Vanilla Sky

Mr Beech

Anyone else like this movie? I know critics were mixed, but the public was fairly positive. I love it and the moods. It is actually amongst some of my favorite movies. I think it has a fantastic soundtrack and scenes of NYC. I just desperately want it on Blu Ray.

"The little things... there's nothing bigger, is there?"

Napoleon Plural

I kind of like the idea of the film. The opening is a great idea, but it would have been better to have him running round a deserted New York in sunny weather, as it is it looks like dawn, which it was.

The director has problems with pacing, which mattered less with that music journo movie he did (name escapes me) and Cruise seems to be apeing Nicolson at one point, but it has something about it. Macca's song at the end is a bit dodgy, an almost good song. That odd actor who pops up spookily went on to play Hitler in Max and is the dad in that Brit film Submarine. He's good.

Kissy Suzuki

I've always really rated this film, despite the criticism it received on release. I ended up seeing it purely by chance in the cinema after my original choice of film was booked out, and thoroughly enjoyed it, despite my own reservations.

I think a lot of the negative reaction it attracted at the time was mainly due to people having a gripe with Tom Cruise. However, as time goes by it seems people and critics have slowly changed their opinion on it, and it does stand up well on repeat viewings.

I think it works well as a stylish psychological thriller based on the themes of identity and vanity, with a clever sci-fi element thrown in.

It's also visually striking, with a decent soundtrack and some good performances - notably Cameron Diaz and Cruise, who is well cast in the role of egotistical playboy.

The dialogue is great too, with some pretty memorable quotes ....

"When you f*ck someone your body makes a promise, even if you don't."

Mr Beech

Kissy Suzuki wrote:

I've always really rated this film, despite the criticism it received on release. I ended up seeing it purely by chance in the cinema after my original choice of film was booked out, and thoroughly enjoyed it, despite my own reservations.

I think a lot of the negative reaction it attracted at the time was mainly due to people having a gripe with Tom Cruise. However, as time goes by it seems people and critics have slowly changed their opinion on it, and it does stand up well on repeat viewings.

I think it works well as a stylish psychological thriller based on the themes of identity and vanity, with a clever sci-fi element thrown in.

It's also visually striking, with a decent soundtrack and some good performances - notably Cameron Diaz and Cruise, who is well cast in the role of egotistical playboy.

The dialogue is great too, with some pretty memorable quotes ....

"When you f*ck someone your body makes a promise, even if you don't."

Tom Cruise definitely had something to do with it. Many reviews couldn't help but criticize that he starred and produced, as if that made what went on screen bad. I think it is one of my favorites with him. He is better when he does not play someone from real life, but rather fictional characters because it doesn't matter if it is Tom Cruise when it is not supposed to be anyone else specifically from history.

The soundtrack has been noted as one of the very best of the past decade and one of the best of all time because the songs go in perfect harmony with the emotions of the actors as a score would, despite them all being selected tracks of commercial artists. I love it.


I am a massive fan of NYC, so that added magic for me, as well. I thought the movie scenery was done perfectly to fit that idea of a sweet painting in reality. Very beautiful.

"I'll tell you in another life, when we are both cats."

I agree, many good quotes, too.

Loeffelholz

The original film on which this was based was called "Open Your Eyes," I believe, and Penelope Cruz was in that version as well.

I liked these films a great deal, as I tend to like scripts and narratives that bend and/or break conventional rules...and no rule in storytelling is more hard-set than the demand to have a satisfactory resolution B-)

Napoleon Plural

Oh, I'll tell you what I like: the scene where Cruise meets Cruz and Solisbury Hill is being played, great use of music.

Mr Beech

Loeffelholz wrote:

The original film on which this was based was called "Open Your Eyes," I believe, and Penelope Cruz was in that version as well.

I liked these films a great deal, as I tend to like scripts and narratives that bend and/or break conventional rules...and no rule in storytelling is more hard-set than the demand to have a satisfactory resolution B-)

I've been waiting to see that one. Have it queued up in me Netflix!

Mr Beech

Just watched Vanilla Sky again. Still love it.

welshboy78

Yeah great film and fantastic soundtrack, I watch it a couple of times a year. Cruise is great in it