Disappointed in Crowe

Rating: 2/10 (13 December 2001)

1 out of 4
Audiences in search of a mind trip filled with mystery and suspense need to see something else. Vanilla Sky takes you on a mind trip all right, but its ever-changing narrative and uniquely mysterious characters are only contrived elements in a story that lacks focus. After two hours of questions, the premise of the entire film is summed up in ten minutes of flashbacks and explanation physically ripping the wind out of any hope you may have had for it.
Tom Cruise plays David Ames a millionaire magazine publisher with the world at his feet. Beautiful women want him and success has never come easier. Julie Gianni (Cameron Diaz) is one of those women but is unwilling to share him with his new love interest, Sofia Serrano (Penelope Cruz). Julie causes an accident that leaves David with a mutilated face and ever-present migraines. His world is falling apart around him and nobody has the answers.
Cameron Crowe is generally a brilliant director. Say Anything, Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous are great rides into the lives of their lead characters what makes them laugh and what makes them cry. That sense of direction is evident in Vanilla Sky but too little emphasis is placed on the relationships. Instead Crowe focuses on a mystery about murder and betrayal reaching outside of his comfort zone and failing.
Some of the performances are good but too many are awful. Cameron Diaz stretches well in a `Fatal Attraction' evil that transcends her `girl next door' persona and Jason Lee shines as David's best friend and confidant with a quick wit and irascible charm. Cruise gives us nothing new with his rich kid who can't seem to control his life character and the other Cruz is just downright unwatchable as an unintelligent waif riding on the coattails of everyone she meets.
If you're dragged kicking and screaming to this film you had better be prepared to sit through hours of strange and unengaging drama only to find that the wait was never worth it.