Vanilla Sky

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 14, 2001

8.2	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 558 Ratings

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Voodoo123Feb 25, 2022

For me the great soundtrack and cast are tainted by the convoluted plot and at time hyperactive edits. Despite this, it was a fascinating watch and at times quite entertaining. I would've marked it higher if not for the pointless explanationFor me the great soundtrack and cast are tainted by the convoluted plot and at time hyperactive edits. Despite this, it was a fascinating watch and at times quite entertaining. I would've marked it higher if not for the pointless explanation at the end....For the psychedelic mystery genre it does a decent job falling just below decent.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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DawdlingPoetNov 28, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is undoubtedly a bizarre watch but the real issue I found with it, is that the main character, David Aames, is really not likeable. Pretty much at all. I admit I'm not a big fan of Tom Cruise, which is partly why I hadn't seen this film until now. I heard that its partly about dreams and fantasy, the surreal and that aspect of it interested me, as I'm interested in quirky watches but this didn't really appeal to me. It felt like a pretty big ego trip for Cruise, with the main female characters being his characters love interests, there being various scenes of moderate to heavy flirtation going on and the rest of it.

At first the film seemed relatively basic and I wondered what the fuss had been about it, as I knew it was the kind of film that people tend to want to re-watch, to see if they can understand things better, spot things earlier on, when re-watching it but it didn't seem too complicated at first, although that did change later on. I think that, for me, it was the cliches that jarred a bit too much for my liking. This is perhaps more a film for men than women? I don't know but I wasn't especially keen on it, although it is certainly quirky and bizarre, something a little different, although not without cliches. Overall, I suppose I'd say this is an average film. I think there are some interesting themes at play - showing your true identity etc. and I was intrigued a bit to try and discover more about what really happened, where the flashbacks present relate to different events but not everything is explained (its perhaps a bit David Lynch-esque) and I didn't feel I greatly enjoyed it, although it is a curious watch. Also it contains some good songs on the soundtrack, so thats a plus. Other people may well enjoy it more than I did but thats my thoughts on it. I don't think I would specifically recommend it as such but its not an entirely awful film, its just perhaps not quite as good as I feel it could have been.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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MichaelLFeb 26, 2008

A film which makes an attempt to pattern itself on the fantasy vs. reality films that had become popular at the turn of the new millennium - David Fichner's "Fight Club" and M. Night Shamalan's "Sixth Sense" both from 1999, A film which makes an attempt to pattern itself on the fantasy vs. reality films that had become popular at the turn of the new millennium - David Fichner's "Fight Club" and M. Night Shamalan's "Sixth Sense" both from 1999, Christopher Nolan's "Momento" from 2000, and David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive" released the following year (all of which don't surpass the reigning king of this genre when Terry Gilliam released his 1985 masterpiece "Brazil") - by no means fails in this respect since I found it both entertaining and intriguing for the most part, but is noticeably long and certainly may confuse the average '2hr-max-movie-goer'. Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz both stand out playing their respective, 'good gal/bad gal roles and Jason Lee is quite appealing as the best friend of our dashing lead Tom Cruise. Yet Cruise may be viewed as stretching this performance given the physical challenges that are demanded. I hesitate to reveal these challenges to those that have not seen the picture as they are indeed the focal point of the plot. Many good things like the witty Cameron Crowe retrospective soundtrack that is weaved into clever culture references and tributes which are indeed enjoyable and even necessary to solve the riddle presented in 'what's is going on?' scenario of the main character's pressing dilemma which may not be easy to access with a single viewing. But still the ride can be entertaining as Tom runs away and into trouble as he often does in quasi-action films that are laced with mystery and intrigue like Sydney Pollack's 1993 "The Firm", Brian De Palma's 1996 "Mission Impossible" and even the more cerebrally dark, "Eyes Wide Shut" from Stanley Kubrick. As noted by many educated critics as well as the tasteless tabloids Mr. Cruise may be biting off more than he can chew as he dives into the land of independent production. I applaud Tom for his efforts and are rooting for his 'comeback' yet do believe that his choice for future roles should include a return to comedic territory as a deviation/diversion to selecting elaborate/complicated efforts which could be prove a bit too risky and result in a poor reception at the box office.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

ThegodfathersonDec 4, 2013

Vanilla Sky is, fundamentally, a movie about lucid dreaming. And there is something about it that only lucid dreamers will recognize. Sadly, it's a bit downhill from there. While Vanilla Sky is a solid effort, it's unfortunately short ofVanilla Sky is, fundamentally, a movie about lucid dreaming. And there is something about it that only lucid dreamers will recognize. Sadly, it's a bit downhill from there. While Vanilla Sky is a solid effort, it's unfortunately short of genius. The very project is a bit curious. Is Cameron Crowe, the permanent teenager responsible for perfectly good yet light-as-a-feather comedies like Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous, up to the challenge of remaking a Spanish psychodrama? Crowe goes through the motions, and from time to time he proves that he can handle heavier material, but Vanilla Sky is too murky to be much more than a holiday distraction far from the cult classic that the original Abre los Ojos (Open Your Eyes) has become. However... Cameron Crowe's DVD commentary track is one of the best I've heard. While he's overly proud of the middling achievement, he's honest about the tepid reaction from test audiences, and he does provide a little extra context for the various interpretations of the movie. (Also of note, this is the first commentary I've heard with a musical score: someone (Crowe's wife, Nancy Wilson) playing acoustic guitar. Crowe also phones up his stars during the recording... bizarre.) Unfortunately, none of this can make Penélope Cruz a good actress. An interview with songwriter Paul McCartney, two featurettes, and assorted trailers round out the disc. Vanilla Sky has moments of brilliance and bears a certain style, but the movie is neither simple enough for sheer popcorn-thriller fun nor complex enough for true psychodrama buffs. It lies somewhere in a middle ground, and anyone that tells you different... needs to open his eyes.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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moothemagiccowFeb 14, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie had a lot of good things going for it but you can't have a dream when you're dead, people. If they had cut the 15 seconds where they said he overdosed, it would be a lot better. I knew what the twist was going in and it was alluded to constantly - I can't imagine being surprised by it.
It had a lot of good dialogue! Jason Lee was good in it! But Tom Cruise screaming "TECH SUPPORT!" over and over ruined all that.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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stevepMay 8, 2006

This is one of those movies that had a great concept but didn

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MATMMar 21, 2021

It has a good soundtrack? I really respect what “Vanilla Sky” is trying to do, weaving a complicated narrative, but it just doesn't gel. Perhaps a different editor could have built a more enjoyable experience out of the pieces. Even thoughIt has a good soundtrack? I really respect what “Vanilla Sky” is trying to do, weaving a complicated narrative, but it just doesn't gel. Perhaps a different editor could have built a more enjoyable experience out of the pieces. Even though I am a huge fan of Tom Cruise movies, he is just too "Tom Cruisie" in this one. I give it a C, if you've already seen the best, but you insist on watching a movie, try this one out.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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