Cassandra's Dream

With the beguiling Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell in the lead roles, Woody Allen’s powerful new work commands us fully from its opening shot. Terry (Farrell) works in an auto-body shop and is recovering from struggles with liquor and gambling. Ian (McGregor) is clean-cut, ambitious and tired of helping their dear old dad manage his restaurant. He wants to move to California to become a resort owner and hopes ultra-sexy actress Angela (Hayley Atwell) will want to come along with him.

The brothers manage to scrape together enough dough to buy a sailboat, and know they can always count on Howard (Tom Wilkinson), their benevolent uncle who is always good for a favour and never asks for anything in return. At least, not until now.

Cassandra’s Dream has a whole lot of swagger and a whole lot of brains. Allen winds the coil of this drama tighter and tighter, leading us to a conclusion of startling emotional strength. McGregor and Farrell obviously enjoy themselves immensely, sinking their teeth into what begins as a spirited tale of ambition, only to reverse with breathtaking ease into sinister noir.

Toronto Film Festival