Dream World (2012)
Starring: Whit Hertford, Mary Kate Wiles, Nora Kirkpatrick,
Matt Bush
Plot: Oliver Hayes, an aspiring animator whose confidence is
at a low point, meets the captivating and impulsive Lily Blush, who encourages
him to drop everything and go with her to Northern California in the hopes of
fulfilling his fantasy of working for Pixar Animation Studios.
My review and thoughts:
First off this is an amazing beautiful drama and awesome
romance. A girl meets boy relationship, meeting for the first time and dropping
everything spontaneously and following your dreams.
I fell in love with this movie. I fell in love with each
character, the direction and the amazing written script is flawlessly done.
This movie is beautifully done in a romantic comedy, drama way that captures
the viewer’s interest from beginning to end. This is a true independent film.
An indie, a comedy romance that floored me with its awesome witty nature and
beautiful stance on the idea of life.
This stars the very underrated Whit Hertford who has acted
in over 70 films. He is a true talent that seems to never get his break. His
performance in this made you believe his character. You fell in love with his
performance. He's such an odd looking young man and so it just adds to the
beauty of what this film is about. He plays the character that is the offish
character, the one not popular. The character that the in-crowd avoids and bullies the pick on.
Many horror fans will remember him as Jacob in The Nightmare
on Elm Street The Dream Child in 1989.
In this he plays the wonderful character Oliver Hayes who
has a dream to become an animator, to be successful at his job, yet he seems to
never get the break and now he meets this wonderful beautiful girl named Lily
Blush. She makes him feel alive and pushes him to follow his dreams,
spontaneously. Soon he finds himself on his journey beside her. He soon finds
himself falling in love.
Mary Kate Wiles plays Lily Blush the spontaneous wild cute
energetic, brilliant bipolar lost soul, who builds a truly original type of
character. Lily Blush is everything Oliver had no idea, he would ever have.
The relationship between the two of them is amazingly
filmed, acted, written beautifully. The film is stunningly brilliant and
flawlessly done in a beautiful romantic way with the struggle of personal
demons.
I can honestly say I absolutely fell in love with Oliver
Hayes. His character is brilliant. His character I can relate to. I think all
the outcast, those who never had the friends or the love interest or the
adventures in life. All the nerds, all the geeks, all those sitting in the back
of the class; Oliver Hayes is that character and yet now he seems to be waking
up from his sheltered life.
The journey is great as both of them travel and head out on their
destination of Oliver's dream of pitching his animation to Pixar Studios.
Oliver seems to find himself and also the good and the bad. Oliver finds an
inner side of the soul. Soon he realizes nothing is ever perfect, nothing can
ever become perfect. Oliver finds himself struggling with all the contradictions
and all the what-ifs and the abilities to make the right decisions.
This is an absolutely wonderful movie about the underdog
guy, about the guy that is not appreciated or under appreciated. The guy who
seeks out his dream and yet falters in so many ways and yet awakens as he finds
his ultimate adventure. He sees the perfectness covered up by shadows of his
past and shadows of his present continue his outcome.
The ultimate dramatic appeal, that adventure of life, of
taking the two roads diverged, having to make the right decisions, the right
choices.
This is directed by Ryan Darst, a newcomer to the cinema
world. This is his first major feature film. He has directed other short films
but this is his first full-length film and I think he amazingly captured the
beauty of cinema and everyday life; the down-to-earth feel.
These characters have been created on screen so that all the
viewers can relate to Oliver Hayes and Lily Blush; there is a piece of each of
us, some more than others can relate.
Whit Hertford not only is the main star in this, he co-wrote
along with Robert J. Gibbs, this fantastic, drama, comedy, romance, all tied
into one.
Whit Hertford along with Ryan Darst created Sneak Attack
which is an American New Wave film company. Whit has written, produced, starred
in all of the works they have created, which I might add this first film is a
beautiful example of their talent.
What I like about this movie is it does a total 360; does a
massive 360. The movie changes itself into a total different persona as you
follow along this journey.
There is a stunning award worthy moment in this film. Oliver
is in the road thinking back on his childhood with flashbacks of him as a child
with his father. Tears and an amazing drama performance by Whit.
Audio/Video:
Amazingly done. The soundtrack is wonderful. The sound
quality is crisp. The film gives a flowing dramatic appeal that one can relate
to as if you're following along with their daily lives.
Extras:
The extras are spectacular. I absolutely loved the special
features that you get on this Blu-ray. All Blu-ray/DVD's should take a message
on the special features that are showcased. You get the filmmakers commentary,
Oliver and Lily's blog, the earliest interactions VIA tumbler, artwork and
photos, posters, film Festival press and more. Life after Myth sizzle, the
actual pitch animated by Puny, the official trailer and then you also get an
amazingly three short films. The Long Story Short, Elliot and Tomorrow. These
are called the roguemances, three stories of finding, losing and second
chances.
All of them are spectacular special features. I highly
recommend viewing.
Overall:
I highly recommend this film. I think it's a great
independent romantic comedy drama. I think it's a great watch for those who
love movies like 1995's masterpiece Before Sunrise or even its beautiful sequel
Before Sunset.
I like how some have created the concept in calling it a
coming of age romance.
It's brilliant for all those who love romantic comedies,
mixed with down to earth reality-based settings, wonderfully built characters,
awesomely done moments of dramatic appeal that can tug on the funny bone, yet
also tug on the heart strings of life.
This is a must own Blu-ray. A must own movie. A beautiful
film that touches a part of life; like I say, we all can relate to it.