(much) better than average...

Rating: 9/10 (24 December 2001)

I'm not seeing this film popping up in many "10 Best" lists, or in the Golden Globe nominations, for that matter. Pity...
I saw this film last week, and found it nicely exceeded my admittedly low expectations. In a year where most of the successful blockbusters seemed to be kiddie-fare ("Shrek", "Harry Potter"), it was refreshing to see a good, adult movie that didn't have to hit you over the head with a sledgehammer to underline its various plot-points.
I liked the challenging nature of the story, and I found I enjoyed it best when I just let it sort of "wash over me", instead of trying to analyze every detail and plot point. And while I wouldn't go so far as to call it profound, it WAS a nifty piece of story-telling.
I do have quibbles; the "elevator" scene near the end goes into WAY much detail to explain what has happened, and winds up insulting the thoughtful viewer's intelligence when the movie had done such a wonderful job of depending on it up to that point.
Even with this, though, I liked and admired Vanilla Sky. Its labrynthine narrative is a BIG departure for director Cameron Crowe, even with its artistic ambitions manages to be approachable and entertaining. When my wife and I left the theatre we talked for a good hour or so just trying to piece together exactly what happened.
A last note: I've seen some mention of the presence of the World Trade Center twin towers in the background skyline in the rooftop scene at the end. While this was very much a background detail with NO relevance to the story whatsoever, and while seeing it was a little distracting, I'm glad it was left in. I'm sure there was much handwringing at Paramount over whether to digitally alter those frames, and the argument could be made that doing so would have been appropriate, but it stands almost as a small, cinematic memorial. This may well be the last new film we'll see that uses the image of the twin towers as simple buildings, and not as symbols of tragedy.