In Dreams (1999)
It’s time for us to close the book (well, almost) on the 1990s, the most fruitful span of time for Amblin so far. That the film that sees us do this is Neil Jordan’s deeply bizarre supernatural psychological thriller IN DREAMS feels wholly appropriate for such a far-reaching, uneven and frequently unwieldy decade. Together we figuratively go bobbing for apples in an attempt to make sense of this tangled mess of a movie, wading through the giallo-esque narrative, the questionable performances and the truly stunning visual work en route to a conclusion that makes less sense the more you think about it. TW: IN DREAMS deals with instances of child abduction/abuse and suicide and, though our discussion mainly focuses on the ludicrousness of the film’s register, these elements do still factor into the conversation. If this sounds like it might be upsetting, we recommend skipping this episode. Follow the podcast on Twitter (@RamblinAmblin) and be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Get in touch with us either via Twitter or email rambinaboutamblin@gmail.com. Please feel free to give us a 5-star review, share your favourite Amblin movies and tell us if ET makes you cry. Ramblin is created and produced by Andrew Gaudion and Joshua Glenn. A special thanks as always to Emily Tatham for the artwork, and Robert J. Hunter-Clayton & Greg Sheffield for the theme music.