Electric Dreams (1984)

Movies and music have always made a perfect combination, especially when songs are composed directly! Two great examples are of course Flash Gordon and Highlander, where Queen not only scored incidental tracks, but proper songs too, with the latter getting classics like Princes of the Universe, Who Wants to Live Forever, and A Kind of Magic. Sometimes however the song is so good and the film so underseen that it's eclipsed entirely! Just like today's film, Electric Dreams...

Miles is a chronically late architect, trying to make a breakthrough. To help be more focused, he buys a state of the art computer, but after spilling wine on it something strange happens. Apparently glitching at first, it soon turns out to have gained sentience, and begins speaking with Miles. Its unique musical talent also gets the attention of neighbour Madeline, who believes Miles to be responsible. This soon leads to a relationship, but the computer grows to love Madeline too, and becomes jealous at his skills being used to woo her...

Together in Electric Dreams is a classic song of the 80s, but the movie's reputation is small enough that most peoples' reactions are "Wait, there was a movie?". Yes there was, and 1984s Electric Dreams is more than a pleasant surprise, it's really good!

The film is like Cyrano de Bergerac with a robotic twist, telling a story of romance, regular and unrequited, and how artificial intelligences discover emotion, namely love. The story is well written, taking itself seriously while keeping a fanciful and lighthearted tone. It shows off its romantic side quite sincerely too.

Electric Dreams has a technology-centric focus, and some interesting themes as a result, making for an interesting time capsule. The movie is quite prescient in the part PC's would soon play in modern life, as well as topics like technology meets loneliness, and surveillance. Without realising, the film also foreshadows current debates in a small way, when Miles says how computers could soon be doing art, and Madeline responds with "What's wrong with artists?".

It is odd seeing how Miles immediately outfits his entire house with all these little gadgets that link directly to the PC. And it's also amusing how spilling some fizzy drink is enough to grant the computer sentience! Then there's all the wild and wonderful things it can do with its newfound intelligence. While the movie may be prescient regarding how we would come to rely on computers, and technology culture, it vastly overestimates the capabilities they posses, at least in 1984!

We have a trio of lead characters. Mild mannered architect Miles is ostensibly a nerd, despite having good looks and a chiselled face and build. He's a likeable enough guy, and despite his awkwardness, and sometimes putting his foot in it quite badly, he does well with his new beau. His growing reliance then conflict with his computer is fun to watch, and everything culminates well.

The computer, Edgar as he's eventually named, is a colourful presence. Helpful, annoying, intrusive, and devious at times. He helps Miles at first, and asks him questions about humanity, sometimes unsatisfied with the vague answers he gives. He also know how to get his own way, however immaturely. As we see in a creative fight he and Miles have, despite one of them being on a different plane of existence.

Madeline's a nice gal. She's a bit odd in her first scenes, like when she barges into Miles' apartment while he's nude in a towel, and continues holding a conversation with him despite this. I can't help but laugh thinking about how this scene would play out if the genders were reversed! Then there's how she's clearly into Miles and inviting him on little dates, yet also kinda has a boyfriend? It's unnecessary, and it's a relief when he gets kicked to the curb for being a dickhead. While not discovering Edgar till near the end, Madeline shares some good moments with him.

The direction captures the technology aspect very well, with some scenes playing out with the aid of cameras, or TV displays. It's a fun thematic touch, without going overboard with it. We get some neat angles too! The movie ends on some nice visuals, kinda like a mini music video.

The soundtrack to Electric Dreams is real special! It's got a period-appropriate sound to it, with plenty of upbeat electronic tracks, and beep-booping, as well as traditional ones. Then there are Edgar's musical moments, including the mutual symphony, which combines classical music and digitised/electronic sounds to a fantastic degree. The whole scene has a magical quality.

And then of course there are the songs themselves. There are a few, and they're nice enough 80s pop tracks. But the highlight is Together in Electric Dreams, by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder, which closes the film out on a real high! It's honestly no wonder this song overshadowed the film when it's this good.

The cast here is fairly small, but good. Lenny Von Dohlen is a fine lead, cutting a romantic figure. Not sure how well he succeeds at making his character nerdy, but that might just make him more convincingly human, so no complaint here. Virginia Madsen is a nice co-star and love interest, and has some good emotional moments. Bud Cort gives a bit of a weird performance, but a different one as the computer, getting plenty of heart, confusion, and zaniness across with only his voice. I only with the sound quality had come out better. Maxwell Caulfield does alright, but his role is too small to really shine.

Electric Dreams is a minor gem, and well worth checking out, especially if you love the 80s, and classic pop music! You can't go wrong with a film like this...