Dreamin' Wild

With its toe-tapping music and sincere performances, Dreamin' Wild definitely entertained me and I believe will enrapture pop-rock fans as well as those who have never heard of Donnie and Joe Emerson. The film tells a true story with immense heart. It is shot elegantly and the story is fascinating; the at-times flat narration is the only chink in Dreamin Wild's armor.

Dreamin' Wild opens in the rural Pacific Northwest, as singer/songwriter Donnie Emerson (Casey Affleck) and his family, are approached by a representative from Light in the Attic, who says he thinks the album Donnie and his brother Joe (Walton Goggins) recorded as teenagers is the next big hit. When the album, also named Dreamin' Wild, makes its rounds, it is hailed by music critics as a lost masterpiece. And whereas the brothers see this stroke of luck as a second chance for stardom, it also unmoors other deep-seated emotions, fears, and hopes, as Donnie, Joe, and the family come to terms with the past, present and possible future.

The moving story is shot with clarity, care and craft; the lighting and framing do justice to the Emersons' bucolic hometown as well as their eclectic and ethereal 'jam space.' Casey Affleck has somewhat patented the 'damaged man exploring his trauma' trope, perhaps because of his real-life experience fending off his demons with alcoholism. That takes nothing away from his deep performance as Donnie in Dreamin' Wild. His portrayal of emotional damage and hope is enough to keep you gripped. Walton Goggins is equally spectacular. Every dialogue-heavy scene is followed by the brothers jamming, and then another dialogue-heavy scene; this format gets a little tiring by the 60-minute mark, but the plot developments and emotional performances redeem the film's at-times slow pace.

Dreamin' Wild encourages following your dreams but staying grounded, being hopeful but never forgetting where you've come from, and caring for your family and yourself.

I give Dreamin' Wild 4 out of 5 stars. By Eshaan M., KIDS FIRST!

THis is my first review, but not the first movie I've seen :) I Love Movies about Life. And this is one of that.

You can feel all the emotions in it, in a very authentic way. The passion to music & nature, family life, love, lost.,.,.,

Further its specially about brotherhood, about to accept somebody for who he is.

And this is all bedded in dreamlike locations. Far away from civilization, endless forests, colourful sunets and old trees where this beautiful story starts to grow.

I think I am not driving too far, cause Casey Affleck should get an oscar nomination for best lead role.

Give this a movie a chance, u wont regret!

This was a sweet story, art house for sure, and a bit slow. It is moody, and needed another rewrite and an edit to pick up the pacing. As is, the story does not do the massive talent onscreen justice. And they are excellent, so it is the direction that is the problem. Too slow, too disconnected and belabored. It is the pacing of the writer/director that is the problem.

Too many scenes of people doing nothing, driving, partying in the distance for too long, and on and on.

Casey is clearly brilliant as usual. He is really the king of understated performances, and suprise talents, like being a musician.

Basically it is a quiet, understated story, running a bit too slow.

Casey is mesmerizing in this. No one else could play this part either. It's a beautiful, sweet and incredibly shot film. No one overacts, and so much is said without words too. Beau Bridges at his best. Walton and Zooey go deep too. There isn't one laugh, but you won't notice. It's heavy, deep, nostalgic, and reminds us what we do for love and faith in people, and the responsibility or guilt that comes with it. The music is great too. In a summer of big movies, this small movie shines brighter. Sure to become a cult classic and win awards. Loved every minute of it. I don't give tens, ever. This deserves my ten rating. Catch it in theatres this week, but it'll grow in popularity on stream for certain.

A gem of a story, reminiscent of a short story by Sherwood Anderson, Richard Ford, Eudora Welty, Raymond Carver, Jim Harrison, or the Irish writer Claire Keegan. There's a surface plainness and apparent accessibility, seemingly easily penetrable.

But small issues of moral choice build up, we see mature feelings wrestle with the idealism of youth.

Characters we thought we could easily understand become more complex. This focus on the seriousness of life goes to the heart of the matter: family loyalty, honor, compassion, forgiveness (and self-forgiveness). "Dreaming' Wild" has a fundamental directness that casts a profound, direct light on the austere interior of the Emerson family.

Its precision and pacing is writerly, it gives the viewer time to think.

Remarkable performances by Casey Affleck, Beau Bridges, Walton Goggins, Noah June, and Jack Dylan Grazer. And Chris Messina.