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Not What You
Think: Vanilla Sky
by Christian De Matteo
HUGE
Incredible, mind-blowing, astounding and perfectly
written. How’s that for
an intro to a review? Abounding
words of praise like that probably mean I should lose my right to call
myself a critic, but I can’t help it.
And these words are, in fact, for a film that I wasn’t even
sure I liked as the credits rolled.
I was pretty sure that I’d loved it, but I just couldn’t be
sure. After shaking off the
shell shock I now know: Yes, I loved it.
Cameron Crowe, may his life be long and his children
masculine (not a sexist statement but a Godfather
reference, before anyone gets their panties in a bunch), has written
what might just be the most erotic and mind-bending film I’ve ever
witnessed. Viewing the film
was a ride unlike any other film has ever taken me on before.
No scene was under or overdone, and for the twenty minutes that I
thought the film had lost me, I realize now that Crowe was merely
setting me up for a roller coaster drop so harsh and unforgiving that it
lasted the next hour, almost giving me a headache.
And I loved that too.
The movie camera apparently a magical wand for the
man, Crowe brings out in his actors power and passion unlike they’ve
displayed in any other movies. He
evokes performances so heavy and intense that one can’t help but
collapse under the sensual attack he unleashes.
And I don’t mean sensual in the sexual sense, but sensual as in
the senses, every last damned one of them, none are spared.
The first thing he does brilliantly, is apparently
take the time to look the word erotic
up and become one of the first filmmakers in years to realize it is NOT
synonymous with nudity, graphic sex and/or soft core pornography.
Crowe knows that a scene does not have to be sexual to be sexy.
In a scene I won’t describe (as I won’t any scene in the
movie for fear of depriving you of one iota of the shock and intensity I
experienced) Penelope Cruz and Tom Cruise interact in a way that
couldn’t be further from sexual, and yet is so rife with erotic
intensity that all I could do was sit slack-jawed with my heart
pounding. He finds in both
Cameron Diaz and Penelope Cruz a sexual rapture so exquisite that
whether watching them in simple kissing scenes or watching them talk was as or more powerful
than even the few heart-pounding nude scenes, also perfectly tasteful
and passionate to almost unbearable amounts.
I realize this review is vague and gives you know idea about the plot,
and that’s good. I would
love to tell you how good Jason Lee was, and in which specific parts;
how incredible Cameron Diaz was and the difficult role she had to play;
how intense and disturbing one particular scene was… but I can’t for
your own good.
Read no other reviews, watch no more previews, and go see the film.
It is not what you expect, it is not what you think, and it is
mind blowing. Crowe’s
dialogue is perfect, his directing miraculous, his actors incredible and
the film’s power extraordinary.
Read no more. Go
to the theater, buy your ticket, and open your eyes.
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Vanilla
Sky
by Mark Capitelli
Wimpy
First off, I would like
to say that this film was very well made.
The acting was very good, the dialogue
was well written and the overall look of the
film was very appealing.
My problem with this film lies with the
plot which unfortunately I cannot go into
without revealing too much of the film.
All I can tell you is that by the time
the film ended you felt dizzy from all of the
twists and turns you experienced.
Normally this wouldn’t be so bad, but
when you realize why you had been sitting in
the theater watching this film for two hours,
you might be a little upset like I was.
Overall, Vanilla Sky was
frustrating, gimmicky, and meaningless.
It would’ve been unbearable if not
for the talent involved.
Frankly, I think of Vanilla Sky as a
bad Animé.
You might know what I mean if you make
the mistake of seeing it.
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