Having seen the impressive trailer for Vanilla Sky some
time ago, I had it tipped as one to look out for. Then again,
trailers are made to entice and even the most awful films
might 'look good' in thirty odd seconds.
Happily I was proved right about Vanilla Sky. The trailer
doesn't do it justice.
Good
old Tom Cruise has the leading role as David Aames, wealthy
New York man-about-town publisher. The guy has everything.
He knows it and so does everyone else, none moreso than
Julie Gianni (Cameron Diaz) his sometime lover and permanent
stalker.
Unrequited love for poor Julie, who becomes positively scorned
when a new girl appears on the scene. Enter Sofia Serrano
(Penelope Cruz), a beautiful, cultured and (most importantly)
down to earth addition to the crazy world of David Aames.
Living
up to her obsessive nature, Julie takes to following David
and finishes by driving her car (and him) off a bridge and
into a concrete wall. I won't say he survived without a
scratch, but he fared better than she did!
With
his life dramatically changed, we begin to see David in
a completely different light. From here on Vanilla Sky is
bewildering. We are taken through the story via therapy
sessions between David and Dr. Curtis McCabe (Kurt Russell).
Think 'The Matrix'. Think 'Momento'.
Don't make unnecessary trips to get popcorn as you may miss
a vital part.
Save to say there are many twists and turns as we see the
life of David Aames fluctuate from one extreme to another.
No doubt cinemagoers will be interested to see what Cruise
and Cruz are like on-screen, and it does appear that they
have an energetic chemistry between them.
On
the other hand they are both professionals who play their
respective parts brilliantly and with perfect ease. Then
there is Jason Lee, who gives a strong performance as Brian
Shelby, David's best friend. Also of note is Timothy Spall
as Thomas Tipp. I remember him from TV comedy Auf Wiedersehen
Pet, and he has certainly come along way.
Based on the 1997 Spanish romantic thriller "Abre Los Ojos"
(Open Your Eyes) which was directed by Alejandro Amenábar
(The Others), and which also starred Penelope Cruz as Sofia,
Vanilla Sky is a humorous yet dark and ominous film.
The
soundtrack is absolutely fantastic and some of the New York
scenes are remarkable (the crew actually got permission
to totally vacate Time Square).
Full
of tremendous emotion and utterly compelling, Vanilla Sky
is a great movie to kick start 2002... Go see.
Verdict:
(5 stars out of 5) Wayne Cronin.
Vanilla
Sky is on general release from the 25th of January
Running time: 115 mins Cert: 18
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