Movie Review: Vanilla Sky

Vanilla Sky

I didn't want to like this movie. It was during the filming of Vanilla Sky that Tom Cruise met Penelope Cruz, and it was that meeting that resulted in Tom very publicly and cruelly taking leave of his wife of ten years, Nicole Kidman. I'd also read from various sources that the Spanish-language original of the movie was better. It may very well be so. But that being said, Vanilla Sky is pretty good itself.

David Aames (Tom Cruise) has it all. He's good looking, he's rich beyond the dreams of most of us, and he can have any woman he wants. His best friend (a beareded Jason Lee) loves him and envies him, especially when he knows David is sleeping with the woman of his own dreams (the beautiful Julia, played by Cameron Diaz). Although David should be dealing with a hostile Board of Directors at his company, he throws himself a lavish 30th birthday party instead and becomes utterly captivated by his best friend's date (Penelope Cruz). Although his friend bitterly forgives him for the betrayal, Julia doesn't and David suffers a terrible accident after a fight with her. But the authorities don't believe it's an accident at all, and David finds himself charged with murder. Only a sympathetic psychiatrist (Kurt Russell) can determine whether or not David's denials of wrongdoing are lies or a sign of real insanity. David himself isn't sure, but as the two delve deeper into his memories, a horrifying truth begins to emerge, and both begin to doubt almost everything, including themselves.

Cruise is at his best when his character is the egotistical charmer. As David suffers both mental and physical anguish, you can almost see Cruise's acting effort. Jason Lee is good, as is Kurt Russell. Although I'm not really a fan of Cameron Diaz, she's also good as the jealous girlfriend trying to play off her envy as a joke. It's Penelope Cruz that steals this film with her wide-eyed innocence and her obvious sheer joy at being alive. She's luminous onscreen, and it's easy to see how David falls for her literally in an instant as she gives him the naiveté he's never been privileged to have as well as the hope he's never dared to feel. With a script that offers mind-bending twists and turns, and that gives characters enough sympathy that we care where their journey ends, Vanilla Sky is a very good rental choice.

FAMILY SUITABILITY: Vanilla Sky is rated R for sexuality and strong language. While not a movie for young viewers, those of 16 and up will enjoy this smart thriller.