vincentlynch-moonoi James Spader has always been a rather interesting actor, and often he has played slightly creepy characters. I didn't think he was the creepy one here...although eventually he becomes just as creepy as his wife. Nevertheless, he is a fascinating actor to watch.The problem with this film is the ending. He is in a nut house and especially upset because he has lost (temporarily) his kids and home. And so, instead of playing it safe (since he is not really crazy), he does the one thing that will keep him there, never to regain his children and home.Mädchen Amick is effective here as the mysterious wife...although (and here's another problem) we never quite learn why she is what she is; I was not at all familiar with her as an actress. Larry Miller...well, I never understood him as an actor...and still don't.This is the type of film I often like -- a suspense thriller. I'm sorry I wasted 103 minutes on this...other than to watch Spader.

FlashCallahan Ray is the owner of a prosperous architect company. However, he has recently gone through a very painful divorce.His friends try to cheer him up by showing him the positive sides of being single but for Ray marriage and stability is just too important.But when he meets Lena his gloom is quickly forgotten. She is beautiful, sensual, mysterious and he is drawn to her like a moth to a candle.They marry quickly, have their first child and Ray lives in a total bliss.But then strange incidents occur which shed some light on Lena's background.Ray slowly realises that he hardly knows anything about her at all....For once James spader plays a decent character whose misfortunes have nothing to do with him. Them there's the rest of the movie, which was made on the back end of all those psycho movies (single white female, unlawful entry etc) and it really shows.It's as if the makers of the film have chucked everything they can at the wall of adult drama and sees what sticks. Nothing really does.Amick is okay to begin with, but hen she just goes way over the top it's almost border-lining pantomime.It's all very yuppie and snobbishly made, almost as if it was made for the middle classes, but I hated the fact that they did this, I don't live like that, and why do all these things happen to stupidly rich people.If you are a Spader fan, it's worth watching, he is good, but for anyone else, it's a mess. And for a film in this sub genre, it's got one of the worst endings ever.It's literally 'is that really the end?'

Woodyanders Handsome and successful architect Ray Reardon (a strong and engaging performance by James Spader) is recovering from a painful divorce when he meets and immediately falls in love with the charming and beautiful Leena Mathers (a marvelously sultry and enchanting portrayal by the luscious Madchen Amick). The two get married and settle down to a life of total bliss. But is Leena really as perfect as she seems? Writer/director Nicholas Kazan relates the crafty and involving story at a steady pace, peppers the picture with several neatly surreal dream sequences, and delivers several nifty twists and turns that culminate in one startling doozy of a surprise downbeat ending. Spader and Amick both do outstanding work in the lead roles; they receive able support from Fredric Lehne as Ray's loyal buddy Larry, Larry Miller as jolly, rascally, wisecracking pal Norman, Bess Armstrong as shrewd lawyer Elaine, Kate Williamson and Tom Lillard as Leena's scrappy hick blue collar parents, and William Shockley as scruffy redneck Buddy. Moreover, this movie offers a valid and provocative point about how letting the wrong person into one's life can completely destroy said life. Jean-Yves Escoffier's slick and agile cinematography gives this picture a pleasing glossy look and makes expert use of a smoothly gliding Steadicam. Christopher Young's spare shivery score enhances the slowly mounting tension without ever becoming remotely obtrusive or overbearing. Well worth a watch.

George Parker In "Dream Lover", a prosperous architect (Spader) marries a too-good-to-be-true woman (Amick) and gets more than he bargained for and possibly more than he can handle. Done as a darkish comedy or light drama, this psycho-suspense flick features an interesting premise, okay performances by the principals, some blatant silliness compliments of Miller, and lots of semiserious drama. Full of plot holes and improbabilities, be sure to dumb yourself down for "Dream Lover", stick around for the punchline ending, and enjoy. (C+)