Dream Lover (1993)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Nicholas Kazan

Writer (WGA):

Nicholas Kazan (written by)

Release Date:

6 May 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

If you think you know your lover. Think again. Especially if she's your wife.

Plot:

Ray is young, charming, successful and the owner of a prosperous architect company. However, he has recently gone trough a very painful divorce...

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Divorce | Architect | Suspicion | Deception

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 26

1:00 PM

MAX

Cast

James Spader	...	Ray Reardon
Mädchen Amick	...	Lena Mathers
Fredric Lehne	...	Larry
Bess Armstrong	...	Elaine
Larry Miller	...	Norman
Kathleen York	...	Martha
Kate Williamson	...	Mrs. Sneeder
Tom Lillard	...	Hank Sneeder
William Shockley	...	Buddy
Carl Sundstrom	...	Officer
Irwin Keyes	...	Officer
Joel McKinnon Miller	...	Minister
Joseph Scoren	...	Martha's Lawyer (as Joseph Scorsiani)
Archie Lang	...	Judge #1
Clyde Kusatsu	...	Judge Kurita
Alexander Folk	...	Oscar
Michael Chow	...	Mr. Mura
Talya Ferro	...	Cora's Sister
Sandra Kinder	...	Beautician
Peter Zapp	...	Ticket Taker
Armando Pucci	...	Bernardo
Janel Moloney	...	Alice Keller
Jeanne Bates	...	Jeanne
Shawne Rowe	...	Debby
Robert David Hall	...	Dr. Sheen
Scott Coffey	...	Billy
Lucy Butler	...	Ray's Secretary
Gretchen Becker	...	Celine Rogers
Harriet C. Leider	...	Carnival Woman
Blair Tefkin	...	Cheryl
Paul Ben-Victor	...	Clown
Ava Dupree	...	Check-out Woman
Erick Avari	...	Dr. Spatz
Michael Milhoan	...	Ray's Lawyer
Eleanor Zee	...	Nurse
Cassie Cole	...	Tina age 6
Timothy Johnson	...	Bob age 4

Directed by
Nicholas Kazan

Writing credits (WGA)
Nicholas Kazan		(written by)

Produced by
Elon Dershowitz	....	co-producer
Louis G. Friedman	....	line producer
Tim Glawson	....	supervising producer
Steve Golin	....	executive producer
Lauren Lloyd	....	producer
Wallis Nicita	....	producer
Edward R. Pressman	....	executive producer
Sigurjon Sighvatsson	....	producer

Original Music by
Christopher Young

Cinematography by
Jean-Yves Escoffier

Film Editing by
Susan R. Crutcher		(as Susan Crutcher)
Jill Savitt

Casting by
Johanna Ray

Production Design by
Richard Hoover

Art Direction by
Bruce Robert Hill		(as Bruce Hill)

Set Decoration by
Brian Kasch

Costume Design by
Barbara Tfank

Makeup Department
Bridget Bergman	....	makeup artist
Lori Guidroz	....	key hair stylist
Shelly Hutchins	....	swing hair stylist
Shelly Hutchins	....	swing makeup artist
Carmen Willis	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Scott Carleton	....	post-production supervisor
Louis G. Friedman	....	production manager
John Portnoy	....	post-production supervisor
Diana Seel	....	post-production supervisor: Propaganda Films

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Liz Ryan	....	second assistant director (as Elizabeth Ryan)
Roger Senders	....	dga trainee
Margie Sperling	....	second second assistant director
Mary Ellen Woods	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Keith Cox	....	construction coordinator
Kristen Gassner	....	set decorating buyer
Elisabeth Greenbaum	....	art department coordinator
Bruce Mink	....	property master
Michael Panevics	....	on-set dresser
David E. Robinson	....	key scenic artist (as Dave Robinson)

Sound Department
Ron Bedrosian	....	foley mixer
Joe Bosco	....	adr recordist
Robert Bradshaw	....	sound editor (as Bob Bradshaw)
David Brownlow	....	sound
Mary Jo Devenney	....	sound
Gordon Ecker	....	sound designer
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby (as Thom Ehle)
Frank Fleming	....	foley recordist
Tommy Goodwin	....	adr mixer
Walter Gorey	....	boom operator
Joseph Holsen	....	sound editor (as Joe Holsen)
Victor Iorillo	....	sound designer
Kurt Kassulke	....	sound re-recording mixer
Constance A. Kazmer	....	sound editor (as Connie Kazmer)
John Kwiatkowski	....	sound editor
Anthony Milch	....	supervising sound editor (as Anthony R. Milch)
Michael Miller	....	re-recording projectionist
Jeffrey Perkins	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist (as Joanie Rowe)
Katie Rowe	....	foley artist
Greg Stacy	....	sound editor
J.R. Westen	....	adr mixer
Norval D. Crutcher III	....	foley editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Michael Schorr	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Richard Ivan Mann	....	visual effects producer: The Post Group

