a rare, intelligent american film (even if it was a remake)

Rating: 10/10 (2 January 2002)

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** First of all, see this movie if you haven't. I liked it (perphaps largely because it was an American movie with an open-ended ending.) I didn't care for Almost Famous, but I did like Jerry Maguire; I'm not the world's largest Tom Cruise fan, but I respect his acting ability (i.e., he can act) and he has taken risks (Magnolia, Eyes Wide Shut, Vanilla Sky, etc.) even if nothing could destroy his career at this point in time. now, on to the SPOILERS:
The ending: I have heard several comments stating that it was insulting how they spoon-fed us information at the end; while it's true, it would have been better if it had been ended sooner, but what did they actually tell us? Think about it: the voice saying Open Your Eyes at the end; didn't it sound an awful lot like Penelope Cruz's voice? Is it possible that after he passed out on the pavement, the movie from there on in was a dream not from LE, but from being drunk and passed out on the pavement? Or maybe, they sent him back into the dream without his consent. Or, maybe it was just what it seemed: it was an LE employee's voice and not Penelope Cruz's. or--just possibly--The entire movie was a dream and he'd never even met Penelope Cruz's character, but was still with Cameron Diaz (sorry I can't use the characters name's, but I can't remember them right now and I don't feel like going back to get them.) DO NOT take anything at face value; also, was it just me, or was the color green a theme? they crashed through a green railing, there was green in practically every shot of the opening dream, the lasers at the night club were green and blue, and I got too involved in the story to notice other appearances, but I'm pretty sure they were there.
END OF SPOILERS
I think I'm probably going to have to see this movie about 15 more times to get all the themes and meanings in this movie. Maybe it was overly intellectual and pretentious, but I like it and respect it which is enough for me.