Vanilla Sky [DVD] [2002]

Those of you who have seen the ad think this film is about a car crash and the emotional effect of such a thing. Think again. This film is about many things, and once you've seen it you'll find yourself thinking about it a lot. It's about our obsession with fantasies; it's about our pop culture; it's about vanity and perfection; it's full of interesting stuff like this. You may want to try and stop yourself thinking about all the different ways this film could be interpreted. I say, don't bother trying to stop yourself. This film is meant to be thought-provoking, and it's does it very well. Vanilla Sky cannot be categorised either, so don't try that. It's part drama, part science fiction, part fantasy, part erotic thriller, part horror, and part psychological.

People who try to fault this film in major should try and understand the point of some of these things. Once you've seen the film you'll understand: the almost random but brill soundtrack (Radiohead, Sigur Ros, REM...fantastic!), the strangely vane and obsessive main characters, the almost sterotypical psychiatrist, the perfect love affair. All these things are explained in the ending, a scene that ranks among the best endings a film ever got the privalage to have.

A note on the DVD: it's packed with great extras. One of the best if the audio commentary, which lets the director explain all the little details of the film. You'll know what I mean once you've seen it.

I plan to see Abros los Oros soon, but to those who say this version is no good compared to the Spanish original: don't compare the films. Enjoy this one separately. Films like this don't come along all the time.

This strikes me as rather a bold career move for Tom Cruise, especially given the fact that his character has his face disfigured in an accident. Of course, there could be no better way for him to define himself as a great actor. I love Penelope Cruz--her beauty is matched by a mesmerizing air of mystery which plays incredibly well in this particular motion picture. As for the DVD's special features, they are OK but not exceptional. There is a seven-minute mini-feature about the making of the movie--it doesn't really give any secrets away, but I would definitely watch it only after viewing the movie. Another mini-feature provides us with glimpses of the worldwide tour by Cruise, Cruz, and director Cameron Crowe. The interview with Paul McCartney is short and sweet, and I must admit that I didn't realize that he had contributed the "title song" to the movie until I watched the interview. Even if there were no extras, Vanilla Sky is definitely a movie worth owning. While I have only watched it once, the intricacies of the plot make this a prime candidate for the mantle of rewatchability. If you approach this movie with an open mind and let the story absorb you into its unique world, I do not see how you can walk away disappointed.