Brilliant researchers Lillian Reynolds and Michael Brace have developed a system of recording and playing back actual experiences of people. Once the capability of tapping into "higher ...
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Title: Brainstorm (1983)
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2 wins & 6 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Christopher Walken | ... | ||
| Natalie Wood | ... | ||
| Louise Fletcher | ... |
Lillian Reynolds
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| Cliff Robertson | ... |
Alex Terson
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Jordan Christopher | ... |
Gordy Forbes
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Donald Hotton | ... |
Landan Marks
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| Alan Fudge | ... |
Robert Jenkins
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Joe Dorsey | ... |
Hal Abramson
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Bill Morey | ... |
James Zimbach
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| Jason Lively | ... |
Chris Brace
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| Darrell Larson | ... |
Security Technician
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| Lou Walker | ... |
Chef
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Stacey Kuhne-Adams | ... |
Andrea
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John Hugh | ... |
Animal Lab Technician
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Ira David Wood III | ... |
Barry
(as David Wood)
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Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
See All (16) »
Storyline
Brilliant researchers Lillian Reynolds and Michael Brace have developed a system of recording and playing back actual experiences of people. Once the capability of tapping into "higher brain functions" is added in, and you can literally jump into someone else's head and play back recordings of what he or she was thinking, feeling, seeing, etc., at the time of the recording, the applications for the project quickly spiral out of control. While Michael Brace uses the system to become close again to Karen Brace, his estranged wife who also works on the project, others start abusing it for intense sexual experiences and other logical but morally questionable purposes. The government tries to kick Michael and Lillian off the project once the vast military potential of the technology is discovered. It soon becomes obvious that the government is interested in more than just missile guidance systems. The lab starts producing mind torture recordings and other psychosis inducing material. When ... Written by Eric van bezooijen <eric@webmethods.com>
Plot Keywords:
technology | durham north carolina | patellar reflex | testing reflexes | marital crisis |Taglines:
The door to the mind is open! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
30 September 1983 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Gordon Forbes Tapes See more »Box Office
Budget:
$15,000,000 (estimated)Gross:
$8,900,000 (USA)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
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.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The film cast includes three Oscar winners: Christopher Walken, Cliff Robertson and Louise Fletcher; and one Oscar nominee: Natalie Wood. See more »Goofs
Not a goof: At the beginning of the film, when they are calibrating the system, Lillian asks Michael what he sees, and he replies, "Clockwise rotation." His mind understands that the environment seen through his eyes cannot rotate, rather Michael perceives himself rotating clockwise. See more »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.
See more »
Crazy Credits
After the final credit has rolled, 'TO NATALIE' appears for a couple seconds See more »Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.Catch up with everything you missed at Comic-Con with IMDb's 2017 Comic-Con Guide.
First off, let's get a few things out of the way:
Yes, "Brainstorm" is marred by uneven acting and the death of its lead actress, Natalie Wood, under circumstances that to this day are still the stuff of speculation.
Yes, Louise Fletcher's death scene is overacted to the point of parody.
Yes, it's not easy to accept Christoper Walken in a role of a semi-normal person.
Yes, "Brainstorm" was only Douglas Trumbull's second film as a director, and some might argue that it was little better than "Silent Running."
But, even despite all of that, the story is incredibly engaging, the visuals are striking (what else would you expect from the wizard responsible for "2001" and "Blade Runner"?), James Horner's music is absolutely divine, and the film is quite enjoyable.
Also, in its favor, a great deal of the credit (or blame, as many would say) for the final result lies squarely with MGM/UA. Still dealing with United Artists' financial baggage after their merger, the company all but took the film away from Trumbull after Wood's death--not to mention the studio's lack of support for Trumbull's plan to film the "helmet" sequences in his ultra-realistic Showscan process.
So, in point, I highly recommend this movie, but just be aware of what you're getting into...