The best "Hollywood" has had to offer in a while...

Rating: Null/10 (15 December 2001)

...of course, there are a slew of wonderful movies out this holiday season, Vanilla Sky may just be the most daring, original, and thought-provoking piece of movie to come along in quite a while. Not to mention entertaining as hell, which it certainly is. Tom Cruise is a man in search of his life. And that is about the only thing I'll tell you about the movie. To say anything more about the plot would either misdirect or confuse, or madden (which is what is so fun about the film). Crowe has suddenly grown leaps and bounds as a filmmaker of a solid film that not only entertains but questions, enlightens, delves, and frightens. This is not the kitchy soft focus world of Say Anything, Jerry Maguire, or Almost Famous (all great movies in their own respect). Rather, this is a dark film, weaving elements of humor, psychological thriller, scathing satire, and sociopolitical parody. At once, the tone reminded me of another fuzzy director toying with his darkside: Spielberg in last summer's equally intriguing (yet terminally flawed) A.I. Artificial Intelligence. It's just a shame that both of these films had to draw their dark inspiration from other sources (Spielberg from Kubrick, Crowe from the spanish film Open Your Eyes). Either way, Vanilla Sky is a must see for anyone who likes a challenge. Cruise is amazing in a performance that shines and hones in on his good looks, then does a reversal as his face becomes hideous (you'll see). Cameron Diaz is wonderful as a lovely, yet sad woman. Jason Lee is great as the unfortunately typecasted sidekick (how many sidekicks can he play? Who cares: he's damn good at it) Kurt Russell, one of the great underappreciated workhorses of the biz, is good as always. And Penelope Cruz has finally earned my respect after several American debacles (did you see Captain Corelli's Mandolin? You were lucky; I wasn't). But the star of the film is the film itself, and Crowe has finally made his mark as a force to be reckoned with. Hell, before he pretty much was in a genre corner all of his own: the fluffy feelgood coming of age movies (which I love, and how could one not?) But now with Vanilla Sky he has a great time moving his camera with the grace of Woo, Cameron, or Scorsese, yet provokes performances like only Crowe could. As for the music in the picture, it does nothing but enhance every scene. This movie must be seen and heard to be believed in its genius. Do yourself a favor. Stop reading reviews and go out and see it before you learn too much of the plot. You won't regret it.