Dreamland is a beautifully crafted coming-of-age story set in one of the most depressing eras in our history. A film about character and relationships, it may take awhile to get going, but the tragic story is still quite entertaining to watch.
“Academy Award nominee MARGOT ROBBIE (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) is fantastic in this dazzling love story set amidst America’s struggle during the Great Depression. Eugene Evans (FINN COLE, Peaky Blinders) dreams of escaping his small Texas town when he discovers wounded, fugitive bank robber Allison Wells (Robbie) hiding closer than he could ever imagine. Torn between claiming the bounty for her capture and his growing attraction to the seductive criminal, nothing is as it seems, and Eugene must make a decision that will forever affect the lives of everyone he’s ever loved. Also starring TRAVIS FIMMEL (Warcraft), KERRY CONDON (Avengers: Infinity War), DARBY CAMP (Big Little Lies) and LOLA KIRKE (American Made).”
Dreamland tells the story of Eugene Evans, a young man living in a small Texas town set on hard times, during the Great Depression in the middle of the Dust Bowl, a situation that has nearly bankrupted everyone in the area, including his family. Always longing to get out, perhaps in search of his father who left when he was younger, he rebels against his step-father in more ways than one, who is always giving him a hard time. When he and his friend learn there is a $10,000.00 reward for the fugitive Allison Wells that was last seen in the area, they set out with plans to capture her, despite the warnings of her dangerous nature that lead to the death of a small child during a bank robbery. Eugene later discovers her hiding out in the family barn, wounded and vulnerable. Insisting she didn’t kill that child, she convinces Eugene to help conceal her whereabouts and find transportation that she can use to make a break for Mexico. Disillusioned with his life and enamored with Allison, Eugene must make some tough decisions that will forever change his life.
Dreamland has an almost depressing quality throughout the film, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The tragedy of everyone during that period is a very interesting backdrop to a coming-of-age story about a young man yearning for something more, something that he can’t find in his current life. If there is one thing that is done perfectly in this film, it’s exploring that despair that is overwhelmingly felt by everyone on screen, largely in part to the hopelessness that the combination of year long droughts, constant dust storms and bank foreclosures provide. It was a very sad time for the country, especially in the Mid-West, and you really get a sense of that here thanks to the superb set and costume design and digital effects that bring Black Sunday to life on screen.
The film centers around a bank-robbing seductress, but as much as the trailer or the synopsis may prominently talk about that factor, it’s a very small portion of the story, which is one reason why I think there have been negative reviews comparing it to a slow Bonnie and Clyde story. It isn’t that, and it isn’t trying to be. The film does have some action sequences, but they are very sparse, and in no way the focus of the story. While I admit the pacing does stall at times, the beauty of the direction, cinematography and acting fulfilled any type of lull that I may have felt during my viewing. These are broken characters that are all seeking something that doesn’t exist, because anything is better than standing still on land that is dying all around you.
Margot Robbie is phenomenal in this role, a role that given her producing credit is something she fought hard to bring to life. There is a mystery and vulnerability about her that is fascinating, despite her insisting that she had nothing to do with the death of that little girl, there is something untrustworthy about her as well. Even with all her deflections of Eugene’s advances, and the fact that he is much, much younger than her, she can’t be alone, and takes advantage of his attraction. Robbie is able to portray that so well in all her scenes, with this being one of the best I’ve seen of hers. I’ve never seen Finn Cole in anything besides this, but he does a good job at his role, the young man who feels abandoned by everyone, stemming from his father leaving when he was a child and never hearing from him again. Although he knows the probable truth about his fate, he can’t help but need that hope of seeing him again to inspire him to find something better. Although I think both actors did exceptional at their perspective roles, I personally didn’t feel the organic chemistry between them on-screen. Still, the film is exceptional in its beauty in other ways, making this one an interesting watch.
Video
Dreamland is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 2.39:1. This transfer is particularly stunning in many of the outdoor sequences that portray the immense dust storms that overtake the town. The picture is exceptionally detailed, with lots of natural light in the majority of the story, but is still able to achieve a great look during the storms and the darker sequences. Colors are a bit muted, keeping with the tone and look of the period, in which you’ll see those earthy-tones prominently.
Audio
The audio is presented in a lossless 5.1 Dolby TrueHD. This track sounds good, and although I would have really enjoyed hearing what a Dolby Atmos track could do with those powerfully intense dust storms, what it does provide sounds very impressive still. It’s these types of sequences that shine in this film, as well as the short ones with machine-gun fire, pumping out those deep bass tones quite nicely. Overall, it’s a well-balanced track that provides a great listening experience to accompany the film.
Special Features
A Digital Code is included in the release, but no extras are included on this Blu-ray release.
Dreamland might not live up to the expectations of bank robbing-action seekers, but the film as a whole is beautifully crafted that tells a story about people desperate to find connection in a dying world. Given the quality of the acting and directing, this one is worth checking out.
