By Chris Kavan - 06/30/10 at 12:07 PM CT
Dream sequences can be a tricky - they either have to be over-the-top or so subtle you don't know until the end that it even was a dream. So, with Inception's concept of dream invasion coming up, I look back on my favorite dream sequences that I have seen. Be warned there are SPOILERS in this blog post.
5) The Big Lebowski - The Dude knows what condition his condition is in when he goes to the great bowling alley in the sky, shoe service courtesy of Saddam and an operatic bowl with Maude. Jeff Bridges will forever be The Dude to me, and he's at his wacky best here.
4) Jacob's Ladder - You can argue this isn't a dream sequence, per se, but it's close enough. Vietnam veteran Jacob Singer is terrorized by visions of demons, his dead son and his tour in Vietnam. As he seeks out some of his fellow soldiers, his sanity appears to be slipping, but in the end the truth is far worse than anything he's experienced. An ultimate head-trip, literally - and still one of my favorite psychological horror films.
3) Fast Times at Ridgemont High - A day dream is still a dream, and this teenage fantasy perfectly sums up the mind of a horny teenager like no other film. The soundtrack with Moving in Stereo by The Cars is perfect, and, you know, there's Phoebe Cates too. Generations of boys will be forever grateful.
2) Mulholland Dr. - David Lynch is the master of twisted logic, merging reality with fantasy and ultimately completely screwing with the viewer. So what if it's hard to tell what parts of Mulholland Dr. may be a dream and may be reality. In the end it's a confusing mess that will leave you in permanent WTF mode, but as a Lynch fan, I wouldn't have it any other way.
1) Brazil - Terry Gilliam has his own demented visions, and Brazil is one of his best. The dream sequences here can be considered their own movie. In such a bureaucratic future it's nice to know a man can dream a warrior's dream. I guess when one's life is like Sam Lowry, the dream is always better than the reality.
What about you? What's your favorite dream or fantasy sequence - let it all hang out.
