Remembering BRAINSTORM - Popular Mechanics Article

[AndyDursin]

Superb article on the making of this "interesting" if not altogether successful Douglas Trumbull picture, with a lot of good information about how MGM tried to shut the film down and how close the film came to being unfinished.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cultur ... inal-film/

[Eric W.]

It had some concepts frankly ahead of its time as well. Prescient.

I still want to see that score get the super lovin' treatment.

[Paul MacLean]

I have't seen this film in a long time.

Home video transfers never did it justice, with the "real world" sequences both letter and pillar-boxed, so that there was an annoying black frame around the footage! Pan and scan transfers cropped the real world moments and then merely squeezed the virtual reality footage (though to be honest, I found this preferable to the black frame).

Brainstorm has been compared to Altered States, and shares a lot of similarities -- scientists pushing the envelop (both scientific and ethical) of their research, in an effort to "look beyond". Altered States of course provides a secular perspective, while Brainstorm offers a religious one. Though I'd say both film paint themselves into a corner at their respective climaxes (leaving the viewer with a slightly dissatisfied feeling of "Yes...and?").

The main difference is that Altered States was essentially behind-the-times, having been inspired by the 1960s drug culture and Timothy Leary, whereas Brainstorm was far-more prescient, speculating about virtual reality before it was on anyone's radar.

I think James Horner's music remains some of his best, and coming three months after Krull, this score really confirmed the early speculation (after Star Trek II) that Horner was destined to be one of the top people in his profession.

[Chris Shaneyfelt]

Superb article on the making of this "interesting" if not altogether successful Douglas Trumbull picture, with a lot of good information about how MGM tried to shut the film down and how close the film came to being unfinished.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cultur ... inal-film/

Sorry to resurrect an older topic, but I have been listening to a podcast called "The Projection Booth" while driving to and from work. A number of the podcasts include excellent and fascinating interviews. I listened to the episode on BRAINSTORM recently and was fascinated by the film's difficult development from script to screen. I searched the forum for discussions about the film and found this thread!

Here is a link to the Projection Booth episode if anyone is interested. Interviews begin 1 hour and 6 minutes in:
https://www.projectionboothpodcast.com/ ... -1983.html

Andy, I think you put it well describing BRAINSTORM as "interesting if not altogether successful." I agree with your comment, Eric, about the film being conceptually "prescient." It is certainly my favorite "virtual reality" film, and I think it does a good job of exploring - or at least introducing - the myriad ethical problems with the technology contrasted with the wonder of exploring a new frontier. And Paul, your point about the "Yes...and?" ending is right on. I had the same dissatisfied feeling at the end of the movie CONTACT ("This is the first step..."). I've always enjoyed the film in spite of its flaws, and the Horner score, of course, is magnificent. I'd also love to see that score revisited in a "deluxe" form!

I tried to read the Popular Mechanics article, but it requires a subscription. However, I should be able to access it through our college library. Thank you for the link, Andy!

[Eric W.]

Where the heck is the score restoration for this?

[Paul MacLean]

Where the heck is the score restoration for this?

Yeah, really. I wonder if it is a rights issue.

[AndyDursin]

Nobody has asked in one of those FSM threads? It IS very odd. Legal issues involving the movie in general?

Varese owns that LP rerecording...even that was a little weird. They didn't want to pay for even a 30 minute LA performance? By 1983 few scores were being rerecorded for albums overseas, no? That Conti Right Stuff was one of the few I can think of by that point, though even that was done so they could include North and South on the same disc performance.

[Monterey Jack]

There's something wrong when Unlawful Entry gets a "deluxe" edition, but not Brainstorm.

[AndyDursin]

Which is why there has to be some kind of reason. It is a Warner property and business always seems to be done less with them in general, but if Lukas didn't get to it years ago, there's probably some other reason.

[Eric W.]

There's something wrong when Unlawful Entry gets a "deluxe" edition, but not Brainstorm.

Bingo!