the protagonist makes or breaks a film

Rating: 5/10 (14 July 2002)

the film is beautifully directed by cameron crowe and the photogaphy is outstanding. jason lee as the somewhat envious best friend of tom cruise was stellar. however, to view this film and really enjoy it, you must empathize with the protagonist - in this case david ames (tom cruise). i just couldn't do it. i found myself not really caring to know what was actually happening to him or why. i just did not feel sorry for him and his plight. thus, in the end, i just didn't buy the plot.

the spanish film, abre los ojos, of which vanilla sky is a remake, is the opposite however. i was completely wrapped up in cesar's (david in vanilla sky)pain and frustration. eduardo noriega did a much better job of playing the handsome, rich, playboy cum psychiatric patient with little/fuzzy memory, than tom cruise did. at the end of abre los ojos, i completely bought every plot twist and turn. . .as for vanilla sky, i just couldn't bring myself to care.