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Robin William left us on August 11, 2014. I have not been able to watch a single film of his since then, and I love many of them. I am at a point where I can now watch this one again.
What Dreams May Come started out as a novel by one of my favorite authors, Richard Matheson, who penned such great stories as Somewhere in Time (Click Here to see my blog post), Stir of Echoes, I am Legend, and countless Twilight Zone episodes. My two favorite books of his are Somewhere in Time and What Dreams May Come.
It was Matheson’s imaginative story of what heaven and hell are like, that made this such a great read. The imagery it paints in your mind is spectacular. Likewise, the movie did the book justice and won an Academy award for best visual effects.
Matheson was raised as a Christian Scientist, but due to high blood pressure, left the church and developed his own belief system. What Dreams May Come is the culmination of some of those beliefs, yet shows an afterlife strangely devoid of a deity.
Matheson was raised as a Christian Scientist, but due to high blood pressure, left the church and developed his own belief system. What Dreams May Come is the culmination of some of those beliefs, yet shows an afterlife strangely devoid of a deity.
The film version was directed by Vincent Ward and has a wonderful cast, including:
Robin Williams as Dr. Christopher Nielsen
Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Albert Lewis / Ian Nielsen
Annabella Sciorra as Annie Collins-Nielsen
Max von Sydow as The Tracker / Albert Lewis
Rosalind Chao as Leona / Marie Nielsen
Robin Williams plays a wonderful and tender role as Chris.
Robin Williams as Dr. Christopher Nielsen
Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Albert Lewis / Ian Nielsen
Annabella Sciorra as Annie Collins-Nielsen
Max von Sydow as The Tracker / Albert Lewis
Rosalind Chao as Leona / Marie Nielsen
Robin Williams plays a wonderful and tender role as Chris.
The story is about the love Chris Nielsen has for his wife Annie, which continues even after he is in heaven. He is met first by the family dog, but then is helped by an old friend, Albert, (Cuba Gooding, Jr.).
Cuba Gooding, Jr.
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Chris can see Annie’s paintings which manifest themselves in heaven. Especially the tree she is currently working on, until she becomes distraught and destroys the painting. In Matheson’s heaven, the physical is an illusion, thought is real. So to fly, for instance, all you have to do is think it.
It is soon discovered that Annie has committed suicide and thus sparks an ambitious quest for Chris to rescue her from hell. Chris would rather spend eternity in hell than to be in heaven without her.
Max von Sydow, leading the way to hell.
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In the end, love conquers all. However, the movie and the book’s ending differ on this point. In the book, Annie is not ready for heaven and must be reincarnated back to Earth. Chris decides to go with her.
Annabella Sciorra as Annie
Rosalind Chao and Jessica Kate Brooks
What Dreams May Come is a wonderfully told, imaginative story, and is among my favorites in this genre.
 | <-----CLICK Picture. The seemingly paranormal phenomena recorded in this book, are entirely based on true events. Pennies From Across the Veil is a love story…about death and the afterlife. |
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