While Opal Dream draws liberally on timeworn dramatic staples, it’s the earnestness with which cast and crew believe in the material that keeps its dusty heart beating strong.
Opal Dream (2006)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:32
Fresh:22
Rotten:10
Average Rating:6.2/10
Consensus: Earnest performances and Peter Cattaneo's sympathetic direction gives heart to the simple, timeworn script.
Theatrical Release:Nov 22, 2006 Limited
Synopsis: A movie for children and grown-ups of all ages, OPAL DREAM tells the touching story of a young girl, Kellyanne Williamson, whose unshakable faith in her two imaginary friends resonates through her... A movie for children and grown-ups of all ages, OPAL DREAM tells the touching story of a young girl, Kellyanne Williamson, whose unshakable faith in her two imaginary friends resonates through her small hometown in the Australian Outback. She lives with her family in a town that is well-known for its reserves of precious stones. Kellyanne is an average little girl, but there's something odd about her friends, Pobby and Dingan, because apart from Kellyanne herself, nobody can see them. For the most part, Kellyanne's fantasy grates on her big brother's nerves. However, their father insists on indulging his daughter – he even takes these two extra 'members of the family' down into the opal mine. One day he unwittingly – or perhaps deliberately – 'leaves' them in the mine and Pobby and Dingan go missing. Kellyanne wastes away with grief, and her brother enlists the town to search for the girl's lost friends. As her brother takes it upon himself to rally the Williamson family and the community around his sister and her missing friends, everyone discovers what Kellyanne has long known; that you don't necessarily have to see in order to believe. An Official Selection at the Berlin International Film Festival, 2006. -- © Strand Releasing [More]
Starring: Sapphire Boyce, Jacqueline McKenzie, Vince Colosimo, Peter Callan
Starring: Sapphire Boyce, Jacqueline McKenzie, Vince Colosimo, Peter Callan, Eliza Lovell, Andy McPhee, Adam Morgan, Rusty Potter, Denise Roberts
Director: Peter Cattaneo
Director: Peter Cattaneo
Composer: Dario Marianelli
Studio: Strand Releasing
Get This Movie
Reviews for Opal Dream
What opens as a delightful kid-friendly drama closes as a stumbly, manipulative yawner.
Although Opal Dream marks a pleasing departure from the conventions of the British comedy -- it's based on a children's book and set in the Australian outback -- it's disappointingly small in scope.
Opal Dream is saved by the charming and believable performances of the leading players.
There are times when cinematic heart-tugging takes on the character of a frontal assault. Opal Dream is one of them.
A touching Australian film about the healing and liberating powers of imagination and love in a besieged family and a divided mining community.
Stories about a sickly girl, her imaginary friends and her indulgent daddy's courtroom saga are probably best left on the page. Witness the queasy, up-with-people tear-jerker Opal Dream.
In the Australian outback, in the opal mining community of Coober Pedy, Rex Williamson (Vince Colosimo) hunts maniacally for the perfect stone while his family endures a life of dust and deprivation.
A fable, and as such carrying few surprises, Opal Dream features solid acting and likable characters.
One of those heartwarming, 'It's fun to pretend!' fables that's fun for the whole family.
The film's sweetness derives primarily from the relationship between Ashmol and his unusual sister, and draws much of its richness from the unfamiliar and fascinating world of opal prospecting.
Opal Dream is an exceptional family film, arriving just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The film succeeds because of the great lengths to which Ashmol goes to bring her peace of mind.
Opal Dreams is a sentimental film, and such a film needs more charm than it evokes in the United States.
Shouldn't act as if parents appeasing their messed-up child is as moving as people actually giving in to the power of belief.
Latest News for Opal Dream
November 28, 2006:
RTIndie: "Little Miss Sunshine," "Half Nelson" Lead Indie Spirit Award Noms
It's time again to celebrate the best that indie-land has to offer. The Spirit Award nominees are out, with "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Half Nelson" leading... More...
November 21, 2006:
Critical Consensus: "Halls" Spreads Little Cheer; "Déjà Vu" Intrigues; "The Fountain" Overflows; "Pick" Is Mixed
This week at the movies, we've got holiday mischief ("Deck the Halls," starring Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito), a phenomenon known as déjà vu ("Déjà... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 67% 67% | Public Enemies |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 95% 95% | The Cove |
| 85% 85% | World's Greatest Dad |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- Opal Dream at Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh Links
Featured

Techland lists the best Sci-Fi films of this decade.

Moviefone takes a look back at the biggest stinkers of the past 10 years.

The Me and Orson Welles star answers reader questions on TIME.com.

Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill offers his thoughts on what the best decade for film was.

In the AV Club's "Scenic Routes," Mike D'Angelo reminisces about the Tim Burton film.
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



