Vanilla Sky (Cinema: February 2002)

Tom Cruise has gone insane! His world is collapsing around him! He is demented and dellusional! He found his soul mate but has lost her! He has commited a crime but he doesn't know what it is! Well...the crime part is pretty obvious - it was producing and starring in this piece of wank! And Cameron Crowe should be equally ashamed!

Watching Vanilla Sky is an odd experience - it is a bit like cooking a great meal with loads of superb ingredients and then eating it to find that it tastes like dog shit. I mean do not get me wrong Cameron Crowe is not a great director - he has made some good films but ultimately comes across as a sub-Spielberg wannabe - however his films are usually watchable and with some saving graces. Also Cruise - as we all know - can really hit and miss with his film choices - but has not been completely foul since his eighties heyday. However this film will really leave a bad taste in you mouth. The film looks good, it sounds great, it has some snappy dialogue and some great performances (Cameron Diaz and Jason Lee take a bow), but it ultimately leads you up the garden path - rather reluctantly so - for two hours just to show you a shed at the end of it.

There are two main problems with the film - the first is Tom Cruise's character. From the outset you have no sympathy whatsoever for the main character - he is not an anti-hero either - just a spoilt, selfish, egotistical, grinning buffoon. This type of film which basically takes you into the psyche of the protagonist should rely on the audience identifying with this character, even slightly would be helpfull, so that as they embark on this journey of self-discovery you are also along for the ride. However I found myself just gazing on and finding the whole 'wide-awake-nightmare' thing quite amusing. Indeed there are certain scenes in this film - especially the ones involving Cruise wearing the prosthetics that are almost that bad they spoof themselves!

The second major down fall of this film is the goddamn story. This is not an art film - but obviously feels it is - attested to by the tricksy hitchcock shots and sureal Lynch-a-like identity swapping. I found myself desperately clinging on to the silly whodunit plot as I imagined the ending might redeem the whole thing and make me wonder how I could have ever doubted a film that looks so good. Unfortunately the ending is as much up it owns arse as the rest of the film - I will not divulge its secret but only because I like the idea of other people waiting for two hours to be thoroughly disappointed - well I had to do it!

Watch if your bored (I mean really, really bored) - also so that you do not miss out on the jokes from the next Scary Movie franchise.

P.S Notice how Penelope Cruz is not even worth mentioning!

RATING:

(c)Matt C 2002