MOVIES That I Just Saw: “Dream Scenario.” / “Arizona.”

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“Dream Scenario” (2023, Amazon Prime) dark comedy fantasy film written and directed by Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, and starring Nicolas Cage. I didn't know who Mr Borgli was until this fine movie reminded me of Mr Cage in 2002's “Adaptation.”



       This movie received positive reviews and was nominated for awards including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Nicolas Cage.

       Plot take off: Sophie, a teenage girl, has a dream in which a man is raking leaves by a swimming pool. As Sophie starts floating up to the sky, she cries for help from this man whom she calls Dad. Her father, Paul Matthews (Nic) is a professor of evolutionary biology at a local university. The story threads into the same “dream scenario” plot point. 

       Nic carries on with his usual brand of oblique comedy: Stutters, cluelessness, wrinkled forehead, sudden blurts, wry smile. Which makes his dark comedies really darkly funny. 🎥👍📽


“Arizona” (2018, Hulu) dark comedy thriller. In 2009, in the midst of the real estate housing crisis, a divorced realtor who resides in Harding, Arizona with her 14-year-old daughter, got entangled with a crazy dude. The crazy dude: Danny McBride.



 

       The “thriller” started pretty much like a normal drama thriller. Then Mr McBride showed up. Then insanity starts! Including Danny, as the deranged Sonny, shooting a dog. Dammit, a dog! 

       Anyhow, as in most, if not all Danny McBride comedies, the jokes connect and work in the initial 30 minutes or so. Then the antics and crassness get weary. And boring.

       But I held in till the finish. I don't recommend that you do the same though. Try one of the 301 Mic Cage movies on streaming, instead. 🎥💻📽


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