What Dreams May Come (1998)

A movie I always find myself revisiting. A top 5 pick for me.
It’s a Sin that it doesn't have its own theme song.

The Plot
Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra, Max von Sydow, Jessica Brooks Grant, Josh Paddock, Rosalind Chao—after losing their son and daughter in a car accident, Chris (Robin Williams) and Annie (Annabella Sciorra) Nielsen go through an incredibly grueling period of mourning. Before they can heal, tragedy strikes again when Chris loses his own life, leaving Annie completely alone. After passing on, Chris finds himself in heaven where he reunites with his children, finding peace in the thought that one day Annie will join them. But when he learns that Annie has taken her own life, Chris doesn't hesitate to descend into hell to search for his beloved wife...

This film by director Vincent Ward is easily one of the most unique romantic stories of the nineties—it's a rare bird that manages to blend subtle visuals with grounded, realistic dialogue. Even though it shares some structural DNA with your typical Hollywood hits, Ward's work stands head and shoulders above them in terms of sheer quality. Robin Williams is absolutely brilliant as the grieving husband, whose love for his wife is so intense it practically turns heaven itself into a canvas painted by his beloved. The filmmakers used this surreal premise to take us on an impressive journey through various art periods—from the Renaissance to Impressionism—all serving to map out the characters' internal worlds. Beyond Williams, you can't overlook the rest of the cast, from the wonderful Annabelle Sciorra, who arguably had the toughest role to play, to the legendary Max von Sydow. Thanks to Ronald Bassa's script, the film avoids sliding into cheap sentimentality, using sharp, living dialogue to breathe life into every character.

http://tvprofil.net/show/6808/what-dreams-may-come

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120889/
trailer

Absolutely stunning movie!

Words just can't quite capture how good this was. 😍

That sounds interesting... I haven't checked it out yet, though I am familiar with the song.

Gibbonni and Vanna-Ja cu budan sanjati

Every single time I watch this, I end up a total wreck... damn. Such an incredible movie. I honestly don't know if it's healthy to be this much of a softie about it—but hey, maybe it's just something you can't help, right?

...

I'm not really feeling it

The movie would have made significantly more sense if it had been set entirely within his psyche—maybe somewhere like a surrealist version of Chicago or something similar—but that would have required a complete overhaul of both the plot and the characters

As it stands, this whole subplot involving a psychedelic afterlife feels incredibly forced... it all just boils down to cheap sentimentality, leaving the entire thing without any real point at all

I finally sat down to watch this today, and honestly, it’s just as bad as everyone has said since it first came out. I don't think I've ever seen such cheap, colorful melodrama in my entire life. What really rubbed me the wrong way was how blatantly it manipulates people's grief, preying on anyone hoping for some kind of heavenly reunion with lost loved ones.

I can't stand Robin Williams!!!

Says the person who thinks Angelina Jolie's cleavage is the peak of cinematic achievement 🤣

placidwolf27 said:The movie would have made significantly more sense if it had been set entirely within his psyche—maybe somewhere like a surrealist version of Chicago or something similar—but that would have required a complete overhaul of both the plot and the characters

As it stands, this whole subplot involving a psychedelic afterlife feels incredibly forced... it all just boils down to cheap sentimentality, leaving the entire thing without any real point at all

There’s no point in complaining if you don't get what the story is actually talking about because your general cultural knowledge is thin and you aren't particularly curious enough to let those different philosophical layers or life perspectives pull you in. Naturally, the subject matter dictates the style.

neonorca4 said:Says the person who thinks Angelina Jolie's cleavage is the peak of cinematic achievement 🤣

Was that aimed at me? If so, learn how to quote properly so we aren't left guessing who you're actually throwing shade at. Or better yet, stop being so passive-aggressive. I never said Angelina's directorial debut was "top tier." You're being dense, and honestly, a little malicious too. 🙄

I find this movie absolutely breathtaking—it’s one of those rare stories that manages to be profoundly heartbreaking and uplifting all at once.
The emotional weight is heavy, especially seeing the devotion of a husband to his wife and that raw, primal bond between a mother and her children. Now, I’m not exactly religious—I don't spend much time thinking about heaven or hell—but there is something about this film that hits home every single time. That selfless, almost irrational drive of a man willing to descend into the depths of hell just to save the woman he loves... it truly moves me.😢.

Much like passion, this film serves its own specific audience—people who simply need it to exist. You don't need to go out of your way to defend it, neonorca4; the movie speaks for itself... It’s a good thing someone finally decided to bring it to the screen, though one really ought to read the Richard Matheson book as well.

