more art than film

Rating: 8/10 (27 March 2003)

Wow, easily one of the best films of 2002. With a high profile director, and a very high profile star, it could've all gone wrong for this film, but it seems to do everything right. The plot takes so many turns it's sometimes hard to keep up, but isn't it better that a movie makes you think rather than not? Cameron Crowe has made his best film here, and it's most likely to be the best film of his career in many years to come. Using colour and some fantastic camera shots, it becomes more of an art piece than just a film. His direction and editing are so tight in some scenes, it's hard not to notice his talent. Check out the scene with tom cruise and noah taylor in the bar. It's perfectly executed. And the finale is positively poetic. Beautiful infact. Everyone here makes an impression. Penelope Cruz i thought did extremely well in a soft role, and tom cruise once again shows us that he can infact act his socks off if he wants to. It's brain numbing, head scratching, wonderfully surreal, disturbing, horrific, romantic, poetic, arty, everything really. Oh and not to forget that is has possibly the best soundtrack ever put on film. Sigur ros, icelands premier band make the ending with it's glorious track 4.