Vanilla Sky (Widescreen)

A lot of folks didn't get this movie, or at least could not relate to it. But it's not all too difficult a thing to understand. This movie is a great mind-trip, entertaining at that. It is acted well, it is shot well, it has a great blend of real-time action and surrealism and a phenomenal soundtrack. But it all really is quite powerful if you get through its surface. It challenges you to ask yourself what reality is, what happiness is, what the difference between meaning and superficiality is and how your mind truly does control the universe around you. Well I saw all that in it anyhow. And yes, one more time, the soundtrack is phenomenal. I do believe this is one of Cruise's best films. He took the sane-guy gone mad role a little too seriously in life, but here it shines along with a stellar supporting role from Jason Lee. Check it out.

I have watched Vanilla Sky three times now, and every time it has left me powerfully affected. It deals with many topics that interest me, particularly the study of dreams vs. reality, and the nature of relationships, and love. There is much that is very good about it, however it contains one major flaw that prevents it from being truly great.
The acting, is overall top notch. Jason Lee turns in yet again another stellar supporting role; he radiates charisma in this performance, and fits the role given perfectly. Cameron Diaz is a fine choice for Julianna, she brings an almost maniacal sense of urgency to her character that was both disturbing and complusively watchable; she simply looks amazing on film. Tom Cruise performs more than adaquetly as well, and perhaps the greatest kudos must be given to Penelope Cruz, who simply lights up the screen here. Her charisma is unmistakable, and she infuses this film with life and vibrancy. This is a film with many powerful images, be it the gorgeous vanilla skies that soar over New York within the dream, or the (SPOILER) unforgettable image of Cruise's David Aames waving farewell to his disfigured reflection in the mirror. It entices in the first viewing, draws you in irresistably, and apon further viewings still moves with great pacing, and many subtle clues and hints can be found that help the viewer understand the nature of David Aame's reality. My only real complaint is that Cameron Crowe for some inexplicable reason (though it certainly must have been because of confused test audiencies, those who this film is not intended for anyway) chose to come out at the end of the film and blatantly reveal all of the films secrets and twists; he talks to the viewer as if we were 5 years old and need him to hold our hand. This film could have been very similar in nature to, and even rivaled Lynch's masterpiece Mulholland Drive had Crowe not chosen to do so, and it is very disappointing that he did in fact choose to do so. But this aside, the film is very compelling and often powerful. I still love the questions it raises concerning love (if his love with Sofia wasnt "real", than does it still have meaning?), and the image of "I will find you in another life, when we are both cats" that so powerfully emphasizes the power that love can have, and the joy and awe surrounding that human emotion. For a similar image look in the closing chapters of the novel The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman. But i digress. This film is solid, even coming from hollywood, and with big name stars attached. I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is willing to be challenged slightly by the film they watch, and those who love to be moved.
Highly Recommended

The engrossing Dec/2001 film Vanilla Sky is quite the psychological mind bender and it never lets you get too comfortable.Just when you think you see through it all,it switches gears and leaves you scratching your head.I'm not a Tom Cruise fan per se',and while I do think his caliber of work has been spotty over the years,I do have to admit when he does something that is appealing and this is one of those times.
Vanilla Sky is about one David Aames(Cruise) who is heir to a %51 share of his fathers publishing company in New York.He is quite the recalcitrant when it comes to the business end of things,much to the eternal chagrin of the board members he must grudgingly work with and who comprise the ones with the remaining %49 share/control;or the "seven dwarfs" as he refers to them.He is young and is enjoying life and has surrounded himself with quite the coterie of friends and hanger-ons.One of the latter is Julianna(Cameron Diaz)who,while a good sexual encounter,harbours deep resentment that David does not understand;yet.His friend Jason(Brian Shelby),a book writer whom he sponsors,introduces him to Sofia(Penelope Cruz) one evening at a party David has thrown and an instant connection is established between the two.
A jealous and uninvited Julianna has shown up at the party and follows David when he takes Sophia home.They sit and talk into the evening hours and when David leaves,Julianna is there to greet him.She talks him into going for a "drive" but the drive soon turns into a terribly invective rant against David and how he treats her and others.Suicidal,Julianna ends up going through a bridge railing and down into the street below.She is killed while David barely survives.His face is left horribly disfigured and he has to undergo constant therapy for injuries to his left arm.It takes months of surgery mixed with depression but David finally returns to meet for the first time since the accident with Jason and Sofia at a rave up.When he does he is wearing a prosthetic mask and while trying to put on a brave front his language both verbal and body betray the inward anguish and resentment he really feels.He gets drunk and later accompanies Jason and Sofia home,who end up leaving him to fall asleep on the sidewalk below Sofia's apartment.
He is awoken next day by Sofia whom he starts dating again and their relationship grows deep.David undergoes further extensive plastic surgery and finally gets his face restored to near normal.However strange things start to happen.Not only does he start seeing his old disfigured face off and on in mirrors he is also seeing Julianna as Sofia.Then to top this we find David is in an interrogation room in a jail,being questioned by a psychologist Dr McCabe(Kurt Russell).The doctor is trying to find the truth as to what really happened,while David is trying to grasp onto the reality of the moment.The movies events continue and we switch back and forth between them and the jail as the story is slowly revealed.David's mental state deteriorates rapidly and one night he wakes up in bed with Sofia at first,who then switches to Julianna.He ties her up and calls the police.HE is arrested for apparently beating Sofia(not Julianna) up;who will not press charges.The final straw comes when Sofia and David are in the midst of a passionate love making session and Sofia "turns" into Julianna.This time David in a frenzied state suffocates her with the pillow.
Throughout all these seemingly mind boggling events there has been a man popping in and out of scenes.At first he has been in the background staring and later he actually talks to him in a bar.Now with Dr.McCabe and a jail guard in tow they arrive at a place called Life Extension.It seems the mystery man is from the tech support department(Noah Taylor) of the company.David had signed a contract with them to freeze his body and re-animate it years later.Well it is now 150 years later and it appears that David's dream state has gone awry(which tech support detected);which began the night after his sleeping on the sidewalk at Sofia's.Dr McCabe is an illusion as has been every event since then and now he must choose his next step;to continue to sleep or wake up,get reconstructive surgery and continue his life in the real world.At this point he is standing atop a skyscraper over looking New York city with a beautiful Vanilla Sky above(just like the Monet painting his mother so cherished).He has a fear of heights and walking with the doctor means continuing his dreams while jumping brings him back "home".He prefers the latter and the film ends as we see both his eyes open for the first time in 150 years.
The plot is certainly an intricate one and I am afraid I cannot do justice to all the nuances built into the story;those you will just have to experience for yourself.But I hope I have given you enough of a taste to whet your appetite for more,for if you stick this movie through you will be amply rewarded in how all the loose and seemingly unrelated ends,come together in the end.Tom Cruise I must say turns in a marvelous performance as the rich playboy turned into a self loathing and tormented man after the crash that disfigures him.Top performances are turned in by all and I must single out Kurt Russell as the psychologist who is a solid addition to the proceedings.
Technically speaking this movie has been transferred well into widescreen and the colours are sharp and crisp.The special features include Commentary,a featurette,a music video,a short interview with Paul McCartney who wrote the title number,the unreleased teaser trailer and the regular trailer.
All in all this is a 135 minute gem,while not everyone's cup of tea,is certainly(to me)an intriguing and engrossing psychological film that keeps you guessing right down to the last few minutes.Highly recommended.