You know, the more reviews I write, the harder it becomes to come up
with vaguely witty things to say before getting started. Seeing as this
weeks edition is extra-long, how about we call it quits and just begin?
Cool? Cool.
Vanilla Sky
Starring Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Jason Lee, Kurt Russel and Cameron Diaz.
Written by Alejandro Amenabar & Mateo Gil (Film Abre Los Ojos) and Cameron Crowe (screenplay)
Directed by Cameron Crowe
Genre: Drama
Released: 2001
Running time: 135 minutes.
Rated: R (American rating for Sexuality and Strong Language).
IMDb link: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0259711/
There's only two things I remember about Vanilla Sky when it first opened in 2001;
1) It had a confusing ad that didn't really tell you what the hell it was about.
2) It got its arse blown to bits by critics, and it subsequently tanked.
There was this big, stinky cloud surrounding it. People said it sucked,
that it was confusing and overblown. The negative reviews made me
hesitant to see it, despite the fact that it was directed by Cameron
Crowe, a filmmaker whose work I generally like, and it starred Tom
Cruise, an actor whom I also liked (despite his weird scientology bent
and how unhip it is to like him.)
So, when I rented it a
couple of weeks ago, I was very pleasantly surprised. About half-way to
two-thirds of the way through, I got that feeling you get when youre
watching something and it slowly dawns on you how much youre loving it.
Ive had this feeling a number of times the movies Ive covered in this
column are all movies that have given it to me. And now, I count
Vanilla Sky amongst them.
The reason for the
confusing-ad-that-doesnt-really-tell-you-that-much is simple. Theres so
much in this movie that if you were to give away too many plot details,
you'd ruin the experience of it.
And the reason it got its
arse handed to it by critics and average filmgoers alike? Well, I think
that answer is a bit more complex.
[BB]
1) 'Vanilla Sky' was
based on a Spanish film called Abre Los Ojos, made in 1997. The
argument runs, Why bother remaking a film thats already out there, is
still pretty current and is itself exceptional? Whats the point?' I
haven't actually managed to see Abre Los Ojos (translates to Open Your
Eyes, a phrase used numerous times throughout Vanilla Sky.) Dont blame
me, though. It's yet to be released here in Australia, so theres no way
for me to compare the two. Even so, I can understand peoples misgivings
about remaking whats supposed to be an already great movie, and so soon
after the first of the two was released. But then, as I was listening
to the audio commentary on the DVD, Cameron Crowe referred to Vanilla
Sky as his cover version of Abre Los Ojos, and it all made sense to me.
As big a movie fan as Cameron Crowe is, hes probably an even
bigger music fan. He started his career by writing for Rolling Stone
when he was only fifteen, interviewing and going on tour with such
bands as the Allman Brothers and Led Zeppelin. His film Almost Famous
was based on his life during this period. So the guy lives and breathes
music and in the music world, covers are the norm. And a good cover is
a great thing. It can breathe a new life into a song and bring it to an
audience that would never have previously had the chance to hear it.
Jeff Buckleys beautiful and haunting version of Leonard Cohens
Hallelujah is a good example of the ideal cover. And I think, in the
realm of film, Vanilla Sky is also a great example.
2) Then
there is the whole Cruise, Cruz and Kidman love triangle fiasco.
Everyone knows about Tom Cruise leaving Nicole Kidman for Penelope
Cruz. And everyone also knows that Cruise and Cruz met on the set of
Vanilla Sky. Thus, whatever negative feeling they had about that
situation ended up being focused on this movie. But if thats your
reason for not watching and/or not liking it, then grow the hell up.
Unless you know one of these three people personally, what difference
does it make in your life who sleeps with who and for what reasons? It
has no bearing on the work. If you don't want to watch it because you
can't stand Tom Cruise, I can understand that. As much as I like the
guy, I can see how he could rub people the wrong way. But to rate this
film in relation to the personal lives of its actors seems insane.
And
besides its almost impossible not to develop a crush on Penelope in
this movie. I was indifferent about her before. This movie changed my
mind.
3) The movie is driven by plot twist after plot twist and
has a self-indulgent running time. This reason I understand. I watched
the movie on a Saturday night when I was house-sitting so I had no
interruptions and nothing else to do. The fact that it went for over
two hours didn't really concern me, but for a person in the wrong frame
of mind, I can see how they would feel that it drags on and on,
seemingly without end. I personally dont feel that way, but I can see
that point of view.
[BB]
As far as the amount of plot twists
goes I loved every one of them. This was one of those movies that
really left me with a lot to chew on, and of course, I scoured the
Internet looking for opinions on it. It's always a mistake, whenever
youre in this mindset, to go to the Internet Movie Database and read
what the people there think. The IMDb is a great resource, but boy,
does it ever have a mixed community surrounding it the mentally stunted
and the arrogantly pompous.
The people that hated the movie
the most were the ones who said they didn't get it or that it made no
sense. I suppose that would be true if your usual fare is something
along the lines of Jerry Maguire or Almost Famous (some of Crowes
previous works). These are movies that are told in a linear fashion
with straightforward story plots. Vanilla Sky is not one of these
movies even though it starts out that way. But itd be nowhere near as
interesting if it stuck to a formula or didnt challenge ones
perceptions.
I don't know. Maybe I'm just easily amused by
flashy things and clever stories. Maybe I don't know what the crap I'm
talking about. But I know I enjoyed this movie and I think, if you give
it a shot, you will, too.
Thanks for reading this weeks unintentionally extra-long column. See you next time!
What's that? You want a plot synopsis? Uhwellum...Tom Cruise plays a
guy whos a millionaireumfalls in lovecar crashtopsy turvyreal mind
trip*cough*leavemealonenow.
Next time: We venture from the standard format (just a little!) to deliver you a classic work by comics great Alan Moore.
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