Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

This is a usual setup, unwitting guy has married a woman who might not be who he thinks. Paranoia ensues. As we go through it all, we come to understand that he had his dream woman all along and blew it for capricious human nature, it opens with him being divorced from her.It sits for a while on an edge I like. What if she reinvented herself as we find out, Texas girl who run away from a redneck life, and was determined to pursue him like a man would? What if she isn't manipulatively evil but he is controlling and wants her to be at home waiting for him? We get the notion that he might be a crank and it may have played a part in his first marriage.She would then be anchoring a world where you can be troubled and determined both, self is fluid and we have to suspend judgment until the dragon flies in the sky. Amick is sensitive and bold enough in her poise to facilitate this double perspective.But of course the anchor is moved to calculating ruthlessness and we collapse to devious narrator who has been weaving a story that entraps all along, complete with actors, props and backstory. It becomes the garish fun where she won't tell him if their kids are his own, and the hapless stooge is dangling on strings of what she controls. I give it a positive mark because of how watchable in that video thriller sense of sardonically invented storytelling for the pleasure, but we're watching a cartoon by the end.Noir Meter: 2/4 | Neo-noir or post noir? Neo

After an intense divorce, Ray accidentally bumps into the beautiful Lena at an art gallery. While their first encounter is unpleasant, subsequent meetings result in a romantic relationship that soon turns into a marriage with children. Nearly two years, into their marriage Ray begins to discover that Lena isn't the person he thought she was. Secrets begin to unravel and as Ray begins to discover the truth, Lena has an alternate plan for him.Nicholas Kazan's 'Dream Lover' mainly focuses on the relationship between Ray and Lena. Initially, it may give the impression of being just another 'relationship thriller' but the film does succeed in creating a tense atmosphere especially as Ray becomes more and more suspicious of his wife. The director and actors already hint from the very beginning of Ray and Lena's relationship that something is not quite right. I felt the story itself was at a disadvantage mostly because not enough background was provided on Lena. As a result of which much of the character remains a question mark.'Dream Lover' is executed brilliantly. The dream sequences were excellently shot as it successfully creates a surreal, scary and colourful world. The cinematography is wonderful particularly in the way it captures the interiors of Ray's house and background score is beautiful.James Spader and Mädchen Amick are in top form. Spader displays Ray's vulnerability, humbleness and strength with conviction while Amick's luring beauty and restraint make her just right for the part. The rest of the cast does a fine job in providing support.'Dream Lover' is pretty much about Ray's illusion in finding the perfect partner. He thought he had already found her once and lost her (the divorce) but after meeting Lena he's convinced that she is her. This may not be everyone's kind of film but 'DreamLover' is more about the intensity and mystery of the relationship than the actual story.

James Spader playing yet another yuppie dullard, this time entering into a marriage with a mysterious, oddly detached young woman who has a hidden agenda (never mind that it takes her two babies and many years to carry it out). Threadbare thriller with a ridiculous plot-twist midway through, uninteresting characters, sterile atmosphere and a thin, colorless cast. The dream sequences themselves, set in a gaudy-wicked carnival, are visually striking but have little-to-zero connection to what's going on in the story. A half-baked concoction; dream love is one thing, but this film has no dream logic. *1/2 from ****

Perhaps the allusions to Hitchcock are not warranted, but the first time I saw this I was knocked out. DREAM LOVER has a tightly wound plot and fine performances by the entire cast. Nick Kazan has some great dialogue in here like "What you think is paranoia is heightened awareness." Some folks might fault Spader's character as very stupid (really, you should find out as much as you can about a potential mate before marrying them!) Still, this a great neo noir thriller that really goes to show that beauty is often skin deep. Definitely worth a rent.