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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  Movie, Television and DVD Reviews  /  Waking Life
Posted by: mcornetto (Guest), October 22nd, 2010, 6:39pm
This is a bit of an older film (2001) but, man, this film blew me away.  

It's nearly a docco at times but it's animated (over actual footage and it varies based on the scene) and it has a plot, sort of.   It's an existential intellectual romp, with some excellent monologues (if you'd like some great examples).   Here's one of the more whimsical monologues.



The film is a bit slow to start off but it picks up a bit once we are let in on the plot.  The film is almost entirely composed of monologues.  But each tells an interesting point of view or story and they all meld into a cohesive piece by the end (sort of).  

Here's another of those monologues.



Is it arty?  Yes.  And extremely intellectual.  So if you don't like those sorts of things in a film you probably will not like this movie.   It's also a bit on the depressing side due to it's existential themes.  So, it's not a feel good movie.

But it discusses the very nature of dreams and time and life and how they all fit together.  If you do decide to check this film out, I pretty much dare you not to be impressed by it.    
Posted by: Colkurtz8, October 22nd, 2010, 11:38pm; Reply: 1
Good call, Mike, only got this on DVD about a year ago and have watched it three times since. It effectively breaks down lofty philosophical issues into manageable concepts (the fact that my basic mind was able to comprehend the ideas put forth proves this)

Great visuals and a fantastic score too, love that reoccurring violin (I think) which plays during the floating sequences.

What was your favourite "lecture"?

Mine was the ever morphing professor sitting at the table talking about the exponential acceleration of man's evolution.

The captain of the ship who picks him up at th start and the guy ranting in his car as his face turns red were highlights too. Pretty much 90% of it I could go back to again and again. Top show.
Posted by: mcornetto (Guest), October 23rd, 2010, 12:17am; Reply: 2
My favourite lecture is the guy right after the ukulele who talks about lucid dreaming and he wears a changing button. He kicks the plot in gear and in such an off hand way.  After that point I was riveted.

Though I also was fond of the lecture about how time is all one instant.  I love that kind of stuff.    
Posted by: James McClung, October 23rd, 2010, 7:26am; Reply: 3
Looks either Jim Jarmusch-y (which is good) or faux Jim Jarmusch-y (which is bad). Hell, even Jarmusch isn't good 100% of the time but when he's good...

Watched both clips. The intros were awkward, especially the second one. That one seemed almost like the message was the sole focus of the scene and everything else was thrown to the wind. That said, I felt myself sinking into both over the course of the conversations. Think I'll check it out when I've got a chance.
Posted by: Heretic, October 24th, 2010, 4:52pm; Reply: 4
Highly recommend this one.  The intros may seem awkward as clips but they won't be in the movie.

Neat note for fans of Before Sunrise and Before Sunset -- Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy reprise their characters from those films in this one.

Some people complain that this movie is too intellectual and others that it is too basic, but no matter what your relation to it in terms of your knowledge, I think the film always puts you in the mood to think about and consider things.  Before Sunrise is good for that too, actually...
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