Pathetic

Rating: 2/10 (4 February 2002)

This is a pathetic movie, for two reasons:
a) having seen Amenabar's original "Abre Los Ojos" before "Vanilla Sky", one can see, after just a few minutes, that the american version just isn't going to reach the depth, simplicity and elegance of the original. This movie falls prey to the temptation of big-star movies where everybody's handsome and apparently dressed by Vogue's fashion coordinators. The story, of course, suffers. It's a pity that 90% of movie-goers will get to know this story as told by Crowe and not by Amenabar.
b) Penelope Cruz just isn't a good actress. It's amazing that she'd agree to play the exact same part in the remake. Did she count on nobody knowing Amenaber's version? (Curiously i have to admit that Tom Cruise plays the part with the delicacy and intensity it deserves, and I don't even like him...). It seems as if Crowe bowed before the Cruz-Cruise soap opera and let her do whatever she wanted. Contrast with her part in Almodovar's "Todo sobre mi madre", and you'll get a glimpse of what a good director can do even with mediocre actress material.
Was this a trade-off between Cruise amd Amenabar? (i.e. "I'll produce "The Others" if you give me the right to remake your Penelope movie"?).
Please...