Mean Dreams (2017)

Police officer Wayne Caraway (Bill Paxton) and his daughter Casey (Sophie Nélisse) move into a farm house. She quickly makes friends with Jonas Ford (Josh Wiggins) a neighboring farm. We quickly get some background material as we discover Wayne is not an honest cop and beats his daughter. Jonas attempts to rescue Casey and is nearly killed. Eventually the two come across Wayne's money stash and run off with everyone looking for the under aged couple.This appears on the surface to be a coming of age story. While loved is involved in the tale, it is more of a crime/chase/thriller easy on the thrills. It is Canadian made who tend to water down their films unlike their American counterparts who love sex, nudity and violence.Guide: An F-word or two. No sex or nudity.

Mean Dreams is a nifty neo-noir set in Canada. Northern Ontario near Sault Ste. Marie to be more precise. The film centers around Casey and Jonas, two lovers on the lam from Casey's abusive cop father played brilliantly by the late Bill Paxton in his last role before his untimely death. The film invoked memories for me of Nicholas Ray's "They Live by Night" 1948 and Robert Altman's remake of the film called "Thieves Like Us" 1974. But the film may be closest to Terrance Malick's "Badlands" 1973 where Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen were the two lovers on the lam after murdering Sissy's abusive father played by Warren Oates. But comparisons can continue as it allowed me to recall the quirky "Moonrise Kingdom" directed by Wes Anderson. Lovers on the lam is old theme most famously portrayed by Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the ill fated lovers "Bonnie and Clyde" 1967. Both Casey and Jonas, played by Sophie Nelisse and Josh Wiggins, both of whom we are liable to see more of, are good in this film. Starting out as young and naive they quickly have to grow up as Jonas gets caught up in a drug deal gone wrong that was set up by Casey's father. Indeed how do you go to the police when it is the police that are bad guys. Colm Feore plays the other bad cop. You just know that none of this going to end well even if the lovers are somehow seen as getting away in the end. The film is well-acted. It develops slowly and builds. We get to like Casey and Jonas and do really hope they escape the abusive father (Paxton). It's an indie neo-noir film worthy of being amongst the many neo-noirs that come out over the years. One of the biggest stars in the film is the landscape of Northern Ontario from the lakes, the fields and yes the small towns that prevail up there. Seeing the gorgeous landscape made me want to take a trip back.

Greetings from Lithuania."Mean Dreams" (2016) is a highly involving drama / thriller set almost in a middle of nowhere in USA. While the story here isn't the most original, it was done so good that i was involved into this movie from the opening till last shot.Acting by all three leads were great. And i have to admire once again of the late Bill Paxton - he was simply outstanding here in playing one of his most mean characters ever - what a terrific and legendary character actor we lost - still can't believe it.Writing, directing were also first rate as well as brilliant cinematography - it kinda gets you right in to this place - brilliant camera work.Overall, is a great underrated gem. Its a drama thriller with not the most original or unique story which have seen before, but its just done so well that its hard not to recommend this movie.

I rate movies, but rarely write reviews. Only if I like them a lot. If you enjoy movies that keep you in your seat, so that you can't even go to pee!.. Than, Mean Dreams is your choice. You think and guess that this boy and girl will fall in love, and evil fathers will cause problems, from the beginning. But things get out of hand more than this and hard to imagine what will happen next.I, personally would have liked more brutality and blood, as example, see girl's dad get more violent on the boy's family, torturing his dad and raping his mom. Boy hijack the bus, Sheriff more psychotic, etc. This movie could have been extended in so many ways without question, and I would have watched it even it was over 2 hours.All actors do a superb performance. Landscapes,cinematography and editing is great.Enjoy it.