Vanilla Sky Film Review

Vanilla Sky - "Once you've been driven off a bridge at 80 miles an hour, somehow you don't invite happiness in without a full body search."

Vanilla Sky is in a league of its own, visually, musically & emotionally. If you think this is a mere remake of "Open Your Eyes" then you're in need of a second viewing. It's a depressing film about the pursuit of happiness. Tom Cruise stars as David Aames, the man who had everything, or at least he thought he did. Good looks, money & women, what more do you need? What is happiness to you? What's missing in David's life is love, until he meets Sofia played by Penelope Cruz. When David meets Sofia his way of life is threatened by the board members of his company that wish to unseat him from his throne and 51% stake in the company. He is also being stalked by a supermodel Julie Gianni played by Cameron Diaz who is not forgiving of his interest in Sofia. "I refuse to be just your fuck buddy"

The film requires the audience to do some heavy lifting as the plot doubles back on itself after David's mental state is called into question by a deliberate car accident in which Julie tries to commit suicide with David in the passenger seat. He survives but his face becomes severely disfigured which lands him in front of the best plastic surgeons in New York as he desperately seeks reconstructive surgery as he barely recognizes himself in the mirror. The music plays such a pivotal role in the process of telling this story. Radiohead, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Jeff Buckley & The Chemical Brothers feature heavily in many scenes, it's a very fitting soundtrack that really drives the plot forward....and backwards. Nancy Wilson wrote a very heartwarming score to accompany these great artists that hammers the nail right into the heart as David's world slowly but surely turns into a nightmare.

It's difficult to write about without completely spoiling the end but it's a real humdinger of a twist. To deal with the events that take place in the film David receives psychiatric help from McCabe played by Kurt Russel but as we witness these sessions it becomes clear all is not as it seems. The beginning of the film opens with a very surreal scene http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpOD5IwUUBE&feature=player_detailpage#t=139s in which David finds himself alone in Times Square, shot without the use of special effects, the production team were given unprecedented access to Times Square for three hours to film this scene. It set's the tone for the next two hours where you can't really tell what's a dream and what is real.  It's a science fiction film that enthralls without having to rely on aliens and violence. It's probably Tom Cruises best performance to date too. Highly recommended if your into films that are a little left of center and edgy. 5/5