Dream for an Insomniac

Last updated
Dream for an Insomniac
Dream-for-an-insomniac-movie-poster-1998-1020196371.jpg
Directed by Tiffanie DeBartolo
Screenplay byTiffanie DeBartolo
Produced byPhyllis Housen
John Hackett
Christopher Lloyd
Rita Rokisky
Starring
Cinematography Guillermo Navarro
Release date
  • 18 April 1996 (1996-04-18)
(U.S.)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Dream for an Insomniac is a 1996 romantic comedy film written and directed by Tiffanie DeBartolo and starring Ione Skye, Jennifer Aniston, Mackenzie Astin and Michael Landes.

Contents

Plot

Frankie works at her uncle Leo's Cafe Blue Eyes in San Francisco (named in honor of family friend Frank Sinatra), and is hoping to meet her ideal lover, ideally one with blue eyes like Sinatra, while going to auditions with her friend Allison. Frankie suffers from insomnia, and has not slept through the night since childhood, when her parents were killed in a car accident. She spends most of her time at night reading. Writer David Shrader, takes a job at the cafe, and Frankie falls in love with him, while he attempts to cure her insomnia, she reads his writings, and the two take turns reciting philosophical quotes and guessing their source. The film is shot in black and white until Frankie sees David, when the film switches to color and David's eyes are revealed as blue. David breaks Frankie's heart when she finds out that he is engaged to a lawyer, Molly, but he eventually chooses Frankie over his fiancé, and visits her in Los Angeles, where she has joined Allison, who is exploring an acting career. The film ends with Frankie falling asleep in David's arms. A subplot has Rob, the gay son of Leo, trying to convince his father he is straight, with the help of Allison "acting" as his girlfriend. After Allison and Frankie leave, Rob comes out of the closet to his father, who in fact had known and accepted that Rob was gay for many years. [1]

Cast

Reception

The film earned only $26,000 domestically. [2] Rotten Tomatoes gave it a cumulative rating of 50%. [3] Jennifer Aniston's performance was praised by critics. Jeffrey M. Anderson said, "Aniston is the breeze in this movie. I was amazed that she of all people was the only one who seemed natural. She seemed to be having a good time, and she seemed in the moment". [4] Barbara Shulgasser found her "terribly funny". [5] Carlo Cavagna added that "Jennifer Aniston, who plays Allison, Frankie's best friend, is the most watchable person in this movie. Although she doesn't deviate from the well-established Jennifer Aniston persona, she at least appears to be having fun—teasing Frankie and experimenting with funny accents." [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Aniston</span> American actress (born 1969)

Jennifer Joanna Aniston is an American actress. She rose to international fame for her role as Rachel Green on the television sitcom Friends from 1994 to 2004, which earned her Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild awards. Since her career progressed in the 1990s, Aniston has become one of the world's highest-paid actresses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ione Skye</span> British-American actress (born 1970)

Ione Skye Lee is a British-American actress and the daughter of singer Donovan. She made her film debut in the thriller River's Edge (1986) before gaining mainstream exposure for her starring role in Cameron Crowe's Say Anything... (1989). She continued to appear in films throughout the 1990s, with notable roles in Gas Food Lodging (1992), Wayne's World (1992) and One Night Stand (1997).

<i>The Object of My Affection</i> 1998 American film

The Object of My Affection is a 1998 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Nicholas Hytner, and starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd. The film was adapted from the novel of the same name by Stephen McCauley and the screenplay was written by Wendy Wasserstein. The story concerns a pregnant New York social worker who develops romantic feelings for her gay new friend and decides to raise her child with him, and the complications that ensue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Green</span> Fictional character

Rachel Karen Green is a fictional character, one of the six main characters who appeared in the American sitcom Friends. Portrayed by Jennifer Aniston, the character was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, and appeared in all of the show's 236 episodes during its decade-long run, from its premiere on September 22, 1994, to its finale on May 6, 2004. Introduced in the show's pilot as a naïve runaway bride who reunites with her childhood best friend Monica Geller and relocates to New York City, Rachel gradually evolves from a spoiled, inexperienced "daddy's girl" into a successful businesswoman. During the show's second season, the character becomes romantically involved with Monica's brother, Ross, with whom she maintains a complicated on-off relationship throughout the series. Together, Ross and Rachel have a daughter, Emma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward J. DeBartolo Jr.</span> American businessman

Edward John DeBartolo Jr. is an American businessman best known for his 23-year ownership of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). The five Super Bowls the 49ers dynasty won in 14 years were a record total for a single owner. Due to his success, "family approach," and Italian heritage, DeBartolo is still referred to as the Godfather of the 49ers by fans.

<i>How to Deal</i> 2003 American film

How to Deal is a 2003 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Clare Kilner and starring Mandy Moore, Allison Janney, and Trent Ford. The film is based on Sarah Dessen's novels That Summer and Someone like You.

<i>Gas Food Lodging</i> 1992 American drama film

Gas Food Lodging is a 1992 American drama film written and directed by Allison Anders, based on the novel Don't Look and It Won't Hurt by Richard Peck. Starring Brooke Adams, Ione Skye, and Fairuza Balk, the film follows a waitress trying to find romance while raising two daughters in a trailer park in a small desert town in New Mexico.

Tiffanie DeBartolo is an American novelist, filmmaker, co-founder of the independent record label Bright Antenna, and co-founder of The ShineMaker Foundation. Tiffanie has written three novels: God-Shaped Hole,How To Kill a Rock Star, and Sorrow. She wrote and directed the film Dream for an Insomniac, featuring Ione Skye and Jennifer Aniston, released in 1996. She also penned the text to the graphic novel GRACE: The Jeff Buckley Story, which was released in April 2019.

