I just watched the Nicolas Cage movie "Dream Scenario". I was pretty in the dark about this movie. I didn't know it was an A24 production. I didn't know that Cage was even starring in the movie. I hadn't seen a preview for it. I am not fully sure that it even played in any theaters in Saint Louis. Then I heard Scott Aukerman talk about it on one of his many podcasts. Then it started showing up on streaming services as a feature. Then I read a few reviews and decided I wanted to see the movie. The reviews were solid, Aukerman was talking it up and Cage was getting very good coverage. I'm such a fan of Cage's that I will watch almost anything he does. I just want to see how big he gets with some of his roles. In this one he was subdued, but in the best way, and the only way Cage can be.

If you don't know, and I'll be as spoiler free as possible in my review today, Cage plays a professor who starts showing up in people's dreams. And not just his family's dreams. He is in a bunch of people's dreams all over the world. And when he shows up he doesn't do anything. He is just there. He walks in, looks at the people and goes about his business. It seems harmless, but there are also some creepy undertones.  The movie opens with him in his daughter's dream and it seems like a regular day. Then stuff starts to fall from the sky and his daughter begins to call for her dad as she is starting to float away. All the while Cage's character, her dad, just continues to rake leaves and say, "it's alright". It is odd and a little scary. He knows nothing of this, but all of the sudden people start to ask if they know him, if they've met before and why is he so recognizable. It isn't until he runs into an ex at a play that he realizes what is going on. She tells him about her dreams that include him and says she wants to talk and write about it. He agrees and then he blows up. He becomes viral and he really leans into his newfound fame. He takes interviews, he gets a book deal and he starts a partnership with a new up and coming tech company.

Then things change. This is where the movie gets tense. This is when the movie talks on the whole idea of everyone wanting their 15 minutes of fame. It seems like people will do anything to get famous in the current climate, and that is the direction this movie goes with for the second half of the feature. What happens in people's dreams now runs the gamut. And when people see Cage they have certain expectations and ideas about his character. It gets hyper tense and a little anxiety fueled. And I completely bought into what they were saying. I love how they made fun of how stupid "cancel culture" has become. The people who claim that they are "canceled" are idiotic and this movie does a wonderful job of showing that. Cage's character's "apology" is rich with how stupid these "canceled" people act when they are forced to admit wrongdoing. And Cage takes all of this on so beautifully. He doesn't have to be over the top, unless it is in a dream situation, and he owns those parts. He plays a very believable professor. He seems like a boring husband and dad. He is nerdy, cringey and shy. He is not in full control of any of his real life situations. He is just a regular dude who tried to make his 15 minutes of fame last longer than it should have.

I really liked this movie. It is understated and well done. It has funny and scary moments all wrapped up in its 100 minute run time. I definitely recommend this movie. It is a good watch and does a good job with the totally wild story they are telling. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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