Rating: 
Summary: Could have been a fantastic psychological thriller...
Review: But the ending was just too friggin' preposterous.Alright, look, I like to think that I'm just as open-minded as the next person, but sometimes what's struggling to be imaginative can border on being just plain ridiculous. This movie was well-made, the characters were all interesting, and, for the first couple hours, the story is a fascinating probe of the human mind that really forces you to think and pay close attention to the events that are unfolding to make some sense of them. But, in the last half-hour EVERYTHING that was so intriguing, disturbing and mind-blowing about what was happening to the character of David Aames, is completely scrapped, and the psychological thriller becomes a kind of low-class fantasy that has been seen a million times over, and that just completely RUINS the movie as a whole. I just couldn't see the significance or the relevance of the conclusion they threw at me. That's not to say there aren't some good elements about the movie. The acting is excellent for the most part. I must say that Tom Cruise turned in a VERY good performance in the lead role of David, the wealthy, good-looking socialite who is sent on a downward spiral after being horribly disfigured in a car accident, Cameron Diaz really impressed me as David's mentally unstable and suicidal ex-lover who caused the accident that has all-but destroyed David's life, Penelope Cruz was pretty good as Sofia, David's newfound love and only hope for redemption, and Jason Lee also had a good role as David's best friend Brian. Why Kurt Russell is given so little attention I don't know, but he was excellent as Dr. Curtis McCabe, the prison psychiatrist who is interviewing David trying to get the real story from about, um, oh, wait, I can't give that away. I'm actually curious to see the original '97 Spanish film that this was lifted from, Alejandro Amenábar's 'Open Your Eyes', just to see if the original filmmakers handled this material better. I think maybe sometimes foreign films just don't translate well to American remakes. Whatever the reason, the big twist at the end of the movie, rather than leaving me amazed and shocked, instead left me squinting my eyes, shaking my head and saying "Is that all you're gonna give me?" Overall I'd say that this movie is rentable, and a good way to kill two-and-a-half hours, I guess. But I just expected so much better than what I ended up with. Judging from the theatrical trailers, I figured this would be a mind-twisting psychological thriller that would have my mouth gaping in shock. And it did in some points, but as I said before, the ending is ridiculous and unfulfilling and is really the main thing that brought this movie down for me. I guess you either went along with it and had a big, crazy mind trip, or you just didn't. And I just didn't.
Rating: 
Summary: Diabolical and delicious - a brilliant remake.
Review: "Vanilla Sky" (2001) Penelope Cruz reprises her role as the love interest in this remake of Open Your Eyes, which undoubtedly has a lot going for it. It's got Tom Cruise, Cameron Crowe fresh from his Almost Famous success, Cameron Diaz, and it's a remake of an Alejandro Amenabar film, and Amenabar has just made the crowd-pleasing The Others (this perspective is sure to attract film audiences). There is a lot of pressure on the movie because it was so highly anticipated, and maybe some people expected too much and came out disappointed, but I walked out of this movie with a puzzled mind, knowing that what I had just seen was a masterpiece for the mind and a feast for the eyes. The movie keeps us involved and interested mainly because of the mystery in the movie. Until about the final 15 minutes we barely have any idea of what's going on or how the plot is taking crazy twists all the time, and it keeps its audience in awe. I was almost tearing at my chair because I was really intrigued with the story and the wanted the solution to what was going on. Without a doubt, Vanilla Sky is the most enthrallingly mysterious and most professionally concluded films of 2001, and for that matter, of all time. The actors are great in this film. Headed by an astonishing performance by Tom Cruise, there is a successful amount of my favourite actors and performers in here, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them all act out these characters. Cruise himself brings one of the sexiest and most enthralling male performances of the year; it seems that when Cruise works with Crowe, he's at his best. Cruise was Best Actor worthy for Jerry Maguire, so why not chuck him another nomination for this movie? I have finally found a starlet in the beautiful Penelope Cruz. Before I actually really hated this actress, and I was starting to get annoyed at the way Hollywood kept telling me I had to like her. With Vanilla Sky, Cruz shows us she doesn't need Hollywood's help, and gives herself away to the fabulous style, and comes across as more of