Vanilla Sky Review
by Shannon Patrick Sullivan (shannon AT morgan DOT ucs DOT mun DOT ca)December 28th, 2001
VANILLA SKY (2001) / *** 1/2
Directed by Cameron Crowe. Screenplay by Crowe, based on the film "Abre Los Ojos" by Alejandro Amenábar and Mateo Gil Rodríguez. Starring Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz. Running time: 135 minutes. Rated AA for coarse language by the MFCB. Reviewed on December 28th, 2001.
By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN
Synopsis: David Aames (Cruise) is a playboy publisher who sleeps with the beautiful Julie (Diaz) even though they are only friends. At a birthday party, David's best friend Brian (Jason Lee) introduces him to free spirit Sofia (Cruz), and David falls madly in love. But this incurs the wrath of Julie, who wants David for herself. Intercut are scenes where David, clad in a latex mask to hide his face, is imprisoned for murder, being interviewed by a psychiatrist (Kurt Russell).
Review: Those who disliked Cruise in "Eyes Wide Shut" will loathe "Vanilla Sky", which is even more mind-bending and reality-challenging, scarcely concealing its European roots. But I loved "Eyes", so for me, this is great. "Vanilla Sky" is one of those movies where you're never quite sure what's happening -- even the ending really suggests only one possible explanation -- but which inspires you to form your own conclusions. It reminded me of Canadian film "Possible Worlds", albeit with vastly superior execution (ironically, Tilda Swinton appears in both). Cruise is terrific as David, at first brash and self-indulgent, later desperate yet determined. In movies like "Eyes" and "Magnolia", Cruise has demonstrated that he is far more than just a pretty face; that's made manifest here, where he spends several scenes hidden beneath an eerie latex mask, relying on the power of his voice and body language. Diaz finds the right amount of restraint as the cloying Julie; Cruz is suitably cute, but doesn't quite stand out the way the script wants her to. Crowe falters during the movie's labored beginning. But when reality seems to break down, and the questions start to come fast and furious, Crowe finds his feet. The final hour makes for some truly remarkable filmmaking: "Vanilla Sky" is about as intellectually stimulating as Hollywood dares to be.
Copyright © 2001 Shannon Patrick Sullivan.
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