The Lathe of Heaven

PBS's first ever made-for-TV movie is an ambitious adaptation of a classic sci-fi novel by Ursula K. Le Guin. Set in the near future, it follows a young man whose dreams have the power to alter reality (usually with unintended side effects) and the disruptive machinations of his power-hungry therapist / hypnotist. The main plot device is interesting, with each dream leading to a sort of bite-sized Twilight Zone episode, and we're never sure how much the supporting cast recalls of their past reality. Watching for the more subtle changes and trying to outsmart the premise often makes for great fun. The production's age and budget cause numerous problems, though, with a lot of dry, flat acting and poor visual effects. Pacing issues also plague the first act, but once it gains a good head of steam, our wait is rewarded. A decent intellectual science fiction thriller, with some great ideas but an armload of unrealized potential. It's available in full on YouTube.