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Brainstorm (1983)
Front Cover Actor
Christopher Walken Michael Anthony Brace
Natalie Wood Karen Brace
Louise Fletcher Lillian Reynolds
Cliff Robertson Alex Terson
Jordan Christopher Gordy Forbes
Donald Hotton Landan Marks
Alan Fudge Robert Jenkins
Joe Dorsey Hal Abramson
Bill Morey James Zimbach
Jason Lively Chris Brace
Movie Details
Genre Science Fiction; Thriller
Director Douglas Trumbull; Douglas Trumball
Producer Douglas Trumbull; Douglas Trumball; Joel L. Freedman
Writer Philip Frank Messina; Robert Stitzel; Bruce Joel Rubin
Studio MGM/UA
Language English
Audience Rating PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Running Time 101 mins
Country USA
Color Color
IMDb Rating 6.2
Plot
Brainstorm is a fascinating but frustrating film, simply because it dabbles in greatness but fails to develop the fullest implications of its provocative ideas. It's a visually dazzling film with outstanding special effects; directed by veteran effects creator Douglas Trumbull, of 2001 fame; but too caught up in marvels of hardware and software at the expense of its characters, who remain interesting but dramatically two-dimensional. The story involves the development of a headset recorder that can replay one person's experiences--even their emotional states--into the mind of another. The device obviously invites corporate or military exploitation, and Cliff Robertson plays a ruthless executive determined to tap into its lucrative potential. But when a scientist (Louise Fletcher) records her own death experience with the device, along with incriminating evidence, the technology's inventor (Christopher Walken) must unlock the mysteries of his colleague's suspicious demise and the very nature of death itself. Punctuated by remarkable sequences from the perspective of those who use the mind-expanding headset, Brainstorm dares to reach for ambitious themes and innovative movie experiences, and that alone makes it eminently worthwhile. But with a conclusion that too literally interprets the afterlife experience with conventional angelic imagery, and a disappointingly thin role for Natalie Wood (who died while the film was still in production), the film strives for profundity and settles instead for an inspirational light show. --Jeff Shannon
Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Index 199
Collection Status In Collection
Links Amazon US
DVD Empire
Brainstorm at Movie Collector Connect
IMDB
Amazon US
Product Details
Format DVD
Region Region 1
Screen Ratio Fullscreen (4:3, Letterboxed)
Theatrical Widescreen (2.35:1)
Layers Single Side, Single Layer
UPC (Barcode) 012569505728
Chapters 32
Release Date 8/22/2000
Subtitles English; English (Closed Captioned); French; Spanish
Packaging Keep Case
Audio Tracks Dolby Digital Surround [English]
Dolby Digital Surround [French]
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1
Extra Features
Color