Vanillasky?

Rating: 6/10 (20 December 2001)

Open your eyes. This overly ambitious film (not the sequel to "Eyes Wide Shut") gives us so much and asks so little in return. Another Hollywood cruise through dreamland that turns out a nightmare or just another Tom Cruise vehicle?
David Aames ((Tom Cruise) wakens to a NYC beyond his wildest fantasy - a city devoid of people making him the one and only. But that's only a dream... or is it? This self-absorbed magazine-magnate demands your attention. This is a narcissistic heir to a successful publishing house doing his least to promote its rags and his best to advance his own interest. You've met his type - a guy born on third base who thought he hit a triple. Tom Cruise, producer, cast himself in this role and are we surprised. A match made in heaven as we watch him descend to hell.
Vanilla Sky should be sub-titled and programmed for the intuitively challenged. To follow this film in a linear fashion is a prescription for almost as much pain and suffering as our hero experiences without the rewards of both Julie (Cameron Diaz) and Sofia Serrano (Penelope Cruz). The hangover without the fun. This film has more beautiful people per frame than any audience deserves. And Mr. Cruise, please stop mugging to the audience.
The opening line - "Open your eyes" -surprisingly the title of the derivative film by Alejandro Amenabar - is the appropriate wake up call to the audience after two hours of real/dream world transcendence. What was Cameron Crowe thinking when he inserted a 5-minute - or was it 15 - monologue at the end of a 2-hour terror trip? There might be more satisfying ways to clarify the plot but this sure must be the easiest.
Unless you are a fan of Cruise or Cruz you may have a hard time sympathizing with their characters. Personally I have Cruise Control and sympathize with supporting characters like Brian Shelby (Jason Lee), David's best friend who (might) get trampled by David's dating games. Or was that David's dream world? And at that point, who cares?
Is there a moral to this tale? I'm having the same trouble ending this review as Crowe had with ending his film. Vanillasky? Some Russian neo-Dadaist? That explains it!