Synopsis: George Orr is an otherwise ordinary man who experiences extraordinary dreams. When the visions in his head begin coming true--and even seem to be altering reality--the anguished Orr consults psychiatrist Walter Haber, which is the first of many miscalculations on the part of the protagonist. Dr. Haber intends to harness George's "talent" to bring his own peculiar notion of Utopia to full fruition. Will the fabric of the space-time continuum unravel as Haber plots and plans and Orr's dreams become more and more frightening? And how does Orr's extremely skeptical (and ravishingly beautiful) lawyer Heather LaLache figure into it all?

Cast:
James Caan .... Dr. Haber
Lukas Haas .... George Orr
Lisa Bonet .... Heather Lelache
David Strathairn .... Mannie
Sheila McCarthy .... Penny

Favorite Quotes:
• "You take things too personal, George." - Mannie

• Mannie: "You ever notice how therapist spells 'the rapist'?"
George: "No."
Mannie: "You'd think they'd do something about that."

• "Make your move, George. That's the only way the game gets played." - Mannie

Notes:
• Lathe of Heaven is an updated, televised version of a previous TV production which aired in 1980.
• Bruce Davison, who played George Orr in the 1980 teleplay, acted as executive producer on the 2002 remake.

Critical Praise & Commentary:
• "The supporting actors upstage the bland stars. Strathairn gives a witty, energetic performance as the hero's sarcastic friend. He would have brought more pizazz to the shrink." -Hal Boedeker, The Orlando Sentinel

• "What we couldn't expect is the casting against type of...David Strathairn as his chess-playing guardian angel... So distinctly different are their physical types that they seem to have been selected according to some Cubist design of geometrical equivalents." -John Leonard, New York Metro

• "The only member of the cast to escape the directorial talent-void trap is David Strathairn (A Midsummer Night's Dream), who is absolutely delightful here. It is a literal relief every time he appears on the screen, a spark of life..." -Peejay, Ziggy's Video Realm

• "David Strathairn has an enigmatic role as 'Mannie,' the only other person who appears to have an understanding of what 'George Orr' is going through... Strathairn does a great job in the film." -Mark A. Rivera, Genre Online

• "Film star David Strathairn is perfect for the role. His signature warmth and personality make him the ideal guardian angel." -A&E

(David On His Role:)
• [on the story] "It is a very palpable and potentially insightful story about our own consciousness, and whether it's déjà vu, predestination, fate, will, or whatever." -David Strathairn, 2002

• "It's very gently done. It's not done with much histrionics and no, you know, weird special effects kind of things. It's all very character-based and situational-based. He's [Mannie] in everyone of Orr's universes, but he's unrecognizable. Orr doesn't make the connection between the last incarnation of Mannie and this one. He's the doorman or he's the guy who lives in the apartment or he's the guy in the restaurant, and I guess only Mannie knows. He can't interfere, but he can just make the subtless suggestions so that Orr makes his way through. You can hope for the best, but I don't think Mannie has the power to change the past or the present or the future. He's been around the lathe or the lathe has worked on him. Or maybe he's just a piece of the lathe." -David Strathairn, 2002, DVD interview

• "The nature of dreams is always going to be a mystery." -David Strathairn, 2002, DVD interview

(Philip Haas On David:)
• "And David Strathairn is one of the best. So I feel great with the cast we have." - Philip Haas, director, SciFi.com

(Lucas Haas On David:)
• "Even though I don't realize it, he [Mannie] knows what's going on. He always guides me and gives me direction and companionship." -Lucas Haas, co-star (George Orr), DVD interview