Lathe of Heaven (2002)

Beautiful and intelligent rendering of George Orr and his world-changing dreams. James Caan is suitably self-serving as his conniving therapist, Dr. Haber.Note how Penny, Dr. Haber's assistant, so prim and proper at the outset, dresses more decadently as the story unfolds. This - like other events - is presented without elaboration.Never having read the book or seen the original movie, I am judging this work on its own. As such, I rate it as a masterpiece.

Although more subtle than the earlier (1980-PBS) version the star power and the set atmosphere carries the same message that we all create our own realities to some extent. Watch for the changes in all the people with each passing dream; much like the Butterfly effect you can see how small changes in reality can change everything more than you can possibly control. All the main actors did their part to make the film work; they could have muffed it but they held their own through all the changes believably. Some of the tag lines between the principles also work well in that they help tie the plot together in an otherwise shifting universe. This film is a good introduction to the book and takes nothing away from it. If you are looking for more read the book – you will be rewarded.

I thought this was a well made re-make of the 1980 PBS special, which starred Bruce Davison, not Craig Wasson as another reviewer mistakenly noted. (You might remember Bruce Davison as Senator Kelly form X-Men) the real fun I noticed was the Six degrees of separation aspect that Kevin Conway who played Dr. Haber in the 1980 version starred in a movie in 1991 called Rambling Rose with Lukas Haas who would end up playing Orr in this re-make. But I digress, The most exciting thing about this film was it's ability to prove that Lisa Bonet actually CAN act. Seriously, this is a cerebral Sci-Fi movie and a very watchable one at that. I thought Haas was a mismatch for the part but he was able to pull it off.

Simply put: it has no soul. It is devoid of character and suffers from being overdesigned and grossly underwritten. The novel and the 1980 PBS version are full of interesting, curious "character moments" and have a healthy sense of wry humor. This version has sacrificed everything--everything--that made the novel and the earlier version so wonderful, so human. George Orr is a mannequin. Lelache is a complete cipher. Dr. Haber exhibits none of the eccentric egomania that should be driving his character.Lest you turn into a pillar of salt like Lots' wife, avert your eyes...