M o v i e R e v i e w Waking Life offers unique journalistic opportunity By Mike Powers

Richard Linklater’s groundbreaking animated feature "Waking Life" is enthralling. I was incredibly taken with the film, and it couldn’t have come to Chicago at a more perfect time for me. I myself have been practicing lucid dreaming, and the film was so inspiring to me! Using dreams to explore and discuss modern problems, philosophy, God, and life, (pun version: that’s the stuff that, well, dreams are made of) – the film just really opened up my eyes to endless possibilities. In a moment of clarity, I decided to write my review of "Waking Life" from INSIDE a lucid dream. My notes are as follows. SATURDAY Saw Waking Life, Music Box Theatre, Chicago, IL MONDAY After friends 30th birthday party, have lucid dream. Yes!! This is my first good one. I confirm that I’m dreaming after falling flat on my back and bouncing up, uninjured, like on a trampoline a few times. I create a computer terminal and sit down to write my review. Realize that I have some flying and celebrity sex to take care of. Never make it back to the computer before waking up. TUESDAY Have another lucid dream. Create a super stylish dream office. Sit down at the computer, and begin typing. In Linklater’s "Waking Life," there are 7 cups chopped onions; 1 gallon catsup; _ gallon water; Realize that I am typing my godfather’s award-winning recipe for barbecue sauce. 2 cups chili powder; 4 tablespoons dry mustard; 20 ounces Worcestershire sauce; Great!! I lost this recipe in one of the 10 apartments I’ve lived in since graduating college. I hope you’re enjoying the sauce, whomever you are next tenants! 2 teaspoons chopped fresh garlic; 1 gallon red wine vinegar; Sorry, but I’ve got to finish this. 4 pounds dark brown sugar; 2.7 cups paprika; 12 bay leaves; 2 cups crushed red pepper. Combine all ingredients in large container. Bring to a boil and turn off immediately. Do not cook after boiling point! The sauce will be very thin. Cool and put into containers with tight-fitting lids. Store for 30 days to age. When ready for use, leave open only what will be used. Once sauce is opened to the air, it will thicken immediately. Use on the associated Pork Loin recipe, or also great on chicken, beef, shrimp, etc. SUNDAY Finally, another lucid dream. I’ve been eating too much barbecue this week. With the looming producesection deadline, I’ve got to get working. I create a comfy dream room, much like my study. In fact, it’s exactly like my study. I put on my most recent jazz CD purchase, Medeski, Martin, and Wood’s "Tonic." I decide to sit in the pleather chair and write, instead of typing away on the computer. Linklater’s "Waking Life" is an inspiring, visually stunning breakthrough in film. The animation is absolutely incredible (yes, the word is overused, but in this case, it’s true). The non-linear subject matter offers scene after scene of great food for thought, and the characters are all very smart, articulate, funny, or otherwise interesting. Or crazy. In any case, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, I’d like to see it again, and I think you should too. I glanced over at my digital clock and saw that it read "horse."