Daydream Nation

Director: Michael Goldbach
Writer: Michael Goldbach
Starring: Kat Dennings, Josh Lucas, Reece Thomspon
Release Date: April 15, 2011
Length:1 hour 28 minutes

The opening film for the Canada First program at TIFF, this year, was first time writer/director Michael Goldblach’s Daydream Nation, and what a dream it was. Starring the captivative Kat Dennings (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) and Josh Lucas, this film blends thrill, intensity, humor and romance all into one perfect combination. Seventeen year-old, Caroline Wexler (Kat Dennings) is moved to a small town, where everyone in her high school hates her for being an experienced smart individual from a big city. From Caroline’s perspective, all the boys in her high school are getting high all the time and all the girls are just drooling over them. Finding herself completely bored, Caroline makes it her mission to seduce her good-looking English teacher, Mr. Barry Anderson (Josh Lucas). When he eventually gives in to her, the pair develop a full secret relationship. At the same time, Thurston (Reece Thompson), a boy who goes to the same school falls in love with Caroline, who puts up with him to be nice. When Barry suggests that Caroline go out with someone her age so nobody will suspect their relationship, things in Caroline’s satisfying life start to turn on her, as she becomes seriously confused by what her relationship is with both these men. I wouldn’t be surprised if people walked out of this movie calling it a romantic comedy, a coming of age story, or even a thriller/horror movie. To me, it was all of those things combined thanks to the clever, inventive script from Michael Goldblach or the groundbreaking, hilarious, heartbreaking performance from Kat Dennings. Her character was written with such wit, grace and authenticity, and Dennings just nailed her performance to a T. Dennings made us love Caroline for the way she told people off and the confidence she had. She made us hate her, when she was being insensitive and cruel to people she thought less of. But, she mostly made us sympathize for Caroline toward the end of the film, and I was so shocked to find myself doing so. Dennings shared an intense, funny chemistry with Josh Lucas, who played her teacher, which made their relationship so interesting and easy to watch. What was great about these two characters was that the relationship between them was written and performed to make them seem just like two regular people in a relationship, who happen to be 15 years apart and one is the other’s teacher. There was no creepiness or oddity to their relationship. It just felt completely natural and real. Dennings and Reece Thompson, who plays Thurston, shared another great chemistry. This chemistry was a little less intense and a little more cute, but all the same, great to watch. Thompson alone was incredibly touching as Thurston, whom the audience repeatedly kept sympathizing towards and rooting for. The character itself was written so detailed, to make everyone understand him more as a person and not just the loser who likes Caroline. Surprisingly, one of my favourite aspects of the film was the creepy small town feel it had. The eeriness of the movie, made it that much more unique, so it wasn’t just another dramedy about a teenage girl. I clapped so hard at the end of the screening, my arms started to hurt. One of the best films at TIFF this year, Daydream Nation is so intriguing and so original, you won’t want it to end.