I passed up the chance to see Vincent Ward’s What Dreams May Come when it came out in theatres because, at the time, I disliked Robin Williams and thought the trailer looked like the stuff of weepy, overwrought melodrama. However, my views on Williams have since changed, and after seeing Ward’s earlier effort Map of the Human Heart listed alongside Jacques Tati’s Playtime on the programme of Roger Ebert’s latest Overlooked Film Festival, I decided to give the film a chance. My enthusiasm was further bolstered by an article on Ebert’s spiffy new website in which the renowned (though ever more lenient) critic calls Vincent Ward “a true visionary” and What Dreams May Come “a grievously overlooked” film. For a film geek, I was pretty pumped.
The story of What Dreams May Come, once it actually kicks in about halfway through the film, is set mostly in Heaven and follows the adventures of Chris Nielsen (as played by Williams in one of those roles that reached its peak shortly after this film, in the dreadful Patch Adams and Jakob the Liar) as he tries to find his wife (Annabella Sciorra), who has ended up somewhere in Hell. All the smart dead people tell Chris that it’s too dangerous to go traipsing around in the Devil’s half of the afterlife, thus raising the stakes and making it “so” much more heroic when he eventually does anyway. Conveniently, the rest of Nielsen’s family (a son, a daughter who I thought was a son, and a dog) is dead too, so they’re around periodically, giving advice and waxing on about spiritual and philosophical issues. It all creates a fabulous atmosphere of laughable gloom, doom and hope that Williams captures well by making his eyes wide and watery and spouting lines such as “Boy, I screwed up. I'm in dog Heaven,” after finding his dog, and “I found you in hell. Don't you think I could find you in Jersey!” after finding his wife. Thankfully, some of the serious themes addressed by screenwriter Ron Bass are expressed so damn badly (“Sometimes, when you lose, you win.”) that they make the forced, corny lines sound a whole lot better.
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Article comments
1 - Richard Porter
I have to strongly DISAGREE with your review. The movie was visually the most beautiful movie to watch with its use of colors and shades.
The dramatic acting by Robin Williams was totally believable as was the love he had for his wife (Annabelle Sciorra who was equally strong) and family. As the movie progresses and passes through Heaven, Purgatory and Hell, you feel the mood change and see the mood change.
This movie is about so many different things including the belief in soulmates as being truly forever.
If you are in love or love the idea of love, this is the movie to watch and yes, you will cry and you will be happy watching this.
This is one of my favorites and is truly underrated.
2 - mike hollihan
Ward did the much better films "The Navigator" and "The Vigil." Navigator is about an English mining village waiting for the arrival of the Black Plague, mysticism, desperation and time travel. Vigil is set in New Zealand's mountainous back country and concerns a girl's becoming a woman. Both have great stories (better than What Dreams) and a beautiful visual sense. As I said in another Blogcritics post, Ward's painterly sense with a film canvas approaches that of Stanley Kubrick and Peter Greenaway.
3 - tayco
the movie is nice but no realistic
4 - Rob
The visuals were fabulous, but I think anyone other than Robin Williams would have fit this part better. And it would have resonated better with me if the couple, instead of being a well-to-do Doctor and museum curator were instead just every-man and every-woman (how about a teacher and a plumber?).
5 - Najd
I'm from Poland, my English isn't very good, but I will be watch this film in TV. I have one question: where in internet I can download music and tracks from this film? I someone know, pleas contact with me on my site. I'll be very gratefull.
6 - Najd
I forgot. You don't know Polish (for sure you don't know :)). My blog is only in Polish, but don't worry about it. If you will be on my blog click on 1% Czerni under new text "Filozofia" or click on "Dodaj Pióro..." on your right on my blog. Next on big pole write your message and under your message in the window "Podpis" write your nick or e-mail. At the end click on white button "Wyślij". It's all.
7 - Najd
Sorry, I forgot, you don't have polish signs im alphabet. White button is "Wyslij".