An underestimated film that, if understood, is extremely satisfying.

Rating: 9/10 (4 May 2002)

A Bright Vanilla Sky

People like to dream or even just imagine their perfect life. It is such an intense moment when that happens, that the person can't even realize whether he is dreaming or not. The new Cameron Crowe movie Vanilla Sky shows this fact in a more complicated, but sophisticated way. This movie is a remake of the Spanish movie Abre Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes) directed by Alejandro Amenabar. It is innovative and existential; it is hard to understand, and that is what intimidated the critics who brought it down.
Tom Cruise stars as rich and successful David Aames who unexpectedly finds his true love with a very pleasant Spanish lady. What becomes his problem is the fact that he loves being liked; that is what makes him enter the car of friendly-but-barmy Julie Gianni (Cameron Diaz) who has more than a crush on him. It is just this little mistake that ruins all of David's life. When he realizes that his life completely crumbled, all he wants is to find out one way to fix it all up. The protagonist then has to make it through a series of odd situations, some of which turn out to be just dreams. David's life is now separated into dream and reality, and when those two will end up joining in a `pause mode,' things will become clear to him.
Tom Cruise produced this New York-based movie with associate Paula Wagner and writer/director Cameron Crowe (whom he has worked with in Jerry Maguire). Crowe (Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous) changes his style by giving the movie lots of more energy compared to his old works. In the middle of all this desperation, he gives it a little sarcasm making it more controversial. Penelope Cruz plays the girl of David's dreams; she gives a normal performance, nothing special. Instead, with her right energetic performance, Cameron Diaz got nominated for a Golden Globe, but didn't win it. After all the foolish comedies she has done, finally she was chosen to play a more complicated character that reflected all of her talent. Kurt Russell completed a great performance playing David Aames' psychiatrist. He might even get nominated for some award, but his part doesn't give him enough possibilities to react and give more vitality. Tom Cruise didn't do a bad job; he did too many of his ironical laughs while shaking his head. Making himself `look bad' in this movie, might create an admiring reaction in some people.
Vanilla Sky is a pretty disturbing movie while watching it, but not anymore when it has ended. It has been constructed in a way to confuse the spectator; the effect of that, is that once you have understood the whole story, you feel extremely satisfied. That is what the director wanted to accomplish; and he did.
Rating: ****