Dreamland is a 2019 American crime thriller about a teenager’s adventures as a bounty hunter that take an unexpected twist.
Directed by Miles Joris-Peyrafitte from a screenplay by Nicolaas Zwart, the movie stars Margot Robbie, Travis Fimmel and Garrett Hedlund. Produced by Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, Margot Robbie, Brad Feinstein, Rian Cahill, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones.
Plot:
Eugene Evans (Finn Cole) dreams of escaping his small Texas town when he discovers a wounded, fugitive bank robber (Margot Robbie). Torn between claiming the bounty for her capture and his growing attraction to the seductive criminal, Eugene must make a decision that will forever affect the lives of everyone he’s ever loved…
Reviews:
“Cole and Robbie have enormous chemistry, and Robbie, in particular, is mesmerizing as she both textually and metatextually takes control of the persona she wishes to express. Dreamland is a film in the tradition of romantic “criminal lovers on the run” movies, one where the pulp legend about such people is pushed aside for all too human reality.” Crooked Marquee
“Joris-Peyrafitte captures the downtrodden life during these desperate times, in this atmospheric film that gets bogged down in a naive narration and gets overcome by melodramatic clichés and simplistic political thoughts […] The promising film begins to lose its early luster and its story becomes all too familiar as it reaches its final shoot-out.” Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
” …a bittersweet vision of America barrelling down a two-lane road to nowhere, where dreams of sun and surf and sex are offset by the harsher realities of dust and mud and blood, and where, as the landscape is inscribed with corruption, ambiguity and guilt, the best kind of life for which one can hope is simply to be remembered, however sketchily, with affection.” Eye for Film
” …Dreamland, despite the title, doesn’t treat this as a wish-fulfillment but rather a cautionary tale about the dangers of tantalizing fantasy becoming a gritty and morally corrupting reality. The third act feels rushed and most supporting characters are forgettable, but the complicated tale of criminality and low-key taboo love bound together by excellent performances makes this dream lucid.” Flickering Myth
“Allison deftly wraps Eugene around her fingers without revealing her true purposes, but Cole’s character is frustratingly one-note, dulling the dynamic between them. An extended chase sequence that sees the pair on the run from the law comprises the film’s second half, but it’s compromised by poor pacing and several gratuitous slow-motion scenes.” Slant
Release:
Dreamland premiered at the Brussels Fantastic Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival in 2019.
Dreamland was released theatrically in select locations on November 13th, then on VOD starting November 17th 2020.
Cast and characters:
Margot Robbie … Allison Wells
Travis Fimmel … George Evans
Garrett Hedlund … Perry Montroy
Kerry Condon … Olivia Evans
Finn Cole … Eugene Evans
Lola Kirke … Phoebe Evans (voice)
Darby Camp … Phoebe Evans
Ginger T. Rex … Secretary
Grayson Berry … Cop
Krista Bradley … Dancer / Townsperson
Hans Christopher … John Baker
Tim D. Janis … Anselm Lomax
Joe Berryman … Sheriff Ross
Bruce McIntosh … Farmer
Jacob Browne … Young Father
Technical details:
Belen, New Mexico
Malibu, California