Bryan Perez50 said:Much like passion, this film serves its own specific audience—people who simply need it to exist. You don't need to go out of your way to defend it, neonorca4; the movie speaks for itself... It’s a good thing someone finally decided to bring it to the screen, though one really ought to read the Richard Matheson book as well.

Defend it?
I am not defending it. Certainly not with any kind of zeal. That one post on this thread was nothing more than a lingering grudge carried over from the discussion about Angelina Jolie's film—it was completely subjective (just like the rest of them), malicious, and frankly, aimed right at me. That’s why I reacted; it had zero to do with the topic at hand. As for everything else... Yes, I still maintain that anyone claiming this movie has "no point" simply lacks a certain level of understanding. I won't finish that thought unless I want to end up getting banned—which I'm neither guilty of nor seeking—but there is definitely a deficit in comprehension there. Though, I suppose that's normal. People are different, with different interests and different capacities. Most movies can be caricatured until they're ridiculous and presented as if they lack purpose or meaning.
What I find saddening is how, looking at the world around us today—the behavior, the mindset—so many people just don't have an ear for films like this. We live in such a mechanical, harsh, and overly exact world where emotion has become something to be shunned or viewed as a weakness. Colors, which are my personal symbol for joy, are being pushed aside. To be taken seriously nowadays, you're expected to become monochromatic, stay quiet, and be gray. Just endlessly gray. There is a profound sadness in that. Truly.

Just more modern New Age garbage, with reincarnation tossed on top like the cherry on a sundae. I’ll be giving this one a wide berth.

I really love this one—it’s my little emotional outlet. I just adore how the movie explores that deep connection between a man and a woman; it asks how much you'd actually sacrifice for the person you love, even beyond death.
Then there was that silly, sentimental moment at the theater—it was actually the last screening at our local cinema in Chicago, and there were just four of us there, two couples. When the credits rolled, my girlfriend and I caught each other's eyes—we were both a total mess, eyes all swollen from crying, and we couldn't even hide it—while the other couple just rolled their eyes at us. 😁
So, yeah... I could watch this over and over again.

neonorca4 said:Defend it?
I am not defending it. Certainly not with any kind of zeal. That one post on this thread was nothing more than a lingering grudge carried over from the discussion about Angelina Jolie's film—it was completely subjective (just like the rest of them), malicious, and frankly, aimed right at me. That’s why I reacted; it had zero to do with the topic at hand. As for everything else... Yes, I still maintain that anyone claiming this movie has "no point" simply lacks a certain level of understanding. I won't finish that thought unless I want to end up getting banned—which I'm neither guilty of nor seeking—but there is definitely a deficit in comprehension there. Though, I suppose that's normal. People are different, with different interests and different capacities. Most movies can be caricatured until they're ridiculous and presented as if they lack purpose or meaning.
What I find saddening is how, looking at the world around us today—the behavior, the mindset—so many people just don't have an ear for films like this. We live in such a mechanical, harsh, and overly exact world where emotion has become something to be shunned or viewed as a weakness. Colors, which are my personal symbol for joy, are being pushed aside. To be taken seriously nowadays, you're expected to become monochromatic, stay quiet, and be gray. Just endlessly gray. There is a profound sadness in that. Truly.

Do you honestly think my rating of this movie is tied to that spat over Angie? I’ve practically forgotten all about it, let alone the names of the people who were losing their minds attacking her. Yikes.🤣 If you hadn't brought it up, I wouldn't have even remembered your handle. It’s irrelevant. You're really flattering yourself here! My dislike for this flick predates the internet, much less your self-important presence on this forum.😂

The movie targets a specific crowd, just like Bryan Perez50 mentioned. People looking for something to believe in, whom Hollywood occasionally "gifts" an epic-scale film to turn into a "cult classic." For them, anyway. Alien enthusiasts get "Independence Day." Christians get "Passion." Aspiring journalists wanting to expose global conspiracies get "Parallax View." Bored teenagers get "American pie." To make a point: this one is just poorly made and stupid, unlike the ones I listed—especially "Passion," which I actually think is excellent. This one fails because R. Williams overacts so hard he falls into this terrible melodrama, trying to drag the audience down with him ("cry with me/us"). Then there's the schizophrenic, inconsistent plot and those incredibly dumb depictions of hell that clearly took some inspiration from Dante without putting in any actual effort to develop the scenes. It also fails to flesh out the theme regarding the connection between true love and the grave. It’s like an ambitious canvas where someone just splashed some paint and a few outlines on it, then tossed it onto an exhibit. The only decent thing is Annabelle Sciorra's acting.

