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Vanilla Sky

Forget everything you know about acting, story, suspense, and energy, and open your eyes to Cameron Crowe's "Vanilla Sky," the much-hyped American version of Alejandro Aménabar's "Open Your Eyes." Crowe's follow-up to his critically acclaimed "Almost Famous" isn't so much a remake as it is a complete bastardization of the original, possessing the same story, almost word-for-word at times, yet lacking any of the intensity or emotional depth so magnificently instilled in its predecessor. ***

The plot for this latest Hollywood exercise in narcissism is almost completely identical to that of "Open Your Eyes," remade in the same fashion as Gus Van Sant's rehash of "Psycho" in 1998. The setting has changed from Spain to New York City, where David Aames (Tom Cruise) lives his life in splendor, possessing looks, money, fame, and Julie (Cameron Diaz) a girlfriend who would do just about anything in the bedroom for him. His best friend, Brian (Jason Lee), holds him up on a golden pedestal, while the women in his office simultaneously look his way as he passes each one of them at their desks. ***

After this glitzy waltz through this haughty tycoon's life, we come to his birthday party, where he meets the lovely Sofia (Penélope Cruz), with whom he becomes instantly infatuated. His sudden case of butterflies drives him to completely blow off Julie and retire to Sofia's apartment, where the two stay up most of the night talking and become further intoxicated by each other's company. ***

The next morning begins the so-called sinister elements of the film: Julie drives up unexpectedly to greet David as he exit's Sofia's building, offering him a ride and, in turn, lashing out at him for his resentment of her advances. She drives the car off of a Central Park bridge, killing her instantly, and badly scarring David's face. Or was she killed? Was he scarred? Is it a nightmare, or is it a twisted sense of reality? ***

Is there really any reason to care? In the case of "Vanilla Sky," not really. Crowe's film supplies us with nary a reason to feel any sort of emotional connection to its characters, nor does it serve any suspense or energy behind its thriller premise, which ultimately skyrockets into ludicrousness. In fact, Crowe seems to be stuck in the heyday of his previous film, "Almost Famous," incorporating a soundtrack whose songs have no connection to the film's ideas or events, and a style that combines quick-cuts, edgy noises, and deafening whispers that become exhausting rather than exhilarating. His incorporation of American ideals and culture only serves to make one embrace the simplicity of that of the previous film's Spanish influence. ***

Unlike many people I've discussed the film with, I have had the privilege of seeing Aménabar's "Open Your Eyes," and have become an avid admirer of the movie as well as the director, who takes what would basically be a ridiculous premise and gives it a soul and a moral center, while keeping us mystified by the mystery surrounding the second half. After seeing "Vanilla Sky," the two stand as a striking example of one director's ability to create a perfectly intense movie filled with suspense and emotion, while the other takes us nowhere in telling the same exact story. ***

One of the film's weakest points is its characters, who have almost no human emotion or virtue that I found appealing. David Aames is the film's most deplorable: while Eduardo Noriega gave a most brilliant and touching performance as the original character, Tom Cruise evokes little to no emotion whatsoever, playing his character as a helpless, spineless depressant suffering from his own manufactured grief. Cameron Diaz is somewhat sinister as the vengeful lover, provoking a steely sense of menace in her conversation with Cruise just before the accident; sadly, the movie never expands on any of it. Even Cruz, who also starred in the original film as the same character, can't seem to get it together here, lacking the light and charismatic demeanor that she so wonderfully flaunted before. ***

The most appalling aspect of "Vanilla Sky," however, is its need to sort things out through the use of extensive dialogue and ongoing conversations that add to the film's running time but not to the substance of the story. Aménabar kept his explanations concise and appealing, but Crowe drags the film into murky waters, spelling out too much too soon, and without much interest. What we are left with in the end is a stunning portrait of Hollywood's infatuation with all things stylish and sublime, as well as a testament to its near-complete ignorance of story and substance, two prerequisites that have now taken backseats to technique.

So what if the images are clean, crisp, and well-defined? Who cares if the sound makes good use of the soundfield? I've come to the conclusion, after seeing "Vanilla Sky," that a terrible movie looks even worse on DVD.

"I couldn't get it out of my mind," speaks director Cameron Crowe of the 1997 Spanish thriller "Open Your Eyes." "The movie felt like a folk song to me: part fable, part poem, partly a committed conversation you'd have with someone late at night where big ideas float easily. I wanted to be a part of that conversation." ***

He couldn't be further from it, in fact. "Vanilla Sky" was one of 2001's most atrocious films, a rip-off of a far-superior movie disguised as an Americanization for English-speaking audiences. So it should come as no surprise to "Sky"-haters everywhere that the DVD release for this moribund trek into the paranormal is nothing but a big narcissism show gloating about the movie, its cast, and its supposedly grand and original ideas. ***

The first of two featurettes, "Prelude to a Dream," is just flat, beginning with the speech from Crowe stated at the beginning of this review, and cycling into behind-the-scenes footage and home movies, tidbits on the making of the movie, how the cast feels about the issues and mysteries of life it presents... blah, blah, blah, I'm ready to jump off a building myself right about now. I wish I had, for no sooner do I think that the narcissism has ended that the next featurette, "Hitting It Hard," comes into play. ***

Oh, those poor actors, traveling to every corner of the country to promote their new movie and wallow in the parade of fans and devotees, with their millions of dollars in their banks accounts and not a single worry in the world. Perhaps that's why we can't feel anything for the characters in "Vanilla Sky:" we don't feel much for the cast and crew. ***

Then we get an interview with former Beatle Paul McCartney, who talks about his Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song, which he created for the movie. I can feel myself heading for the nearest CD retailer right this minute; someone stop me, I can't control myself. And last, and probably even least, we get a music video, two trailers (one of which was unreleased, if you even care), and a photo gallery with an introduction by photographer Neal Preston, who pretty much seals the conceit deal for those of us who have already put on our boots to wade through the dreck.