MovieChat Forums > Wide Awake (2006) Discussion > First impressions

First impressions

posted 18 years ago by kerecsen
5 replies | jump to latest

Since it takes ages for proper comments to show up on IMDB, here is my summary for those still scouring through the sundance listing looking for something to see: while not a heavy-weight documentary, the movie is thorougly enjoyable (and funny), and gives a rare glimpse into a filmmakers soul. It's a self-documentary, self-portrait and self-psychoanalysis of Alan Berliner, and his sleep problems. The sundance summary uses the term "wonderfully indulgent" to describe its disposition, which is spot on... Watch it if you can...

[–] jonletter 17 years ago

Yeah I actually saw it on HBO at about 3am which is sort of ironic. I enjoyed the movie also. Plus I found that I had many thing in common with Alan and his sleeping problems. For instance I am always awake at night all night ever since I can remember I have slept this way. I am awake at night but I do sleep in the day. I'am getting sick of it too.

[–] stevejoanne18505 17 years ago

i also seen it on HBO and at about 2am. watching this film i was shocked at how similar alan's and my sleeping habits are. i knew there were insomniacs out there of course but i was the only one that i knew, so the film was very enlightening for me. i always called myself a night owl but had never heard of DSPS (delayed sleep phase syndrome) i just always thought that i stayed up all night and slept during the day for no reason at all. but i have to admit that i love being a night owl and find going to bed early kind of depressing, like i'm missing out on something. good documentary.

[–] jackerthekilla 17 years ago

I agree. I also found this movie to be very enlightening. The part explaining that wars of the past created by presidents could've been linked to insomnia was very interesting to say the least. Studies say that friendly fire in war is directly linked to fatigue and it's true when one of the doctors in Wide Awake stated that our society doesn't protect sleep. Deadlines need to be met even though the parties involved haven't properly rested; proper sleep is always compromised. It sucks but that's just the way it is.

[–] RoddmannW 17 years ago

This movie is terrific. I can't believe the lack of attention here on iMDB. I was expecting thread after thread praising this interesting look not only at insomnia but the neuroticism of a middle age man entering fatherhood.

This is the business we have chosen...

[–] clore_2 16 years ago

I just this minute finished watching Wide Awake. It started at 5:05AM, so that should tell you that I'm also one who suffers from either insomnia or the night owl syndrome.

While I was hoping for some useful information in terms of sleep technique (all my efforts and experiments have failed), I did take solace in the similarities that I have with Alan Berliner. As he, my sleeping problems go back to childhood. Similar to his grandfather, I also have the bad habit of suffering too many of the world's ills, I am easily distressed by the inhumanity that I read of and at night I can't help but thinking of it.

I can go for days without sleeping, and then crash for a straight 24 hours - if I'm not disturbed by noises, phone calls or nightmares. Unlike Mr. Berliner, I've learned to avoid telling others "I'm tired" or complain about my problem. It keeps me "on" to try to act as if I have slept well, but that probably only feeds the problem rather than solve it. Because when it comes time to try to sleep, I still can't turn off the thought process.

So, all in all, I enjoyed the film, only issue with it is that it now gives me something to think about while I try to go to sleep. Ahhh, the never ending cycle.

It ain't easy being green, or anything else, other than to be me