BRAINSTORM
Starring: Natalie Wood, Christopher Walken, Louise Fletcher, Cliff Robertson
With: Jordan Christopher, Donald Hotton, Alan Fudge, Joe Dorsey, Bill Morey
Executive Producers: Rebecca Bloom, Joel L. Freedman, Jack Grossberg
Original Music by James Horner
Screenplay by Philip Frank Messina , Robert Stitzel
Produced by Douglas Trumbull, Associate Richard Yuricich
Cinematography by Richard Yuricich
Directed by Douglas Trumbull
1983 MGM
"BRAINSTORM" is one of those movies surrounded with circumstances that affected our perception of it;
the shocking loss of Natalie Wood during filming, and the tragically ironic plot line dealing with an after death experience.
Mixed reviews upon release have given way over time to a warm place
in the hearts of many Sci-Fi fans and Movie Buffs alike for "Brainstorm",
beyond simple cult status.
The superb performance by Louise Fletcher as Lillian Reynolds
and James Horner's original score
(considered some of his best work)
were Academy Award calibre.
"Brainstorm" was filmed in dual
aspect ratios of 1.85 and 2.35 and
designed to be seen on a very large screen.
Scenes in "normal life" are in smaller width to enhance the plot's "brain experience" shot wide.
Producer and Director Douglas Trumbull took a cue from "2001: A Space Odyssey"
and intelligently used the "presentation" to help tell the story.
If you've only seen a "full screen" version, formatted to fit TV, you haven't seen the movie.
The production suffered from Natalie's untimely death and no doubt required some hasty rewrites
and a few stand-in shots.
This special movie will always be remembered for Natalie Wood's final performance as Karen Brace:
a perky, intelligent career woman who was also a busy homemaker and forgiving wife.
Now that "Home" theaters provide larger screens with widescreen DVD,
and time has healed
the shock and some of the pain from the loss of Natalie Wood,
"Brainstorm" definitely deserves
another look.
-Hollywood Sleeper
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