a free-willed and independent performer than a try-hard. Cameron Diaz too impresses astonishingly. There are many sides to this character, many emotions and shocking lines (trust me, you'll see) that Diaz has to deliver, and she delivers them with such style, beauty, grace and even in a villainous fashion when she has to. Diaz gives one of her best performances, and proves to viewers she does have a lot of range. Supporting actors such as Jason Lee and Kurt Russell also are important parts in the film. Lee, I find, has a fantastic screen presence (he was very underrated for his comedic performance in Almost Famous) and Russell comes across as the powerful actor we all know he is. I was actually pretty surprised at the end credits when I saw Directed by: Cameron Crowe. Not only because I became so utterly tangled up in this movie that I actually forgot all about the directing credentials, but also because I really didn't think Crowe had it in him to do a movie like this. That's not saying Crowe is a bad director, its just he tends to stick to comedic dramas instead of mind-muck thrillers. With Vanilla Sky, Crowe not only gives his best directional effort yet, but he proves to us that he is capable of any film. I felt much of the 'trippiness' and style that belonged to the film had heaps to do with the way Crowe chose to shot it. I look forward to seeing much more from this stunning director. At the end Vanilla Sky had me running over a lot of questions in my head. My head was about ready to explode I had so much after math to go over. I love that about movies. I very much enjoy films that, when you walk out and on the drive home, are on your mind all the time. This movie didn't stay in my head until the drive home, I'm still thinking about it now, and I'm still absolutely thrilled with what a pleasant surprise and what a mind-blowing experience Vanilla Sky was. Bravo! MY GRADE: A
Rating:
Summary: amazing movie
Review: I agree with most of the reviews here, it was an excellent and highly underrated movie. It's very surreal and involves some abstract thinking that most people don't appreciate.. it makes you question the little things around you and the quality of your own life. The people who enjoy this movie are those with open minds....open your eyes! I will buy this movie when it comes out on DVD!
Rating:
Summary: Typical Hollywood Product
Review: This disappointing film is an English language remake of a Spanish language film of the same name that apparently got great reviews -I can't comment on that version since I didn't see it. I *can* comment on the Hollywood remake and I can tell you that it's pretty lame. For a start, the initially intriguing premise transforms the concept of suspense into one of confusion and has enough holes in it to be one of Charo's dresses. My wife and I came up with a dozen inconsistencies within five minutes of leaving the movie- then we never spoke of it again- like cinematic Chinese food, nothing stays with you past the closing credits.
Once again Tom Cruise plays what seems to have become a set character role for him these days- he's like, well....Tom Cruise- the same character from "Mission Impossible", "The Firm", "Eyes Wide Shut" etc. It seems like he's losing range as an actor as time goes on. The rest of the film isn't much better- it's a typical manufactured Hollywood product- the car chase thing, the twist ending which since "the Sixth Sense" now seems mandatory, the "Fatal Attraction" love interest thing, the state of the art special effects, the pulse pounding music- it's all so "been there, done that". Was it all a dream?- I didn't care by the end of the movie and I don't think you will either.
Not recommended.
Rating:
Summary: One Mind-blowing Movie
Review: I loved Vanilla Sky for all of its creativity and guts! Cameron Crowe deserves so much credit for putting out an amazing and truly different movie in times that often only accepts copy cat moviemaking. So it was no surprise this movie opened to not all glowing reviews and as many haters as lovers of the film. This was the most underrated movie of the year and deserved some award attention. Tom Cruise gives his best performance EVER! He was remarkable and I'm not even one of his biggest fans, but he proved himself as an actor with this truly challenging role. The other Cruz was so perfect and charming and a joy to watch. And then there is Diaz, all I can say is WOW! I love her, she is so mind-blowing and in this role proves she's not just the sweetheart funny comedy girl, she's so much more. She gives a completely frightening performance as the obsessive lover of Cruise's David. This film is about making you think and looking at your own life. The things you can't change, the moments you wish you had back. What is reality? What is dreamworld? This is one powerful film. Another one to add to the collect. Thanks to Cameron Crowe who keeps making my favorite movies!!! Almost Famous rocked!!! As does this! SEE this movie! Open your eyes man!
