"It's a Wonderful Life" meets "Seconds" meets "Coma"

Rating: 9/10 (30 May 2002)

This is painful for me but I'll admit upfront that I haven't seen the original Spanish language film. I'll qualify that by saying I am the type who scoffs at the American re-make of "The Vanishing" because it was so inferior to the original.
I have a hunch that this movie stayed pretty close to the INTENTION of the original. Considering the lame American re-makes usually focus on the "gimick" of the original rather than give you any kind of true cultural filter on an original story this is a good thing. I know what Cameron Crowe meant when he said the film wouldn't leave his mind. I had a similar experience with the Russian film "Come and See" (which I recommend highly). I kept telling people about it until I convinced a friend to watch it with me.
I won't give away to much of the plot, because this film is truly a story. When I say story, I mean more like a novel than a comic book. I will say that Tom Cruise did a great job in this film. I don't think Cruise gets enough respect for his acting because he is good-looking and he's a nice guy. Often people's talents get overwhelmed by popularity. Think of some of the most popular people at your high school. Just BECAUSE they were popular didn't a certain segment of the class despise them? Being popular didn't prevent anyone from being a good person (In fact, maybe being popular just allows you more leeway to show your true character.) The whole cast performs at a high level. Penelope Cruz is enchantingly cute. Cameron Diaz is horrifically attractive and menacingly flirty. Jason Lee is able to emote subtleties that evade many more well known and well regarded actors. Most importantly Crowe has forged a good story with crisp dialogue and a frustrating yet authentic vagueness of real life. It's all shot in a slick way without looking too much like a commercial yet with a definite emphasis on story-telling. I recommend the movie to those who aren't afraid to look a little inward and ask some big questions.