Dream with the Fishes (1997)
59%RT Audience Score: 41%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Dream With The Fishes is a film that attempts to capture the essence of the ’70s buddy films, but falls short due to its unnecessary characters and subplots. While possessing a naive charm, the movie fails to break new ground in the quirky-misfits-on-the-road genre. The film’s emphasis on Oedipal conflict and eternal adolescence may appeal to some, but it ultimately fails to deliver a compelling or profound story. Despite its flaws, the movie manages to touch on feelings that most mainstream films don’t even admit exist, making it a personal kind of story told with a certain sensitivity. However, it’s not exactly Oscar-worthy, and nothing here is sufficiently wild to make it stand out from the crowd.
Dream With The Fishes is a movie that’s like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get. Some critics loved it, some hated it, and some were just plain confused. But hey, isn’t that what life is all about? Taking risks, trying new things, and seeing where the journey takes you. So if you’re in the mood for a quirky, offbeat film that’s equal parts funny and poignant, give Dream With The Fishes a shot. Who knows, you might just catch a big one.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Bill, Phillips
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
San Mateo, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for pervasive strong language, some drug content and sexuality
Year of Release
1997
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:NA
Genre(s)
Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring David Arquette, Brad Hunt, Kathryn Erbe, Cathy Moriarty, Patrick McGaw, Allyce Beasley, directed by Finn Taylor, written by Finn Taylor, produced by Johnny Wow, Mitchell Stein, comedy, R, box office gross $556.7K, reviewed by Dave Kehr, John Hartl, Desmond Ryan, Nathan Rabin, John Petrakis, Lisa Alspector, Margaret Pomeranz, Dan Webster, David Sterritt, Ken Fox, Leah Rozen, Serena Donadoni, road trip, terminal disease, binoculars, pact, acid, bowling, nudity, Oedipal conflict, buddy film, independent-minded, anything-goes, quirky-misfits-on-the-road, drugs, wanderlust, black comedy, sensitive
Worldwide gross: $543,708
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,013,516
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,596
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 110,525
US/Canada gross: $543,708
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,013,516
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,190
US/Canada opening weekend: $31,777
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $59,235
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,138
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,864,081
Production budget ranking: 2,034
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,003,808
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$1,854,373
ROI to date (est.): -65%
ROI ranking: 1,776
Brad Hunt – Nick
Kathryn Erbe – Liz
Cathy Moriarty – Aunt Elise
Patrick McGaw – Don
Allyce Beasley – Sophia
Director(s)
Finn Taylor
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Johnny Wow, Mitchell Stein
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (17)
Despite the emphasis on Oedipal conflict, the film expresses no desire to enter the grownup world; happiness here is associated with eternal adolescence, following the ’70s (and now, apparently, ’90s) ideal.
February 13, 2014 | Rating: 2/4
Dave Kehr
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
A throwback to the independent-minded, anything-goes movies that followed in the wake of Easy Rider in the early 1970s.
February 13, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Clearly, it wishes to be different, but anyone who fondly recalls the buddy films of the ’70s will find it to be more of the same.
February 13, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4
Desmond Ryan
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
The quirky-misfits-on-the-road genre is nothing new or revolutionary, but the film possesses a naive charm that is as refreshing as it is rare.
February 13, 2014
Nathan Rabin
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
As the film progresses, however, it begins to accumulate all sorts of unnecessary characters and subplots that only serve to weigh it down.
February 13, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4
John Petrakis
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
A harangue on how ironic it is that men often attack one another verbally and physically as a way to get close.
February 13, 2014
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Dream With The Fishes is quite a moving but perplexing film.
February 13, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Margaret Pomeranz
sbs.com.au
Dream With the Fishes is a personal kind of story told with a sensitivity that, while not exactly Oscar-worthy, does manage to touch on feelings most mainstream films don’t even admit exist.
February 13, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Dan Webster
Spokesman-Review (Washington)
Parts of the movie focusing on drugs and wanderlust seem like throwbacks to the ’60s, but most of the story is more self-indulgent than sociological.
February 13, 2014 | Rating: 1/4
David Sterritt
Christian Science Monitor
Not a great picture — not by a long shot — but the many and various parts of Finn Taylor’s quirky black comedy do add up to something rather appealing.
February 13, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4
Ken Fox
TV Guide
Nothing here is sufficiently wild.
February 13, 2014
Leah Rozen
People Magazine
It isn’t nearly as compelling or profound as it’s meant to be.
February 13, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/5
Serena Donadoni
Metro Times (Detroit, MI)…
Plot
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.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
David Arquette plays a shy and neurotic character who spends his days spying on his neighbors through binoculars.
Finn-Taylor.jpg