Rating:
Summary: As convoluted as it is hokey
Review: Tom Cruise plays David Aames, a man of -- of just what? Who knows? Is he a rich man of privilege, a prisoner awaiting trial for murder, a traumatized victim of a disfiguring accident struggling for continuity in relationships with friends and lovers, or what? He seems to be all of those from time to time in a mishmash of disjointed episodes that confuse and try the patience of the viewer. The accident that maybe killed or maybe disfigured David (or who knows what) was caused by a vengeful spurned lover played by Cameron Diaz. What is it with her? She can be so sweet and delightful when heroic as in MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY, and CHARLIE'S ANGELS. So is it by choice that she ends up stuck in unheroic, undelightful, and hard-to-watch roles so often, as in VERY BAD THINGS, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, and now this? Anyhow, as the plot finally develops, we learn that David apparently did die in the accident, but by a contract he had signed with a futuristic life-extension firm, he'd been promised revival into a perfect dream-life. Of course we could predict that his utopian dreams would turn anti-utopian instead. By then we see that all those separate disjointed episodes of at least three different versions of his life (I lost count) are part of the playing out of mixed, reality, promised good dreams, and misfired dreams turned nightmares. By then, one would have to really have patience with this film to want to go back and think out the details of how it all fits together (if it does). I'm still thinking that some of the dreams (nightmarish or otherwise) of the dead (and revived?!?) David seemed clearly to occur before the accident that killed him, So what am I to make of that? I don't know yet, whether I'll get up the interest to go back and view it again and try to resolve that and other confusions. If I do, I'll surely wait for video release so I can watch it piecemeal. But unlike really good convoluted films, it leaves me weary of it rather than eager to get on with deciphering it.
Rating:
Summary: Wake up, this was a great movie!!!
Review: This movie is along the lines of the matrix and other such movies that carry the metaphor of questioning reality. It is almost an exact translation from Open your eyes, the movie that it was based on but it has several americanized things and some wonderful lines, such as "every moment is a chance to make things better"(probobly not exactly right but one of my favorite lines from the movie that really helps to explain the metaphor of movies like this)and some of the witty banter between tom and jason lee. It is a great movie that most people that I have met that do not like it just can not seem understand it. It can be somewhat confusing and for some people they may need to watch it several times to truly undertand what is going on which should never be a bad thing in a movie you buy. It also has a lot of great music in it from radiohead and good performances all around. And if you get nothing else from this movie remember the all important lesson, if you have a psycho ex girlfriend or stalker, do not get in the car(also carry this metaphor out to other areas as well, not just vehicles).
Rating:
Summary: This was one good movie!
Review: This is one of the most underrated films of the year. It had strong performances by everyone in the cast, the direction was great, and the music was great, too! This one is definitly a "thinkers" movie, so be prepared to use your brain! The ending is great! You will most definitly be surprised. I will own the DVD when it is available.
Rating:
Summary: A mind bending trip into.......reality
Review: Tom Cruise does and amazing job portraying a confused yet dedicated character in this movie. I fail to see how anyone could say this movie wasn't good. From the moment this movie starts, the plots/sub-plots keep you guessing the entire movie. I for one thought something was happening, and then literally two second later something would happen, and i could just sit there and say, "What?!?". This movie is a mind bending rollercoaster that will keep you hooked and interested the entire way though. The plot of this movie is absolutely amazing, and the cast of characters (Tom Cruise, Phenolpe Cruz, Cameron Diaz) makes this movie amazing. If you want to see a movie that will keep you hooked the entire time, and leave you with a sense of guessing, this is the movie. In today's day and age with movies that are made about anything and everything, this movie is definately a welcomed refreshment to the world.
Rating:
Summary: a complex, touching film
Review: I couldn't really explain Vanilla Sky the first time I saw it. In a way, I knew I needed to see it again. So here I am, three viewings later and I still can't zero in on it. I think if you've ever had one of those dreams where you reunite with a long ,lost love on a sunny island, suddenly wake up and realize you're really 65, still single, and the girl in your dream was someone you casually met 30 years ago; you'll have no trouble understanding Vanilla Sky.
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