Waking Life

This is quite the DVD package, with animations “painted over” actual filmed footage, giving it spatial qualities unlike typical cartoons. Written and Directed by Richard Linklater (Slacker, Dazed and Confused), this movie takes a meandering yet mesmerizing journey with the main character on a quest for meaning. Pay attention, because this is certainly a movie that requires it throughout, even though it’s easy to tune out some of the characters that Wiley Wiggins meets and interacts with in attempting to find out just what (his) reality is. Meeting dozens of dimestore prophets / philosophers along the way, he is pointed in the direction of the curious theory that all life is just someone else’s dream; or perhaps your life could be your own dream. It’s very funny and heady at the same time, with lots of oddball characters freely sermonizing on their take on life. Extras include an audio commentary by all 25 of the film’s animators and an animation software featurette that explained these trick special effects. [Fox Video / Doug Van Pelt]
Ratings:
Obscenities 14
Graphic Violence 2
Nude Scenes 0
% spiritual relevancy 81

This DVD review was printed in ISSUE 96 of HM Magazine.

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