Digital Review: DREAMIN’ WILD

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Oct 08, 2023 Posted by Kyle Nolan in DVD/Blu-ray, Reviews | Comments

From a young age, the Emerson brothers showed great interest and promise in becoming musicians, which their father, farmer Don Sr. (Beau Bridges), fostered and encouraged. When not working on the family farm in Fruitland, WA, teenagers Donnie (Noah Jupe) and Joe Emerson (Jack Dylan Grazer) were making music in the makeshift studio their father built for them. Donnie was a musical prodigy, playing nearly all the instruments, and writing/singing the songs, while his older brother Joe played the drums. Joe was delighted to spend time with his brother, and it felt like an honor to be able to go on this musical journey with Donnie. In the late 1970s, the teens were excited to produce their own album, Dreamin’ Wild. However, it didn’t take off—no one seemed to like it, and things never really panned out. Afterwards, Donnie tried to launch a solo career—lots of people made the Emmersons big promises but left them holding the bag. Don Sr. never stopped believing in his son, investing heavily in Donnie and his career. But as things failed to work out, he lost a huge portion of the family farm—from 1700 acres down to just 65. Through it all, Don has never regretted supporting his son, and would still give anything to help Donnie. However, the guilt and shame became too much for Donnie, and he moved away.

It’s now the late summer of 2011, and Donnie’s (Casey Affleck) music career still hasn’t gone the route he had hoped for. Donnie has two kids, and sings in a wedding band with his wife Nancy (Zooey Deschanel). The couple also run a recording studio, but it is in danger of going under. One day, Donnie receives a call from his brother (Walton Goggins), letting him know that that a man from a record company called and wants to talk. Matt Sullivan (Chris Messina) just heard their album from 30 years ago and loves it, and he wants to re-release it. The Emersons are of course skeptical as they’ve been promised things before. But Matt assures them the venture will cost them nothing, and that they may even make money. As things start take off, Donnie doesn’t know what to do with the newfound interest in his music. After 30 years, his talent is finally getting the recognition it deserves. But he must learn to forget the past in order to embrace his future.

Dreamin’ Wild is based on the true story of Donnie and Joe Emerson. I had never heard of the Emersons before watching this film, but it is a fascinating story of love, never giving up hope, second chances, family and forgiveness. The film is directed by Bill Pohlad, who also directed the 2014 Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy. It feels like a love letter to the Emersons and their story, told with thoughtful care. The story constantly flips back and forth between the “present” and the past, showing two different stages in these brothers’ lives and how one informs the other. Noah Jupe, who also performs some of the songs, does an excellent job of portraying the younger version of Donnie. You get a sense of the musical genius behind this young man, and the meaning his songs have for him. Casey Affleck, who portrays the “present” day Donnie doesn’t actually sing—his songs are performed by the real Donnie Emerson —but the actor still does a great job of portraying the conflicted emotions of this character as he gets a second chance nearly 3 decades later in life.

The supporting cast is also excellent, especially Beau Bridges, who brings a lot of heart and emotion to the ever-faithful and loving patriarch Don Sr. Walton Goggins and Jack Dylan Grazer both give this ever-positive, loving energy to Joe, who is constantly in awe of his younger brother and his accomplishments. Zooey Deschanel, who does sing her own songs, is also a fun addition to the cast.

Despite the constant flipping back and forth, the film is easy to follow, showing how some of the issues that Donnie faced in the 70s still haven’t gone away, and that he’s going to have to confront them in order to move forward in his career. I quite enjoyed the Emersons’ music, which is constantly played throughout the movie. The film’s soundtrack is excellent—in addition to many songs by Donnie and Joe Emerson, the soundtrack also includes music by people like Leon Russell, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Leopold Ross, and more.

Lionsgate has released Dreamin’ Wild on both Digital and DVD. I was sent an HD Vudu Digital copy of the film for review, however, the film is also available digitally in 4K. The HD picture features a solid presentation. The picture remains clean and clear throughout, with a color palette that evokes the eras in which the film is set. The audio track provides clear dialogue throughout, and does a nice job of showcasing the music. The surround channel is well utilized to boost these musical performances, especially in scenes that involve a cheering crowd, to give a more-immersive feel.

There is no bonus material included with the digital release (and I assume it’s the same with the DVD).

What’s Included:

We received the HD Vudu Digital release for review, which is what is reflected below.

Film: (1:50:45)

1080p / Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus
Subtitles: English, English CC

Extras:
Content may vary by retailer.

Trailer (2:26)

Final Thoughts:

My Rating

Film:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:

Recommended

Dreamin’ Wild tells the fascinating story of Donnie and Joe Emerson, a pair of singing brothers from the 1970s who are rediscovered 3 decades later and given a second chance at a musical career. The film features strong dramatic performances and an excellent music soundtrack. Lionsgate’s digital release looks and sounds great, but doesn’t include any bonus material. However, the film is definitely worth checking out.