Dreamin' Wild

When I saw the trailer, I was intrigued about this story, so I checked out the background of it online and thought this might be a movie worth watching.

The music aspect of the movie is well done. And the actors all play their parts well.

But I felt a lack of connection at the end of the day. It really was a half hour or hour MTV special that was stretched out too long. I really couldn't buy into the angst that Don was feeling, even though I could understand where it was coming from. It just felt repetitive. Especially all of the speeches that happen in the movie. Usually a movie will have one or two big speeches. This one seemed to have many 'oscar' moments that just weighed it down too much.

I also didn't like the cliched 'older self meets younger self'. I think that's been played to death, and is just cheesy now.

I am glad for the Emerson family and I hope they are continuing to rake in the money from the album. It was nice seeing the real voice of Donnie as it is today, he definitely is a gifted singer. But the movie just didn't resonate with me, and that's coming from a music lover.

Casey is mesmerizing in this. No one else could play this part either. It's a beautiful, sweet and incredibly shot film. No one overacts, and so much is said without words too. Beau Bridges at his best. Walton and Zooey go deep too. There isn't one laugh, but you won't notice. It's heavy, deep, nostalgic, and reminds us what we do for love and faith in people, and the responsibility or guilt that comes with it. The music is great too. In a summer of big movies, this small movie shines brighter. Sure to become a cult classic and win awards. Loved every minute of it. I don't give tens, ever. This deserves my ten rating. Catch it in theatres this week, but it'll grow in popularity on stream for certain.

With its toe-tapping music and sincere performances, Dreamin' Wild definitely entertained me and I believe will enrapture pop-rock fans as well as those who have never heard of Donnie and Joe Emerson. The film tells a true story with immense heart. It is shot elegantly and the story is fascinating; the at-times flat narration is the only chink in Dreamin Wild's armor.

Dreamin' Wild opens in the rural Pacific Northwest, as singer/songwriter Donnie Emerson (Casey Affleck) and his family, are approached by a representative from Light in the Attic, who says he thinks the album Donnie and his brother Joe (Walton Goggins) recorded as teenagers is the next big hit. When the album, also named Dreamin' Wild, makes its rounds, it is hailed by music critics as a lost masterpiece. And whereas the brothers see this stroke of luck as a second chance for stardom, it also unmoors other deep-seated emotions, fears, and hopes, as Donnie, Joe, and the family come to terms with the past, present and possible future.

The moving story is shot with clarity, care and craft; the lighting and framing do justice to the Emersons' bucolic hometown as well as their eclectic and ethereal 'jam space.' Casey Affleck has somewhat patented the 'damaged man exploring his trauma' trope, perhaps because of his real-life experience fending off his demons with alcoholism. That takes nothing away from his deep performance as Donnie in Dreamin' Wild. His portrayal of emotional damage and hope is enough to keep you gripped. Walton Goggins is equally spectacular. Every dialogue-heavy scene is followed by the brothers jamming, and then another dialogue-heavy scene; this format gets a little tiring by the 60-minute mark, but the plot developments and emotional performances redeem the film's at-times slow pace.

Dreamin' Wild encourages following your dreams but staying grounded, being hopeful but never forgetting where you've come from, and caring for your family and yourself.

I give Dreamin' Wild 4 out of 5 stars. By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST!

This was a sweet story, art house for sure, and a bit slow. It is moody, and needed another rewrite and an edit to pick up the pacing. As is, the story does not do the massive talent onscreen justice. And they are excellent, so it is the direction that is the problem. Too slow, too disconnected and belabored. It is the pacing of the writer/director that is the problem.

Too many scenes of people doing nothing, driving, partying in the distance for too long, and on and on.

Casey is clearly brilliant as usual. He is really the king of understated performances, and suprise talents, like being a musician.

Basically it is a quiet, understated story, running a bit too slow.

"Dreamin' Wild" is an artful, lovingly wrought tale, enchanting in its wistful melancholy and profound love of music. The film's defining feature, and also its main flaw, is the inherent smallness of its story. The key key facts about the Emersons are revealed in the movie's first few minutes: two Washington farmboys poured their heart and finances into producing a privately pressed album in the late 70s, which decades later is rediscovered and championed by a boutique rock label.

We're treated to extensive flashbacks of the making of the album, but not much really happens from there in terms of plot. Casey Affleck and Noah Jupe give pitch-perfect performances as the adult and adolescent versions of Donnie. The support is excellent, with Beau Bridges disappearing into the role of a self-sacrificing father. Affleck and Bridges together are a delight to watch.

Much of the film's narrative conflict revolves around Donnie Emerson's difficulty accepting sudden vindication after decades of thwarted attempts to break into the music business. His bitterness and reticence to embrace his good fortune can be frustrating at times, but it does feel psychologically authentic. The sheer acting firepower given to these small conflicts can feel a bit overwrought.

The best part of the entire film is when we get to witness the adult, real-life Emersons play a small live gig. Donnie Emerson's voice has matured into a wonderfully soulful instrument, and their performance wraps up this small but tender tale very movingly. Here's to more forgotten artists like the Emersons getting their chance to shine!