Stunts
Hannah Kozak	....	stunt double: Madchen Amick
Hannah Kozak	....	stunts
Jerry Spicer	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Dennis 'Dink' Adams	....	dolly grip (as Dennis Adams)
Lee Auerbach	....	electrician
Corwin A. Bibb	....	best boy electric (as Cory Bibb)
Donald Burghardt	....	additional first assistant camera
Linda R. Chen	....	still photographer (as Linda Chen)
Brian Crane	....	best boy grip
Louis DiCesare	....	gaffer
Tim Durr	....	electrician
David Emmerichs	....	Steadicam operator
Ali Farboud	....	rigging gaffer
Lisa Guerriero	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Steven Kline	....	first assistant camera
Tony Kline	....	second assistant camera
John Savka	....	dolly grip
Zoe Schumacher	....	camera loader

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Elaine J. Huzzar	....	casting assistant (as Elaine Huzzar)
Lesa Lotito	....	casting associate
Lesa Shapiro	....	casting coordinator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
P. Kay Morris	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Scott Biddle	....	post-production coordinator
Robert LaRossa	....	color timer
Bill Mochon	....	color timer
Darci Rose	....	post-production coordinator
Jim Suhy	....	assistant film editor
Liza Sullivan	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Pete Anthony	....	conductor
Pete Anthony	....	orchestrator
Carol Sue Baker	....	music coordinator
Sharon Boyle	....	music supervisor
Paul Broucek	....	music supervisor
Christopher Dedrick	....	orchestrator
Evyen Klean	....	music supervisor
John La Salandra	....	music editor
Bart Samolis	....	musician
Rick Winquest	....	music scoring mixer
Christopher Young	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Jimmy Jones	....	transportation captain (as James P. Jones)
James 'Obee' Oberman	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
John W. Bergin	....	craft service
Cindy Bernstein	....	production coordinator
Michael Darrin	....	choreographer
Linda Giffin-Citron	....	script supervisor
Julie Hansen	....	post-production accountant
Paul Hargrave	....	location manager
Michael Haro	....	assistant location manager
Janee Hull	....	script supervisor (as Janne Hull-Page)
Brian McMillan	....	animal trainer
Matt Rebenkoff	....	set production assistant
Gene Strange	....	assistant production coordinator

Production Companies

• Edward R. Pressman Film
• Nicita/Lloyd Productions
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
• Propaganda Films

Distributors

• Cineplex Odeon Films (1994) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Gramercy Pictures (I) (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cannes Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Laurenfilm (Spain)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• PolyGram Video (video)
• Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Special Effects

• Special Effects Unlimited

Other Companies

• Beverly Hills Executive Security  security provided by
• Big Time Picture Company  post-production services
• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Deluxe Catering  catering
• Dennis Davidson & Associates Public Releations (DDA)  publicity
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  production insurance
• Hollywood Film Company  grip and lighting equipment
• Howard A. Anderson Company  titles and opticals
• International Recordings  sound re-recording
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting
• Post Group, The  solitaire opticals
• Sound Services  sound transfers
• SoundStorm  sound editing
• The Elephant Connection  animal training
• The House of Harry Winston  jewelry

Runtime:

103 min | 108 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Germany:16 | Ireland:15 | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | UK:18 | USA:R

Company:

Edward R. Pressman Film

Quotes:

Lena: Isn't the real question, who are you? Are you really Ray Reardon, or is that the name your parents hung on you?

Soundtrack:

JUST YOU

Incoherent but somewhat worthwhile thriller

Dream Lover is one odd little film. On one hand, it's a Neo-Noir style mystery romantic thriller, but for some reason; supernatural themes are constantly hinted at through the tone, title and dream sequences featured throughout the film. I have to say that it really looks like director Nicholas Kazan wasn't really sure what he wanted the film to be, and what we've ended up with is a disjointed blending of a few different genres, which hasn't come out all that well. Still, Dream Lovers does manage an interesting story in spite of this; and while I'm biased because I love a good mystery thriller, I'd say it's just about worth seeing. The plot focuses on Ray Reardon (not the snooker player), a man who has just split with his wife. It's not long before he meets the beautiful Lena Mathers, whom he falls in love, marries and has kids with...before realising that he doesn't really know anything about her. Oops! Around the same time, strange events transpire and it becomes obvious to Ray that Lena isn't who she appears to be, and so he endeavours to get to the bottom of who she is.

James Spader takes the lead role and both acts and looks the part that he is playing. He is joined by the suitably sexy Mädchen Amick, who is both sultry and seductive in her role. The leads do have chemistry together, and while the film is in no way as sexy as Nicholas Kazan obviously thinks it is, there are no problems on the acting front. The plot really is all over the place, yet somehow it still manages to be rather predictable and despite being a mystery, Dream Lover soon sets itself into a rhythm. I don't like the title very much, as it gives the complete wrong impression of the film - and while it sort of makes sense given what happens, it could have been marketed better. It all boils down to a decent enough ending which, while not very clever, manages to make sense in spite of the fact that it's all a little bit silly, and the final sequence is by far and away the most powerful in the film. Overall, I can't really give Dream Lovers high recommendations, but it's enjoyable and I think the majority of negative comments directed against it are unfair.