i 've always been told that there are two things in life that are unavoidable - death and taxes .
oddly , i 've never given much thought to either of the two .
maybe if i did , at least i 'd stop getting collection notices from uncle sam .
yes , let me make a resolution to devote myself to better record keeping , hold on to all my receipts , and to do what it takes to have the satisfaction that my returns are mistake - free and will keep me from incurring penalties .
it seems that the issue of death may not be so different , at least envisioned here in this film .
as this tender love story goes , if you do good things and have a clear conscience when you die , you ascend to a place of great peace and beauty .
the dreams , wishes , and fantasies that you had when you were alive come true .
for those who die with a burdened soul , however , they wind up in that other place .
chris and annie ( a winsome robin williams and a radiant annabella sciorra ) seem like the perfect couple that deserve all that heaven has to offer .
their love for each other is strong and their bond is undeniable .
but tragic events eventually tear apart the fabric of annie 's happiness .
and when chris dies after a terrible car accident , she commits suicide - a tortured soul who blames herself .
despair is perhaps the greatest sin , and she will wallow in her guilt throughout eternity .
chris , on the other hand , has made it to heaven , and upon learning of annie 's fate , he journeys to hell to find her and to try to free her from her nightmare .
this film brims with imagination , containing a lush imagery that shows the arcadia that is heaven and the bitterness and frightfulness
that is hell .
it seems that heaven and hell could very well be a product of our fantasies or nightmares .
it 's shape and look is as infinite as our imagination .
as chris explores his new fantastic world and discovers things both amazing and wondrous , he also begins to learn more about himself .
certain questions baffle him at first .
why does his home in heaven ooze with paint ?
what is the significance of the asian stewardess ?
why does he have an all - too - willing guide ( cuba gooding , jr . ) to help him find annie ?
but as he slowly begins to realize the answers , it makes him stronger and gives him a greater chance to save annie .
"
dreams " is both visually and tellingly beautiful .
alas , i have one regret .
the movie did well to gather more and more emotional speed , but the denouement was curiously unsatisfying .
it seemed as if it was racing to some kind of great finish , but its intensity seemed to wane in its final moments .
however , your eyes will still well up with tears and
you 'll find lots to savor .
the storytelling is purposeful and well constructed .
the journey is imaginative .
and i was surprised by how much i enjoyed this film .
both visually and tellingly beautiful the storytelling is purposeful and well constructed brims with imagination the journey is imaginative i was surprised by how much i enjoyed this film