Nicolas Cage Is at His Best in Dream Scenario, According to First Reviews

Summary

• Nicolas Cage’s upcoming film, Dream Scenario, could be one of his most notable projects to date, with positive comments generated at its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.
• Cage delivers an uncommonly shy performance in Dream Scenario, humanizing the experience of social media and viral celebrity, giving viewers much to think about.
• Cage’s acting skills are effortless, with his timing and reactions carrying the comedic premise and making it a smart and observant comedy.

Oscar winner Nicolas Cage has always been busy ever since he started acting, but the last couple of years have found the actor at a new peak of his career with titles like Pig, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Renfield, and even finally getting his chance at playing Superman for a brief cameo in The Flash. Cage is one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood, having done all types of films, from dramas and comedies, to romance, action and horror.

But his next movie, Dream Scenario, could be one of his most notable projects to date. Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, the film follows the story of Paul Matthews, an ordinary man whose life takes an unexpected turn when he begins to appear in other people’s dreams. What appears to be a harmless coincidence soon becomes a nightmare, leading Paul to take action.

Written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, the cast also includes Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Dylan Gelula, Dylan Baker, Kate Berlant, Lily Bird, Jessica Clement, Cara Volchoff, Noah Centineo, and Nicholas Braun. Dream Scenario has now debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, generating positive comments.

Related: Nicolas Cage Explains How His ‘Memeification’ Drew Him to Upcoming Comedy Dream Scenario

Nicolas Cage Is Out of His Comfort Zone in Dream Scenario

A24

Peter Debruge from Variety praises Cage’s uncommonly shy performance:

“Just as dreams can be interpreted, so too can Dream Scenario, and this development suggests the whole film could be his take on social media — the way viral celebrities and memes invade the minds of millions of people at once, amusing us for a time, only to be rejected and potentially even reviled when their 15 minutes are up. In an uncommonly low-key performance, Cage humanizes that experience and gives us much to think about.”

Deadline’s Pete Hammond meanwhile calls Cage’s acting skills effortless:

“Cage is the glue; his seemingly effortless timing and priceless reactions carry this premise all the way through, and he keeps you laughing continuously. The actor has been having a renaissance lately with acclaimed work in offbeat films like Pig and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. He has already said he thinks this is his best film, and that is saying a lot. The jokes land almost every time in a smart, observant manner that makes this comedy sing.”

For Michael Rechtshaffen from The Hollywood Reporter, Cage and Borgli make a great team:

“While on the subject of dreams, Cage and Borgli make for a comedy dream team, spurring each other on to edgier extremes while never losing sight of the cautionary target at which the film so wickedly takes aim. Also serving as his own editor, Borgli keeps the crazy energy percolating with playful jump cuts and soundbite-sized flashbacks, as the filmed-in-Toronto production finds a unifying constant in the seemingly steady snowfall seen outside every window.”

JoBlo’s Chris Bumbray believes Cage was perfectly cast:

“Dream Scenario is a very “now” movie, with it a blazing satire of sudden fame and “cancel culture,” with director Kristoffer Borgli showing utter contempt for both. It’s the perfect vehicle for Nicolas Cage, as perhaps more than any actor, his likeness has been commodified over the years, being used and manipulated in meme after meme in a way that’s totally out of his control.”

And finally, on the somewhat more negative side, for Awards Radar’s Joey Magidson, Cage’s commitment is strong but not enough:

“Nicolas Cage is fully committed, as always, but I’m not certain that the movie is utilizing him as well as it could have. His schlubby nature is funny at first, but it started to wear thin. Now, Cage is doing what he can, and it’s one of his most unusual roles, but I wanted a bit more.”

Dream Scenario will hit theaters on November 10, 2023.

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