Cassandra’s Dream, is a movie without direction or necessity. Actually, all this movie does is make you mad for watching it. If you have seen the trailers don’t believe what you see. Cassandra’s Dream is a one trick pony, and that trick is far from impressive.
The film tells the story of two brothers, Ian and Terry, played by Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell respectively. Ian is a guy looking for a big break in investments while Terry makes his living as a mechanic and betting on dog races and poker. Despite their flaws they are a couple of good guys that just don’t really have a lot of direction in their life.
As the story moves along Ian gets himself a hot little actress as his girlfriend as he rolls around in borrowed cars lying about his job. Terry, on the other hand, has run into some trouble at the tables, all while getting ready to buy a place and settle down with his girlfriend. Money becomes motivation and the world changes for both boys as we meet Uncle Howard (Tom Wilkinson).
Howard is a successful businessman with 3-4 plastic surgery clinics around the globe. Just returning from Japan to pay his family a visit in London he comes with more than smiles and an open wallet. Ian and Terry tell him of their plans, and he is open to helping them, but for a price. It seems a business partner of his is setting out to ruin him and that can’t be allowed. The brothers are offered an ultimatum, kill said business partner and get some cash, or just forget it all and never expect a dime again.
This is all obvious from the trailer and it is what led me to believe this would be a good film, the idea is intriguing and at 108 minutes I didn’t think there was a lot that could go wrong. Unfortunately not a lot does go wrong. As a matter of fact, not a lot happens at all.
Cassandra’s Dream is a film about watching Terry worry. Colin Farrell, who actually gives a very good performance, is asked to worry, and worry, and worry, and worry some more. As an audience member you are asked to endure what feels like the same scene over, and over, and over, and over again. See, doesn’t just the repetitive nature of my sentences get on your nerves.
To go along with the meandering storyline you must also contend with written dialogue that never seems to work. Farrell and McGregor do their best to work through their lines, but it never seems natural, a shock considering Allen is one of film’s greatest wordsmiths. As a matter of fact I think everyone involved did very well from an acting standpoint. Both Farrell and McGregor turn in worthwhile performances as do their respective girlfriends played by Sally Hawkins and relative newcomer Hayley Atwell. Wilkinson is menacing and the boys’ parents (John Benfield and Clare Higgins) are blissfully ignorant. The cast keeps the film watchable for the most part, but once you hit the midway point you are going to wish the brothers were hired to kill you instead.
Don’t believe what the trailers are selling you. This is not a mystery thriller. Cassandra’s Dream is an exploration of Terry’s depression and it never lets up.
