#TIFF23: “DREAM SCENARIO” REVIEW

Review by David Baldwin

Paul Matthews (Oscar winner Nicolas Cage) is a tenured professor longing to sell his idea for a book that he just has not found the time to write. He wants to be seen as someone important, yet typically shuffles around in the background anonymously. All of that changes when Paul starts randomly showing up in people’s dreams – at first in a totally innocuous way, and then something slightly more provocative.

Saying anything else would ruin the wild, certifiably unhinged ride that is DREAM SCENARIO. Each pivot the Film takes is more frenzied and outrageous than the next. I sat there with my eyes wide, unsure of whether I should be laughing or be terrified. Writer/Director Kristoffer Borgli taps into both of those emotions exceptionally, and then proceeds to skewer social media, viral memeification, influencer marketing and monetization, and cancel culture with reckless abandon. Nothing and no one are safe here from his ruthlessness. I would have liked to see him addressing choice semiotic messages and allusions a bit more, though I am pleased he did not drift too far into the weeds with the concept and how it plays out. The way Borgli stitches every moment together is a thing of beauty, specifically in the unique cutaway dream gags where we see just what Paul is doing in the dreams (which range from tranquil to full blown nightmare fuel clearly inspired by another figure who pops up in dreams). Borgli wisely does not attempt to explain how or why it is happening either, and despite a razor sharp turn in the Third Act, keeps things moving along at a terrific pace. I had not watched Sick of Myself, Borgli’s debut feature, prior to this but after watching DREAM SCENARIO, it has jumped up to the top of my post-TIFF watchlist.

The supporting players Borgli has assembled here are rock solid no matter their importance to the story, with Julianne Nicholson, Michal Cera and especially Dylan Gelula as the clear standouts. All of that said, did you really keep reading to hear about the supporting cast or are you wondering how Cage does? The short answer is that he is absolutely brilliant and this is easily one of his top three best performances of the last decade. He navigates the highs and lows of Paul’s viral stardom with precision and the occasional knowing glance. The performance allows for to showcase both sides of his acting style – quiet and reserved nuance and bonkers over-the-top madness. The Film also allows him to dig down deep in the belly, allowing his more emotional and intimate scenes to really pop off the screen.

Cage may look ridiculous as this schlubby professor, but the strength of his performance and Borgli’s eviscerating the culture is anything but.

DREAM SCENARIO screens at TIFF ’23:

Saturday, September 9 at 5:30 PM at Royal Alexandra Theatre

Sunday, September 10 at 3:00 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toront