Echo Films is an American production company founded in April 2008 by American actress Jennifer Aniston and her production partner Kristin Hahn. Echo Films has a production deal with Universal Pictures. The company produces projects for both film and television. Most of the projects star Jennifer Aniston.

<i>Til There Was You</i> 1997 American film

'Til There Was You is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by Scott Winant and starring Jeanne Tripplehorn, Dylan McDermott, and Sarah Jessica Parker. The screenplay, written by Winnie Holzman, traces thirty-odd years in the parallel lives of two people whose intertwined paths finally converge when their mutual interest in a community project brings them together.

<i>The Switch</i> (2010 film) 2010 film by Josh Gordon and Will Speck

The Switch is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Will Speck and Josh Gordon. Based on a screenplay written by Allan Loeb, the film, formerly titled The Baster, was inspired by the short story "Baster" by Jeffrey Eugenides. This was originally published in The New Yorker in 1996. The film stars Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, and child actor Thomas Robinson. Patrick Wilson, Juliette Lewis, and Jeff Goldblum appear in key supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Aniston filmography</span>

American actress Jennifer Aniston made her film debut in the 1988 comic science fiction film Mac and Me in an uncredited role of a dancer. Two years later, she made her television debut in thetelevision series Molloy (1990) followed that year by a starring role in Ferris Bueller, a television adaptation of the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off; both series were cancelled in their first seasons. In 1993, she had her first major film role in the horror comedy Leprechaun. She was offered a spot as a featured player on Saturday Night Live but turned this down to accept a starring role on the NBC television sitcom Friends (1994–2004).

<i>Shes Funny That Way</i> (film) 2014 American film by Peter Bogdanovich

She's Funny That Way is a 2014 screwball comedy film directed by Peter Bogdanovich and co-written with Louise Stratten. It stars Owen Wilson, Imogen Poots, Kathryn Hahn, Will Forte, Rhys Ifans, and Jennifer Aniston. It marked the first feature film Bogdanovich directed in 13 years since The Cat's Meow and the final non-documentary feature he directed before his death in 2022.

<i>Just Before I Go</i> 2014 American film

Just Before I Go, previously entitled Hello I Must Be Going, is a 2014 American black comedy drama film directed by Courteney Cox, in her second directorial effort, from a screenplay written by David Flebotte, starring Seann William Scott, Elisha Cuthbert, Olivia Thirlby, Garret Dillahunt, and Kate Walsh.

<i>Cake</i> (2014 film) 2014 film

Cake is a 2014 American drama film directed by Daniel Barnz, written by Patrick Tobin, and starring Jennifer Aniston, Adriana Barraza, Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Anna Kendrick, and Sam Worthington. It debuted in the Special Presentations section of the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.

<i>Office Christmas Party</i> 2016 American Christmas comedy film directed by Will Speck and Josh Gordon

Office Christmas Party is a 2016 American Christmas comedy film directed by Will Speck and Josh Gordon and written by Justin Malen and Laura Solon, based on a story by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. The film stars an ensemble cast, including Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn, T.J. Miller, Jillian Bell, Vanessa Bayer, Courtney B. Vance, Rob Corddry, Kate McKinnon, and Jennifer Aniston.

Jennifer Fox is an American film producer. From 2001 to 2007, she was president of Section Eight Productions; before that she was Vice President of Production at Universal Pictures. Fox was nominated for an Oscar in 2008 for her production work in Michael Clayton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristin Hahn</span> American film producer, writer, director (born 1969)

Kristin Hahn is an American film and television producer, writer and director. Hahn is the founder and president of production company, Hahnscape Entertainment, and the co-founder of production company Echo Films, alongside Jennifer Aniston. Prior to Echo Films, Hahn co-founded Plan B Entertainment with Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt where she served as executive producer on the Academy Award-winning The Departed, and co-producer on The Time Traveler's Wife. 

<i>Camping</i> (American TV series) 2018 American comedy television series

Camping is an American comedy television series, based on the British television series of the same name created by Julia Davis, that premiered on October 14, 2018, on HBO. The series was created by Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner and stars an ensemble cast including Jennifer Garner, David Tennant, Juliette Lewis, Ione Skye, Chris Sullivan, Cheyenne Haynes, Arturo Del Puerto, Janicza Bravo, and Brett Gelman.

Eleonora De Angelis is an Italian voice actress.

References

  1. Holden, Stephen (1998-06-19). "Dream for an Insomniac reviewed at New York Times". Movies.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  2. "Dream for an Insomniac (1998) - Box Office Mojo". Secure.boxofficemojo.com. 1998-07-14. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  3. "Dream for an Insomniac at". Rottentomatoes.com. 2007-02-13. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  4. "Combustible Celluloid Review - Dream for an Insomniac (1998), Tiffanie DeBartolo, Tiffanie DeBartolo, Ione Skye, Jennifer Aniston, Mackenzie Astin, Michael Landes, Seymour Cassel, Sean San Jose Blackman, Michael Sterk, Leslie Stevens, Robert Kelker-Kelly". Combustiblecelluloid.com. 1996-04-18. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  5. Barbara Shulgasser, EXAMINER MOVIE CRITIC (1998-06-26). "Insomniac' a dreamy debut". SFGate. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  6. "Dream for an Insomniac (1996/98)". AboutFilm.Com. Retrieved 2013-12-04.