Outstanding

Rating: Null/10 (31 January 2012)

Probably one of the most criminally underrated films of all time, Vanilla Sky is beyond any doubt a great movie, and a truly original exploration of life, death, love, dreams and reality. Much like the American version of "The Office", it is that rare creation that steps out of the shadow of its predecessor and takes on a life all its own. This is largely thanks to writer / director Cameron Crowe, who has managed to pull off something very unlikely – a remake that is superior to the original.
Based on the cult film Abre Los Ojos by Alejandro Amenábar, "Sky" has little in common with the lackluster carbon copies Hollywood usually churns out when remaking foreign movies. It is obvious that a lot of care went into the making of "Sky", and my impression is that Crowe found true inspiration in Amenábar's movie and strongly wanted to tell the story in his own words. While Crowe doesn't stray very far from the source material, to the point of some scenes being almost identical to those of the original, he has added a myriad of his own creative influences and personal touches, creating a true cinematic experience that is captivating and memorable in its own right. Despite the similarities, "Sky" stands on its own.
The film's most striking quality is the use of music and sound, both of which are superb. Crowe has picked out a selection of popular tracks of various genres and found unexpected, yet pitch-perfect, moments to unleash them. Key scenes will make you listen to songs by Joan Osbourne, Underworld, Todd Rundgren, The Beach Boys, Freur and Sigur Rós in a whole new way. And Radiohead has seldom sounded better than in the opening scenes. This is one of those films where, if nothing else, the soundtrack alone would make the whole production worthwhile. The music and sound create a distinct and difficult-to-explain atmosphere, one that is unique to this film. You have to see it to understand.
The casting is nothing short of genius. In four of the five main parts, it seems like every actor was born for their role. Cruise as the man who has it all, but falls victim to his own vain selfishness. Lee as his best friend, charming but maybe not who he appears to be. Russell as the humble father figure. And Diaz, who shows a whole new side of herself and stands for some of the film's more disturbing moments. The weak link is Cruz as the love interest. Her flawlessness becomes overbearing at times, although this could have more to do with how her character is written than the actress herself.
It is a film with a twist ending, but it doesn't rely on this twist to work. In fact, knowing the twist beforehand, or re-watching the film knowing how it will end, in no way takes away from the experience. This is because the film is so solidly constructed, so well acted, and set to such an incredible soundtrack. The final elevator scenes have, at least for me, lost none of their beauty, even though I know the script almost word for word and there are no surprises left.
Vanilla Sky is romantic and sad, sometimes horrifying and other times beautiful. It is easily a career high-point for all involved. A must-see.