TMS Movie Review: Dreamin' Wild

(Felicity Donarski / Roadside Attractions)

The best way to go into a movie that you’re not already excited about is completely blind, which is how I went into Bill Pohlad’s Dreamin’ Wild this past weekend. Ironically, this is usually the opposite of how you discover movies released during summer, since it’s generally one of the busiest seasons in showbusiness. But with studios unable to promote their new releases at full effort with their actors this month, Dreamin’ Wild also proves fans will still find new movies one way or another. The new family drama stars Casey Affleck and Walton Goggins as two real-life brothers who went from almost becoming famous musicians in the early 1980s, to almost becoming famous again in the early 2010s.

In rural Fruitvale, WA, Donnie Emerson (Affleck) is a local musician with his own band and recording studio. His wife Nancy Sophia (Zooey Deschanel) is a member of the band, co-runs the studio, and is the mother of their kids. Older brother Joe Emerson (Goggins) keeps to himself in the more lowkey position of woodcutter. When indie record exec Matt Sullivan (Chris Messina) informs the siblings that their independently produced and released LP from their late teens, ‘Dreamin’ Wild,’ has been gradually gaining attention with vinyl collectors and music corners of the Internet; he convinces them it’s better late than never to fully take advantage of their potential.

(Roadside Attractions)

Noah Jupe and Jack Dylan Grazer play the Emerson brothers during childhood flashbacks, while Beau Bridges and Katy Cavanagh portray their caring parents. Dreamin’ Wild is written and directed by Bill Pohlad, who previously made Love & Mercy (2014) on Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Like with his previous music themed historical drama, Dreamin’ Wild regularly switches between two different time periods. I think Pohlad improves his weaknesses from Love & Mercy [inconsistent tone and pacing] with his new picture, which has a more natural flow and feels like the sequences are a part of the same story, rather than two different tales in one feature. Affleck, despite his controversies the past few years, continues to give strong, genuine performances, and here is no exception. Goggins and Bridges are also solid as the other Emerson men, while Deschanel is very appropriately cast as the female lead with her own retro-indie music background. The soundtrack is a nice mix of real Emerson tracks and famous soft rock and country songs from the 1970s.

Most impressive is how Pohlad and co. aren’t too limited with their PG rating so the dialogue doesn’t feel watered down for general audiences. You get the impression these characters probably are modest enough to not use much foul language in real life just like they don’t on film. All in all, Dreamin’ Wild is a nice, little feature for both movie and music fans.