative afterlife. Robin Williams stars as Chris Nielsen, a doctor who has suffered with his artist wife Annie (Annabella Sciorra) through the devastating loss of their children, Marie and Ian, who were killed in a car accident. Although Annie's all-consuming depression nearly destroyed their marriage, the couple rebuilt their relationship and are now living out a comfortable middle age. Stopping one night to help a motorist in a wreck, Chris is struck by a car and killed. At first confused about where he is, Chris meets Albert (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a spiritual guide who helps him to realize he's passed away and that he must move on to the next world. After trying with only limited success to communicate with the devastated Annie, Chris moves on and discovers an afterlife that can become whatever one envisions, where even his pet dog awaits him. What Chris envisions as paradise are the paintings of his wife, and he happily takes up residence there, awaiting the far-off day when Annie will eventually join him. He also meets his children, although they have chosen different appearances than the ones they had in life. Then tragedy strikes when Annie, inconsolable, commits suicide and goes to Hell. Although it is rarely done, Chris insists on traveling there, risking his eternal soul to save the woman he loves. Accompanied part of the way by Albert and a wizened guide called The Tracker (Max von Sydow), Chris finally reaches Annie in Hell, and must convince her of the truth in order to release her from her dark prison. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Review

The Vincent Ward-directed What Dreams May Come had the misfortune of arriving just as public tolerance for Robin Williams in sentimental roles was waning dramatically. Though the much-seen Patch Adams was still to come,Dreams doubtlessly suffered from the rejection of those already burned by Fathers' Day, Jack, and their ilk -- which is too bad. Though the film treads the dangerous line between spirituality and kitsch, its deeply imaginative vision of the afterlife is both memorable -- especially the production design -- and moving. In many ways, it's a triumph of low expectations. Williams, Sciorra, and Gooding all turn in affecting performances. Similarly, screenwriter Ronald Bass may seem like the wrong person to tame the New Age qualities of Richard Matheson's story but, like the work of Krystof Kieslowski (if not quite in the same league) and the film The Sixth Sense, Ward proves that bad metaphysics can be converted into highly effective metaphors. Though not without its excesses, any film that can get away with scenes of a despondent Williams wandering paradise with his beloved pooch demonstrates an admirable ability to succeed on its own unique terms. Look fast for Werner Herzog as one of Hell's lost souls. ~ Keith Phipps, Rovi

Cast

Robin Williams - Chris Nielsen
Cuba Gooding, Jr. - Albert
Annabella Sciorra - Annie Nielsen
Max von Sydow - The Tracker
Jessica Brooks Grant - Marie Nielsen

Josh Paddock - Ian Nielsen; Rosalind Chao - Leona

Credit

Tomas Voth - Art Director, Christian Wintter - Art Director, Jim Dultz - Supervising Art Director, Heidi Levitt - Casting, Alan C. Blomquist - Co-producer, Yvonne Blake - Costume Designer, Stephen P. Dunn - First Assistant Director, Vincent Ward - Director, Charlie Croughwell - Second Unit Director, David Brenner - Editor, Maysie Hoy - Editor, Ronald Bass - Executive Producer, Ted Field - Executive Producer, Scott Kroopf - Executive Producer, Erica Huggins - Executive Producer, Michael Kamen - Composer (Music Score), Masters FX - Makeup Special Effects, Eugenio Zanetti - Production Designer, Eduardo Serra - Cinematographer, Barnet Bain - Producer, Stephen Simon - Producer, Cindy Carr - Set Designer, Erin Kemp - Set Designer, Dawn Swiderski - Set Designer, Aric Lasher - Set Designer, Alicia MacCarone - Set Designer, Jake Strelow - Set Designer, Digital Domain - Special Effects, P.O.P. Film - Special Effects, POP Animation - Special Effects, Nelson Stoll - Sound/Sound Designer, David Kneupper - Sound Editor, Peter Michael Sullivan - Sound Editor, Charlie Croughwell - Stunts Coordinator, Stuart Robertson - Special Effects Supervisor, Ellen M. Somers - Special Effects Supervisor, Ronald Bass - Screenwriter, Richard Michalak - Second Unit Director Of Photography, Richard Matheson - Book Author

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