Honestly, explaining why this sucks feels like explaining why sh*t smells. Pointless.

neonorca4 said:There’s no point in complaining if you don't get what the story is actually talking about because your general cultural knowledge is thin and you aren't particularly curious enough to let those different philosophical layers or life perspectives pull you in. Naturally, the subject matter dictates the style.

What kind of "aspects" or "philosophies" are we even talking about here?

The film feels kitschy at times—both stylistically and visually—while the plot remains shallow and unchallenging. Everything is entirely predictable... it all boils down to these forced emotional transitions where the protagonist suddenly realizes everything is fine, resolving unresolved tensions with deceased loved ones as if you were watching some dramatized allegory of family systems therapy. All the little bits of drama and conflict are just window dressing to make that final emotional beat hit harder...

So, what is the actual point of the movie? That love always wins?

Laura Palmer25 said:Do you honestly think my rating of this movie is tied to that spat over Angie? I’ve practically forgotten all about it, let alone the names of the people who were losing their minds attacking her. Yikes.🤣 If you hadn't brought it up, I wouldn't have even remembered your handle. It’s irrelevant. You're really flattering yourself here! My dislike for this flick predates the internet, much less your self-important presence on this forum.😂

The movie targets a specific crowd, just like Bryan Perez50 mentioned. People looking for something to believe in, whom Hollywood occasionally "gifts" an epic-scale film to turn into a "cult classic." For them, anyway. Alien enthusiasts get "Independence Day." Christians get "Passion." Aspiring journalists wanting to expose global conspiracies get "Parallax View." Bored teenagers get "American pie." To make a point: this one is just poorly made and stupid, unlike the ones I listed—especially "Passion," which I actually think is excellent. This one fails because R. Williams overacts so hard he falls into this terrible melodrama, trying to drag the audience down with him ("cry with me/us"). Then there's the schizophrenic, inconsistent plot and those incredibly dumb depictions of hell that clearly took some inspiration from Dante without putting in any actual effort to develop the scenes. It also fails to flesh out the theme regarding the connection between true love and the grave. It’s like an ambitious canvas where someone just splashed some paint and a few outlines on it, then tossed it onto an exhibit. The only decent thing is Annabelle Sciorra's acting.

Honestly, explaining why this sucks feels like explaining why sh*t smells. Pointless.

Honestly, you're just shouting into the void with this essay. I have zero interest in dealing with people who lack basic manners or can barely string a sentence together—it’s just a waste of energy. They don't even meet the bare minimum requirements for actual conversation. Just ignore 👋

placidwolf27 said:What kind of "aspects" or "philosophies" are we even talking about here?

The film feels kitschy at times—both stylistically and visually—while the plot remains shallow and unchallenging. Everything is entirely predictable... it all boils down to these forced emotional transitions where the protagonist suddenly realizes everything is fine, resolving unresolved tensions with deceased loved ones as if you were watching some dramatized allegory of family systems therapy. All the little bits of drama and conflict are just window dressing to make that final emotional beat hit harder...

So, what is the actual point of the movie? That love always wins?

Like I said before, to actually get this movie, you need a certain level of general culture—a sense of curiosity, a leaning toward a philosophical worldview, and the ability to contemplate life through various cultural interpretations of the afterlife, the connection between dreams and the subconscious... things that veer into psychiatry, neurology, or even the philosophical disciplines dealing with the very meaning of existence.
I could even go as far as to say the film has a specific target audience and isn't meant for everyone. Especially not for those who only experience it as a fireworks display of rainbow colors and a cheap romance story.

neonorca4 said:Like I said before, to actually get this movie, you need a certain level of general culture—a sense of curiosity, a leaning toward a philosophical worldview, and the ability to contemplate life through various cultural interpretations of the afterlife, the connection between dreams and the subconscious... things that veer into psychiatry, neurology, or even the philosophical disciplines dealing with the very meaning of existence.
I could even go as far as to say the film has a specific target audience and isn't meant for everyone. Especially not for those who only experience it as a fireworks display of rainbow colors and a cheap romance story.

Do you honestly believe that because the film is a postmodern mishmash—a bit of everything thrown together, a slice of psychoanalysis here, a touch of psychodrama there, some archetypes, a dash of fine art, just bits and pieces until it feels like an emotional stage play where the female audience sighs collectively and says, "Oh, that was lovely, we all cried"—that one needs a degree in psychiatry, neurology, and philosophy just to appreciate it?

Look, just say you liked the movie. Defend the pacing, the character development, the direction, or something tangible... but don't tell me it's about "general culture" or whatever else. Please... let's not act like we're on some pretentious high-brow academic forum in New York... if we were, people would just say you're trolling.