Michel Franco is known for films that tackle difficult and thought-provoking themes, and his latest, “Dreams,” continues that trend. However, the film is puzzling and feels unfocused, as if it has many ideas but struggles to present them clearly. It’s often detached, wanders without a clear direction, and occasionally veers into the bizarre in its search for emotional impact.
In “Dreams,” director James Franco again works with Jessica Chastain, following their successful collaboration on the critically acclaimed “Memory” from 2023, where Chastain delivered a standout performance. While she shines in “Dreams” as well, her character and storyline aren’t quite as powerful or emotionally resonant as they were in “Memory.”
The film “Dreams” begins with Fernando, a young Mexican dancer played by Isaac Hernández, being secretly brought into the U.S. in a hot, cramped truck. Once freed by the people who smuggled him, he travels from San Antonio to San Francisco to unexpectedly reunite with Jennifer (Chastain), a former lover who is now more established and financially secure. The film quickly jumps into their rekindled relationship with little explanation of what happened between them.
Throughout the film, it’s unclear how Jennifer truly feels about Fernando. She comes from a wealthy family – her father, Michael McCarthy, runs a successful charitable foundation, and she works alongside her brother, Jake. Jennifer’s comfortable, sheltered upbringing is quite different from Fernando’s, and this shows when they interact. She sometimes treats him possessively, even playfully, like a pet, often saying she wants to protect and care for him.
Jennifer’s feelings for him become an all-consuming obsession, going beyond simply believing she deserves him. This intensifies when Fernando ends their affair and wants to be free, leading Jennifer into a deep despair and causing her to obsessively follow him, almost like a stalker. Ultimately, this shift focuses the film less on issues of immigration and class, and more on the unhealthy power struggles within their relationship, which feels unconvincing.
Okay, so I really wanted to love this movie, and Jessica Chastain is fantastic – she truly gives it her all, even though her character feels a little underdeveloped. Honestly, she almost saves the whole thing! But the biggest problem is the central romance; it just didn’t feel real to me, more like constant attraction than a genuine connection. And then the ending… wow. It tries to be shocking with this big twist, but it felt so forced and came completely out of nowhere. It’s a shame, because it left me feeling like the whole movie was a bit disjointed. It had potential, but ultimately didn’t quite deliver.
Read More
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Survivor’s Colby Donaldson Admits He Almost Backed Out of Season 50
- Where Winds Meet: How To Defeat Shadow Puppeteer (Boss Guide)
- How to Get the Bloodfeather Set in Enshrouded
- Meet the cast of Mighty Nein: Every Critical Role character explained
- How to Build a Waterfall in Enshrouded
- Uncovering Hidden Order: AI Spots Phase Transitions in Complex Systems
- 3 PS1 Horror Games That Were Scarier Than Resident Evil
- 23 Years Later, Matthew McConaughey Reveals His Worst On-Set Injury Was From a Forgotten Sci-fi Flop
2026-03-03 18:57