L'amour rêvé

I was waiting for this movie to come out, kept hitting some other 2019 Dreamland staring Stephen McHattie. Anyway, I finally saw it today and I have to say it was quite disappointing.

The acting is good, Margot Robbie portrays her emotions well. The dude from Peaky Blinders (Finn Cole) is pretty good also. Travis Fimmel, was a bit underused but anyway he doesn't really move the plot as much, he honestly doesn't do anything apart from end the film. Cinematography was beautiful, nice 30's "Grapes of Wrath" vibe and the direction had its moment, a scene in a shower had an interesting angle to it.

The problem with this film is it lacks any real character development, a pointless narrator giving random info at some point doesn't really give depth to it. I never connected with any character. Honestly, the plot could have gotten really interesting and exciting but it never reaches 88 mph (Back to the future reference for anyone that didn't get it)

I would recommend this for anyone that is in quarantine and doesn't have anything better to do. Or if you're a fan of Margot or Finn (Peaky Blinders dude).

Cheers

Underrated. A treasure that deserves so much more than these mixed reviews. If you can put yourself into the shoes of this brother and sister, and the love they shared, their bond will carry you through this gem. And how lucky are we not to live in such terrible times. I felt I was there...

This love story is set during one of the toughest times of our history, The Great Depression. It follows Eugene Evans, a young man struggling to find his place in the world with big dreams to live a life of adventure. When the news hits of a bank robbery nearby with one of the fugitives on the run, this peaks Eugene's interest being that the fugitive has a large bounty for her capture. As fate would have it shortly after Eugene discovers the fugitive, Allison Wells, had taken refuge in his family's garage with a gunshot wound. Allison's nature is infectious and with the growing attraction and chemistry between the two Eugene becomes torn on how to proceed, claiming the bounty or breaking bad. Left with a choice that could forever change his life and all those around him in this coming-of-age tale.

This films cinematography is second to none and the gorgeous shots of the setting throughout this movie are robust, really bringing the era's setting to life. The acting in this film is extraordinary but the lack of the same caliber script and story is noticeable. If not for fantastic performances and an absolute electric chemistry on screen between Finn Cole and Margot Robbie this may have been more forgettable. This film still impresses even with its somewhat predictable ending it manages to end uniquely enough in its own right.

There are several important characters but the story really revolves around two of them. Finn Cole plays 17-yr-old Eugene Evans, his dad was an alcoholic and left when Eugene was a small boy. Eugene got one postcard from his dad, praising the beaches on the Mexico Gulf Coast. As Eugene grew up with a stepdad he never lost his dreams of finding dad. In his dreamland.

Margot Robbie is the other as Allison Wells, on the run and wanted for a bank robbery and a shooting in Missouri. She ends up in Eugene's barn, he helps conceal her and nurse her gunshot wound. He was already enthralled with stories of bank robbers so meeting her was almost a natural for him.

Eventually they needed to go on the run, much of the meat of the story involves that. The story is narrated 20 years later by Eugene's half sister in 1955. After the movie was over I went back and re-watched the first 5 minutes or so, there is a lot covered that is more meaningful after watching the whole movie. Shot entirely in New Mexico.

My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library. This is a good movie, it seems that the negative reviewers just could not get into the story.

In The Worst Hard Time, Timothy Egan wrote about the apocalyptic clouds of dust that choked cattle, filled houses, killed thousands and created the labor pool of dispossessed Okies and Texans who left home in desperation to create what is now California. It didn't rain for years, not months, and the dust chased people to death.

Dreamland picture perfect rendition of the time shows why outlaws were heroes and ordinary people were driven mad to get away from home. No story ends happily in a landscape destroyed by man's own hand.

It's a grittier, less stylish Bonnie and Clyde, but no less heart breaking and doomed.

Great movie, and, OMG, can Travis Fimmel be just as menacing as an angry stepfather as he can as Ragnar.

See it,