Rating- * * * * * (5/5)
I find more and more these days that an interesting conversation can be more exciting than any action-packed story that Hollywood could come up with. That’s essentially what you have in Waking Life, a series of intriguing conversations about life, dreams, and existence rather than a trite, predictable plotline. The conversations were written because there is a screenwriter, but they seem so real and off-the-cuff you would swear you were just drifting through a coffee house and eavesdropping. I found the discussions so enlightening and mind expanding I just couldn’t get enough. The great thing about it is that if you don’t like a particular character or topic, the film moves on rather quickly to one that may find your interest. And even if you don’t like any of the conversation, the visuals are amazing to watch. This is technically classified as an animated film, but it was shot with actual actors who were then digitally replaced by a very basic computer paint program and their movements and features remain in the shot. The animation style is so new and so different, the whole experience makes you feel as if you’ve gone in over your head; but don’t worry, you are supposed to feel that way. The way this film explores the qualities of dreams and what it really means to dream and to be awake is one of the most interesting ideas I’ve ever come across in my life and I know this film will be in my DVD library very soon. I recommend this film to anyone who likes to be intellectually stimulated and can watch a movie that doesn’t necessarily have a plot. This is one of the best films of the year, no doubt, and it is one of the premiere pieces of conversation stimulator I have ever come across.