`Waking Life' uses creative animation techniques and a nearly plot-less conversational format to explore some of the deep philosophical questions of consciousness, dream, and reality. While this may sound heavy and boring, director Richard Linklater (`Slacker') brings a surprisingly light touch to the project, and the result is a fascinating, thought provoking, and highly enjoyable film.

I watched this movie twice in one week. I was alone the first time that I viewed it, and found myself hard-pressed to express either the density of the ideas presented, or just how entertaining that presentation was. So I rented it again, and sat down to watch it with my best friend. We put the remote between us, and then, every few minutes, one or the other of us would grab it, hit pause, and launch into a discussion of what we had just seen. It took us all evening to watch this hour and forty minute film this way, but the result of this exercise was both entertaining and mentally stimulating.

Richard Linklater has a knack for making this type of fare. `Waking Life' is similar in many ways to his debut film, `Slacker', which shares its loose, conversational format and philosophical bent. `Waking Life' is a much stronger, more focused and thoughtful film, however, and it is easy to see Linklater's maturation as a film maker and thinker.

If you simply want mindless entertainment, avoid this movie, it is definitely not for you. If, however, you enjoy films that are clever, innovative, and thought-provoking then `Waking Life' very well might become one of your favorites.



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