Dream with the Fishes (1997)

Terry is a suicidal voyeur who treats a dying addict to a final binge, but Terry will only do this if he promises to kill him.

Director:

Finn Taylor

Writers:

Finn Taylor (story), Jeffrey D. Brown (story) (as Jeffrey Brown)

Stars:

David Arquette, Brad Hunt, Cathy Moriarty

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Arquette	...	Terry
Brad Hunt	...	Nick
Cathy Moriarty	...	Aunt Elise
Kathryn Erbe	...	Liz
Patrick McGaw	...	Don
J.E. Freeman	...	Joe, Nick's Father
Timi Prulhiere	...	Michelle
Anita Barone	...	Mary
Allyce Beasley	...	Sophia
Peter Gregory	...	Pharmacist
Richmond Arquette	...	Sheriff
George Maguire	...	Funeral Director
Kristina Robbins	...	Terry's Bowling 'Date'
Katherine Copenhaver	...	Nick's Bowling 'Date'
Gary Brickman	...	Drug Dealer

Storyline

Terry is a suicidal voyeur who doesn't seem to be able to kill himself. While preparing for jumping off a bridge, he meets Nick who ends up saving his life. Terry discovers that Nick is terminally ill and doesn't have much time left. Scared by the lack of time, Nick offers Terry a deal he can't refuse: Terry will become the beneficiary of Nick's life insurance or, since money doesn't matter to Terry, Nick promises to kill him before he dies. All Nick asks is Terry's help to realize a few fantasies before dying.

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Plot Keywords:

bucket list | dying | voyeur | underwear | twenty something | 

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Taglines:

An oddball odyssey about voyeurism, LSD and nude bowling!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive strong language, some drug content and sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 June 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Baliklar ve rüyalar

Filming Locations:

Half Moon Bay, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,777, 22 June 1997, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$464,655, 10 August 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

3 Ring Circus Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Librarian: Bashful, he's the one everybody forgets.

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Crazy Credits

No dreams or fishes were harmed in the making of this movie.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Face/Off/Dream with the Fishes/Head Above Water/The Last Time I Committed Suicide/When the Cat's Away (1997)

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Soundtracks

Do What You Wanna
Written and Performed by Ramsey Lewis
Used by permission of Ivory Pyramid Music
Courtesy of MCA Records

User Reviews

Simple story, told beautifully.

Dream With The Fishes accomplishes what so many small independent films fail to do: it adheres to the reliable simplicity of storyline and character without getting bogged down in gimmickry or its own cleverness.

The casting and performances are perfect - it's a shame that David Arquette has disappeared into his wife's shadow - his performance as self-loathing/suicidal Terry is the perfect foil for Brad Hunt's desperate and free-spirited Nick. Both actors are brilliant in this film yet they've both remained relatively obscure in the years since it's release.

Perhaps Finn Taylor's direction has a lot to do with it. Aside from the performances he wrangles from his actors, Dream With The Fishes is also beautifully filmed, from the shots and camera angles to the lighting and even film stock he chooses for different moments to highlight shifts in character and story.

Add to this a haunting soundtrack (which I can thank for my introduction to Nick Drake) and you have a charming, heart-breaking, inspiring ride that serves both as an entertaining couple of hours viewing and a fine example for aspiring filmmakers.