A24 has to manage their portfolio better. It is a little like how WB dropped Wonka, Aquaman and the lost Kingdom, and the Color Purple on the same weekend. A24 needs to figure out their awards contenders, so films like Dream Scenario, The iron Claw, and other late entries aren’t forgotten. I’m happy Nicolas Cage got a Golden Globe nomination, but with the work he’s been putting in recently in films like this, Pig, Massive Talent, and a few other choices, I feel like we are pulling him away from exceptionally awful straight to streaming titles. he had at least two last year he never should have done, the Old Way and The Retirement Plan.

Dream Scenario is a bit of a bonkers concept, taking one man (Cage), who is extraordinarily average, and he suddenly starts to appear in the dreams of those around him. Then, he starts appearing in dreams of people he doesn’t even know. He has no control over it, it is just happening to him. but, people think the real him is also the dream him, and it puts a strain on his job and marriage.

Eventually, the film starts to take a dark turn as Cage starts to do some very bad things in dreams, and just as he’s starting to use this new fame for something for himself, he finds himself steeped in cancel culture for something he still cannot control. Cage is brilliant here, using all his usual tricks to help shape the most boring man he can think of. He rarely goes big. This guy is really into ants, and wants to publish a book on them. He’s nerdy, he’s hyper-educated, and there is nothing interesting about him. but, Cage often has to play someone’s dream version of this character, which can be wildly different.

This is a bold film that feels like it is taking Truman Show to another level. instead of watching someone in their actual life, that person is now in your dreams. But how? Why? And, why him? I found this to be one of the more interesting films I saw this year, really coming in with a new perspective, and a fresh idea. It also is part of reviving Cage’s once dead career, which I fully support.

The audio description by Marsha Bartenetti and Deluxe is challenged with us not knowing what is real, and often just having to present the film as it is. Sometimes, we cut to a dream, and we aren’t sure if this is reality or a dream. The writer of the narration did a good job of navigating this, and also helping to highlight Cage’s terrific performance.

I do believe our Best Actor nominees are the right top 5 this year, but cage and some others make an excellent argument why we haven’t expanded to six nominees like the BAFTA’s. Would Cage have gotten the sixth spot? DiCaprio? Tao You? I guess, in a dream world, any of these guys had a shot. And, in a dream scenario, maybe it could have even been me.

Final Grade: A-