Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
VANILLA SKY. Already, it's become an intensely divisive subject for film fans. Some people have really responded to Cameron Crowe's remake of the arthouse hit OPEN YOUR EYES, and some people haven't. I've heard people dismiss it as a vanity project for Tom Cruise, but I think they're crazy. If a movie star is looking for something that's going to make him look good, something that is entirely motivated by ego, there are more obvious projects to pick than one in which you are playing the raging asshole version of yourself, your public image gone poison. And there are certainly better times to do it than the year you go through a very public divorce with your wife, who ends up practically sainted by the press during the divorce, especially since you're already dating your co-star from your movie. Oh... and in the film, your very famous good looks should be covered by makeup and masks for as much running time as possible. That's playing it safe. Riiiiiiiiiight.
Recently, "Tech Support" wrote to me with a guide to watching VANILLA SKY, a list of things to look for that might help people enjoy a second viewing of the film. If you hated the movie, then this obviously isn't for you (although it might be if you were willing to try it again with an open mind). This is more for people that enjoyed it, and are still chewing on it, and who feel like trying to get more out of it. And if you found all of these your first time watching the film, then good for you. Means you were paying attention. Not since FIGHT CLUB has a major studio movie worked harder to play with the edges of reality for its full running time. Here's what "Tech Support" had to say:
David Aames (Tom Cruise) is looking, like all of us for what is "real" in his life. Everything in the movie is placed to convey meaning. Have fun spotting clues to what is "real."
- The sky changes colors to signify a possible dream. Watch the sky in the scene after David wakes up in the street.
- All television sets and monitors contain clues. Watch to identify which movies are on the monitors of Times Square.
- Notice the movie that plays on the TV. set in the prison scenes. It will return later as a story point.
- Listen for the sound of a computer modem connecting. Where do you hear it? It's important.
- Early in the movie you can spot a famous movie star from the 1950's. She's been compared to Penelope Cruz. She represents the emotional longing that will soon be fulfilled in David Aames.
- Codes to the movie's secrets appear on blackboard and all graphics. Look for them.
- There are phrases said to David Aames by David's psychiatrist and a man in a blue jacket that later return to reveal all to David. Listen for them.
- Listen carefully to the man in the restaurant. He may be telling the truth.
- Listen for a casual phrase, spoken by David at his birthday party that announces the secret of VANILLA SKY.
- Watch for posters on David Aames' bedroom wall. They all convey messages to the movie's secrets.
- Listen for the phrase VANILLA SKY. It will return later to change David Aames forever.
- Album or CD covers that appear within the movie all contain clues. Look for them.
- Pay attention to a very special dog named Benny
- Listen closely to everything said in the elevator. All will be revealed.
- Watch for the cameo appearance of Steven Speilberg.
One of the complaints some people have is that "the original is better," and that's sort of a knee-jerk thing. Normally, that's true. NIGHTWATCH and THE VANISHING and LA FEMME NIKITA all were horrifically mangled by Hollywood when being remade, and I can imagine that any fan of the original OPEN YOUR EYES would be skeptical of this new big-budget version. But when I recently found myself arguing with someone who called it an "abomination," I asked them if the opinion of the original director would mean anything to him. "Sure," he said, "and I bet he hates it." Well, it just so happens that Amenebar released an official statement about the new movie, and I wanted to reproduce it here, since Vinyl Films was kind enough to pass it along:
"Sogecine"
"When I learned, quite some time ago now, that Cameron Crowe was going to write and direct the film based on Open Your Eyes with Tom Cruise in the leading role, I felt honored. Now that I have seen Vanilla Sky, I couldn't be more proud. Cameron has all my respect and admiration. Respect, for having plumbed the deepest meaning both of the story and its characters and, might I add, the underlying philosophy of the work. Admiration, for having sought new viewpoints and a fresh approach to the mise-en-scene, giving the film his own unmistakable touch. Vanilla Sky is as true to the original spirit as it is irreverent towards its form, and that makes it a courageous, innovative work. I think I can say that, for me, the two projects are like two very special brothers. They have the same concerns, but their personalities are quite different. In other words, they sing the same song but with quite different voices: one likes opera, and the other likes rock and roll."
"Alejandro Amenabar"
That's as smart a comparison of the two as I've heard so far from anyone, critics included. On that note, I'll get back to working on my 2001 year-end list...
"Moriarty" out.
