Not Bad Remake

Rating: 6/10 (27 December 2001)

SPOILERS ALERT I was a big fan of the original film "Open Your Eyes" and not because it itself is a perfect thriller. It actually was a bit of a mess, but also a daring, thrilling and interesting mess. Anytime a filmmaker decides to work in the area of dreams/reality/dream state - they can become lazy because of the freedom this genre allows. Something not quite making sense - something not quite pulled off??? Oh well - it's a dream. I can totally understand how Cruise would see the original and think., "Man, I could play the hell out of this guy" and he does. Cruise gives a good performance and this remake is actually better then I thought it would be but...
(SPOILERS AHEAD+++++++++++++++++++++++++YE BE WARNED+++++): ...THE WAY EITHER CRUISE AS A PRODUCER OR CROWE OR THE STUDIO insisted on how things MUST be explained (and overexplained) for that matter, is insulting to adult audiences. The Spanish film laid it out there for YOU to decide what really happened and this film should have done the same. But obviously someone said NO - we must explain - we must paint a sign for the audience so that ends up being quite a letdown. The film is very well cast and Cruz (who is never as good in English as she is in her native tongue) probably gives her best performance in a Hollywood film (of course she's already played this girl in the original and she is as sparkling in this one as in Amenabar's version). The real surprise is Cameron Diaz's work. The role is a bit underwritten (or maybe trimmed down in the final cut) but she really gives dimension to what could be the one-note psycho stalker. When you think of her work in Being John Malkovich, Charlie's Angels and now this - she really shows she can bring good work to almost any kind of film : art house, action blockbuster, etc. By reading some of the other comments, i can see that many people don't want to be challenged by a film, they don't want to have to do any work as they watch a film, and that's fine. I understand that. But carp about it when a film DOES try and make you think. There are plenty of other mindless films out there, God Knows, so when movies like Lantana, Vanilla Sky, Innocence or even Mulholland Drive try and work outside the normal constraints of Hollywood movie making, give them a tip of the cap. My one other complaint with Crowe (who I admire very much) is he really has to stop with the wall to wall rock song soundtrack. We all know his Rolling Stone Magazine background, we know his wife is Nancy Wilson Heart, but there were many moments in Vanilla Sky where you DID NOT need a song to remind you what feeling might be needed. It was a bit much - trust a scene to work without the pop song hook. 6 out of 10 stars but worth a viewing.