Another great Crowe film definitely worth catching in the theatre...

Rating: 9/10 (11 December 2001)

Cameron Crowe has delivered us another amazing film. This is very close to being his best one yet. With incredible performances from Tom Cruise and Kurt Russell and solid support from Cameron Diaz and Jason Lee, the casting couldn't have been better. You can also almost see the true-life romance unfold between Cruise and co-star Penelope Cruz. Actually an adaptation of the 1997 Spanish film "Abre los Ojos", this "Americanized" version is even more interesting in the original. Tom Cruise is surprisingly believable as a disfigured man who has trouble deciphering what is or is not real. The film takes the viewer on a roller coaster ride that never really slows down in its 2 1/2 hour run. It has moments that might be hard for many to follow and also leaves you to draw your own conclusions, which might drive some people crazy. It never really follows the structure of a standard "multiplex" film, which is also why it is so enjoyable and refreshing. Crowe has shown us how he can shine commercially with "Jerry Maguire" and "Say Anything", but has really gone out on a limb with this one. Some might compare it to "Magnolia", which isn't such a bad thing, but it is a little confusing at times. The ending is also a little strange and will sit well with some and not others. Also worth mentioning is the soundtrack, which works along with the film in a way the only a few others, like Paul Thomas Anderson, have done in the past. Some of the haunting and beautiful images are intensified by the importance of the music in the scene. This one is definitely worth checking out in the theatre if you're going to see it at all. For fans of Cameron Crowe, this will be well worth it for you. For everyone else, it is important to remember to keep an open mind when seeing this. The film is definitely well made; it's just not the typical flashy blockbuster Tom Cruise fans may have come to expect.