Vanilla Mush

Rating: Null/10 (8 October 2005)

This is another one of those films about the human mind and the content therein ... memories, dreams, emotions, perceptions, what is real and what is not. Hollywood has been there before, many times. In "Vanilla Sky" the setting is modern day New York City. The main character is David Aames, a smug, self-satisfied, wealthy playboy who is heir to a publishing empire. He's a man who has it all, until an unfortunate event changes him forever.
The best approach to this film is to go with the flow, and not try to analyze it too much. The story gets complicated and confusing. The narrative jumps back and forth. There are many flashbacks. Interpretations vary as to the film's "meaning". And therein lies my main problem with the story. When filmmakers try to cover too much philosophical ground, and go deep into the human psyche, the end result is usually ... mush. This film would have been better if the screenplay had focused on one or two philosophical points only. As is, the film's complex subject matter and disjointed structure convey not insight but confusion.
The screenplay aside, other technical components run the gamut from good to awful. Cinematography is probably the strongest element of the film, and includes some creative camera shots of Manhattan. Special effects are effective, and without being intrusive. And production design is impressive. On the other hand, the film's editing contributes to a confused plot. And the background music is very, very weak. As to the acting, well, I don't even want to talk about it ...
Compared to other contemporary films, "Vanilla Sky" is neither better nor worse, but about average. Seeing it once is probably enough.