Different is not always good (minor spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (11 March 2002)

I watched Vanilla Sky with an open mind but not by choice (my sister talked me into seeing it). Cameron Diaz's character was not fleshed out fully enough to really feel for her, while Penelope Cruz comes off somewhat better, but still comes off as little more than a pretty face to entice male viewers. Cruise just comes off as unlikeable before and after his character's transformations, though his fears are comprehensible, and the ending was a cop-out. It would have been more plausible (and more interesting) if he had killed his lover in a rage thinking she was the girl who had ruined his face (and life), and how he would deal with it. The last 15 minutes made me wonder why I'd wasted my time following this story at all. The theme song by Paul McCartney is nice, though, and the visuals of NYC (especially in the opening) are stunning. Not a movie for everyone.