O Acordo

Off course this movie hasn't got the most original story. It has similarities with films like Harold and Maude, Freeway or Mad love. But despite of the fact that it isn't original, it still remains (in my opinion) a beautiful little gem. The music was great and David Arquette, Brad Hunt and Kathryn Erbe (and the others) showed some nice acting. I'm glad I had the opportunity to see this film!

Surprisingly, this was a great movie. I didn't think I'd like it, but I loved it. It has its weird moments, but generally, it was good. Brad Hunt as Nick was incredible (not to mention hot!). Who the hell is Brad Hunt? I've never even heard of him until now. This movie makes me want to check out his other movies. He's a great actor. David Arquette was great as usual. Nick (Brad Hunt) and Terry (David Arquette) make such a unique friendship. That's what draws me to this movie. Their friendship is really cool. They turn into best friends. That was great. There are many unexpecting things that happen. I don't wanna ruin the end, but lets just say its a tearjerker. Definitely worth watching.

Dream With the Fishes is an original and daring movie. It deals with very serious topics of death and when life is worth living and a touching and often funny manner. Besides, what other movie can claim to have naked bowling?

I've finally had the chance to watch this lost indie gem, having wanted to do it for almost ten years, since I read a brief review about it on a Brazilian magazine. It was worth the wait, and I wish more people had at least heard about this film.

Finn Taylor (who recently directed the disappointing "The Darwin Awards") co-wrote and directed the bizarre story of Terry (David Arquette), a suicidal voyeur who's saved by Nick (Brad Hunt), a terminally ill man, as he's about to jump off a bridge. Nick offers Terry a weird deal: Terry will help him fulfill some of his fantasies before he dies, and in return, Nick will either make Terry the beneficiary of his life insurance, or... he'll kill Terry.

David Arquette is not the comic relief he usually plays, here. His Terry is pathetic, depressed and a little ditzy, but ultimately humane and believable. Brad Hunt is a delight to watch as Nick, and it makes you wonder why didn't he become a bigger name. Cathy Moriarty, as Nick's aunt, has one of her best moments since her Oscar nominated début in "Raging Bull" (and I don't even like that performance as much as most people do). The soundtrack is fantastic and eclectic. Even though we've seen similar stories before, the chemistry of Arquette and Hunt and the witty script makes "Dream with the Fishes" quite above the average. 8.5/10.

Dream With The Fishes accomplishes what so many small independent films fail to do: it adheres to the reliable simplicity of storyline and character without getting bogged down in gimmickry or its own cleverness.

The casting and performances are perfect - it's a shame that David Arquette has disappeared into his wife's shadow - his performance as self-loathing/suicidal Terry is the perfect foil for Brad Hunt's desperate and free-spirited Nick. Both actors are brilliant in this film yet they've both remained relatively obscure in the years since it's release.

Perhaps Finn Taylor's direction has a lot to do with it. Aside from the performances he wrangles from his actors, Dream With The Fishes is also beautifully filmed, from the shots and camera angles to the lighting and even film stock he chooses for different moments to highlight shifts in character and story.

Add to this a haunting soundtrack (which I can thank for my introduction to Nick Drake) and you have a charming, heart-breaking, inspiring ride that serves both as an entertaining couple of hours viewing and a fine example for aspiring filmmakers.