Brainstorm (1983)

Director:

Douglas Trumbull

Writers:

Bruce Joel Rubin (story)
Robert Stitzel (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

30 September 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

...The Ultimate Experience

Plot:

Brilliant researchers Lillian Reynolds and Michael Brace have developed a system of recording and playing back actual experiences of people...

Plot Keywords:

Technology | Military | Memory | Chimpanzee | Peanut Butter

Awards:

2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Christopher Walken	...	Michael Brace
Natalie Wood	...	Karen Brace
Louise Fletcher	...	Lillian Reynolds
Cliff Robertson	...	Alex Terson
Jordan Christopher	...	Gordy Forbes
Donald Hotton	...	Landan Marks
Alan Fudge	...	Robert Jenkins
Joe Dorsey	...	Hal Abramson
Bill Morey	...	James Zimbach
Jason Lively	...	Chris Brace
Darrell Larson	...	Security Technician
Lou Walker	...	Chef
Stacey Kuhne-Adams	...	Andrea
John Hugh	...	Animal Lab Technician
Ira David Wood III	...	Barry (as David Wood)

Also Known As:

The Gordon Forbes Tapes (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M (original rating | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1984) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA

Company:

JF Productions

Trivia:

When Michael first shows the machine to his son Chris, he calls it "The Hat." However in the script (final revised draft 9-21-81) he called it a "super-conducting phased field neural discharge sensor array."

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The soldering iron that Dr. Reynolds accidentally burns her wrist on is a battery operated rechargeable model, and would not have been hot unless she had been holding it and pressing the button.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. Lillian Reynolds: Can you see better if I move it a little closer?
Dr. Michael Anthony Brace: I can see something. It's parts of the grid, but it's still rotating. It's not locking up.
Hal Abramson: Maybe we all need a little break, Lillian.
Dr. Lillian Reynolds: Hal, you take a break.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'Event Horizon' (2006) (V)

Cleans out the cobwebs in the corner of your mind.

Absolute wonderful science fiction. This story is about two scientists(Christopher Walken and Louise Fletcher) that create a mind-boggling invention that rushes forward the research on capabilities and practices of virtual reality. A lot of word of mouth publicity on this being Natalie Wood's last motion picture and her rumored personal relationship with Walken. Somewhat disturbing story line, but very intriguing and fascinating. To be exact a second viewing makes the experience even better. Strap this one on and enjoy.

Walken is mysterious and sullen as ever, that's what we like. Miss Wood seems more like decoration and that is really sad considering her outstanding career. Fletcher as a chain smoking scientist is pretty clever. Others in the cast are: Cliff Robertson, Joe Dorsey and Jordan Christopher.