Working class brothers Ian (Ewan McGregor) and Terry (Colin Farrell) are two men stuck in otherwise predictable and stale lives. Ian, who has dreams of investing in American hotels, finds his work at his father's restaurant a bore while Terry is merely content to gamble his money away in order to pass the time. The two desperately want more out of life but are conscience of the fact that their current status in life doesn't offer more than wishful thinking.
Ian, however, finds his life suddenly changed when he comes upon Angela (Hayley Atwell) who is a struggling but talented actress. He quickly starts a relationship with her while convincing her that he is already involved in the hotel business. However, as their relationship grows, Ian finds himself with the realization that he needs more money, if not time, to make the financial investment that will allow him to leave England for the US where he believes he can make his fortune. He also wants to take Angela with him and again that will take money he doesn't have.
Terry's life is also soon changed but for the worse. A gambling addict with no self control, he loses thousands at a single poker game that reduces him to the mercy of loan sharks. Ian, who was counting on Terry to help support his own investment plans, is furious at his brother's foolishness and is at loss at what to do. Terry himself finds himself in a hole that not even his mother is willing to help him out of due to his past irresponsibility.
In the background of their lives and current problems looms Uncle Howard (Tom Wilkinson) who has always provided for Ian and Terry's family in times of need. A successful doctor and businessman, Uncle Howard is the hero to both Ian, Terry, their mother, while a irritation to their father who is envious of his success. It is Howard who the family turns to whenever their is a financial problem and who is thus a saint for his goodwill. Ian and Terry believe that Uncle Howard will come through for them again and bail them out of their current problems.
Uncle Howard, however, is not the man they thought him to be. If he is to help them he will require a single act of desperation that will push both Ian and Terry towards a decision they never thought they would have to make. The price for both of their dreams will only come through the murder of an innocent man. And once the decision is made both Ian and Terry will find that the consequences of their actions will cost more than their previous problems could ever have threatened.
Cassandra's Dream can be easily compared to Before The Devil Knows You're Dead and rightfully so. Both are stories centered around a pair of brothers who, through their own actions, find themselves in a desperate situations that call for desperate actions. However, unlike Before The Devil Knows You're Dead, Cassandra's Dream lacks the dramatic drive and writing that pushed forward Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke characters. Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell are convincing but the script and story itself seems deflated at times despite what the plot is trying to create.
There is also the matter of the conclusion. The deaths of Ian and Terry, ironically on the boat which they named Cassandra's Dream out of celebration, does not give a satisfactory ending. They have both paid for their crimes but Uncle Howard, the man responsible for sending them down the road of destruction, is seemingly left off the hook. There also isn't a realization on the part of Angela or Terry's girlfriend Kate (Sally Hawkins) of what their lovers were responsible for. A more conclusive ending would have wrapped up these two subplots and left more of a moral message.
A good story that lacks a strong conclusion, Cassandra's Dream is still a story of how morals can easily be pushed aside for greed and the tragedy that takes place when one does the unthinkable for wealth.
7/10
Ian, however, finds his life suddenly changed when he comes upon Angela (Hayley Atwell) who is a struggling but talented actress. He quickly starts a relationship with her while convincing her that he is already involved in the hotel business. However, as their relationship grows, Ian finds himself with the realization that he needs more money, if not time, to make the financial investment that will allow him to leave England for the US where he believes he can make his fortune. He also wants to take Angela with him and again that will take money he doesn't have.
Terry's life is also soon changed but for the worse. A gambling addict with no self control, he loses thousands at a single poker game that reduces him to the mercy of loan sharks. Ian, who was counting on Terry to help support his own investment plans, is furious at his brother's foolishness and is at loss at what to do. Terry himself finds himself in a hole that not even his mother is willing to help him out of due to his past irresponsibility.
In the background of their lives and current problems looms Uncle Howard (Tom Wilkinson) who has always provided for Ian and Terry's family in times of need. A successful doctor and businessman, Uncle Howard is the hero to both Ian, Terry, their mother, while a irritation to their father who is envious of his success. It is Howard who the family turns to whenever their is a financial problem and who is thus a saint for his goodwill. Ian and Terry believe that Uncle Howard will come through for them again and bail them out of their current problems.
Uncle Howard, however, is not the man they thought him to be. If he is to help them he will require a single act of desperation that will push both Ian and Terry towards a decision they never thought they would have to make. The price for both of their dreams will only come through the murder of an innocent man. And once the decision is made both Ian and Terry will find that the consequences of their actions will cost more than their previous problems could ever have threatened.
Cassandra's Dream can be easily compared to Before The Devil Knows You're Dead and rightfully so. Both are stories centered around a pair of brothers who, through their own actions, find themselves in a desperate situations that call for desperate actions. However, unlike Before The Devil Knows You're Dead, Cassandra's Dream lacks the dramatic drive and writing that pushed forward Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke characters. Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell are convincing but the script and story itself seems deflated at times despite what the plot is trying to create.
There is also the matter of the conclusion. The deaths of Ian and Terry, ironically on the boat which they named Cassandra's Dream out of celebration, does not give a satisfactory ending. They have both paid for their crimes but Uncle Howard, the man responsible for sending them down the road of destruction, is seemingly left off the hook. There also isn't a realization on the part of Angela or Terry's girlfriend Kate (Sally Hawkins) of what their lovers were responsible for. A more conclusive ending would have wrapped up these two subplots and left more of a moral message.
A good story that lacks a strong conclusion, Cassandra's Dream is still a story of how morals can easily be pushed aside for greed and the tragedy that takes place when one does the unthinkable for wealth.
7/10