The Best Movie of 2001?

Rating: 10/10 (16 December 2001)

I went into Vanilla Sky knowing only that the man who directed my favorite movie of last year (almost famous), a super star if there ever was one, and a fantastic supporting cast had come together to create remake of a spanish film I had never seen (Abre Los Ojos). Well, Cameron Crowe is two for two. He has successfully created my favorite film of 2001. This movie just clicks... I can't really explain it. On a technical level, it was fantastic. The production design, Camera direction, music, acting... it was all superb. Tom Cruise is AMAZING as David Aames, a devil-may-care heir to a publishing empire living in the pseudo-shadow of his father. Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, and my fave Jason Lee all pull fantastic performences out of the air. I can't even really put how I feel about this movie into words. Just go see it. Even if you don't like it (like the people sitting next to me), at least you'll have seen the best crafted film of the year.