Lathe of Heaven

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Canada / USA • 2002 • 91m •

• Directed by: Philip Haas. • Starring: James Caan, Lukas Haas, Lisa Bonet, David Strathairn, Sheila McCarthy, Serge Houde, Suzanne Desautels, Belinda Hum, Tetsuro Shigematsu, Jonathan Higgins, Danny Blanco Hall, Conrad Pla, Daniel Do. • Music by: Angelo Badalamenti.

In a near future society a man claims that his dreams physically change reality. His therapist is confused at first but soon decides to use him for his own gain.

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Trailer

1:51

Review:

And I probably cut it more slack than I should have because I didn't even know that this was a remake nor that it was based on a novel. Thus, having nothing to compare it to - I went in to it with a very open mind.

First off, the story is confusing as hell. Ok, George Orr supposedly can dream things that then happen. But there are so many loopholes in this film that it's almost laughable. There is no explanation for anything of the things that happen even at the end of the film. And I really got sick and tired of watching Lucas Haas just walk around incessantly for nearly two hours making sure that he yawned enough so we'd all realize that he has trouble sleeping. David Straithairn is made to play the village idiot - I mean what is his purpose in this film? His character goes nowhere - it just hangs around like a fairy angel for George and I find that a really sad role for an actor to have to take. Why didn't they just put him in a furry suit and make him into a mascot. Lisa Bonet is believeable, but once again, I think she could do better. And James Caan is just a two dimensional bad guy who never gives us a clue as to why he is the way he is.

Obviously, the director and the script are much to blame for if both had been up to par, much of the plot would've made more sense and the actors might have been used more widely and to their fullest. All in all, a disastrously boring movie that plays with the idea of alternate realities, sci-fi, and other mystery elements but has no idea how to utilize any of the above. I'd be hard pressed to give it a single star.

Review by RequiemForP from the Internet Movie Database.