I didn't see it coming!

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2002)

While I marked down Vanilla Sky for its unprecedented use of subtlety to obfuscate what was really happening, I am glad to say that Spielberg has used the technique to better effect. I always judge a good movie for its lack of cliches, and as such I didn't see the climax until it actually happened. The final dilemma in the movie was excellent and once again we're treat to an unobvious action.
So, what about the world of 2054? Well, it's nice that Spielberg had a bunch of eggheads brainstorm what the future might hold, but I have some trouble believing that so much will have changed in so little time. Obviously, the movie is set in the not-too-distant future so as to leave some link to the present. I do not think that Mag-Levs will be the order of the day. Indeed, Big Oil will still have a strangle-hold on central and state government.
As for the acting... well Mr Cruise performed well within his usual parameters... though at the top end I'm glad to say. The fact that he did all his own stunts is nice as a completely obvious stunt-double always ruins it for me. But - I hear you say - it was all CGI, wannit?
I enjoyed the movie on the whole even though it was a tad overlong.