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Tons of VANILLA SKY reviews

Published at:  Sep 30, 2001 4:13:10 AM CDT

Harry here with another volley of praises for VANILLA SKY... and one absolutely confused hatred of the film review. I'll forego my usual introductions, and will discuss the differences between the praises and the bad review before that final one... Enjoy.....













Now for the greatest superhero of them all... Guyver!





Yo Harry,


I just got back from seeing which will probably one of the most worthwhile movies to see at the theatres kind of movie. The Beverly Connection held a private screening of a roughcut of "Vanilla Sky" a film based on a previous spanish film 'Open Your Eyes' written and directed by Alejandro Amenabar (director of this years The Others) except this time its directed by Cameron Crowe (Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Jerry McGuire, and Almost Famous).

So what could be said about this movie? It was great, simply great. Its almost hard for me to pinpoint something wrong with this movie, though I wont say its excellent or if you dont see this movie may your eyes bleed and your teeth rot out of your mouth. Its just a wonderful existentialistic romance thriller comedy piece of film making. The premise, directing and acting all make it a very involving expierence.

Technically since this is a roughcut its hard to say what will be left in (hope the survey I filled out helps to keep what I likes) but what was already there was cool especially the soundtrack which for some reason to me, felt like a substitution for the real thing (I heard like 2 Radiohead songs..).

Cast was awesome. Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz (hey, she was in Open Your Eyes too! what a kawinki dink!) Jason Lee, Cameron Diaz and Kurt Russell all gave a exceptional performances. Bravo to them. Especially Jason Lee, KEEP KICKIN' IT REYNOLDS STYLE BABY!

I really think this is gonna be one of those films that people will love or not be impressed with. Personally I think it'll do far better than what the summer films had to offer. Anyways thats my 2 cents. Bai.


Guyver







Next Dale Evans' horse writes in with her brief comments...





Harry:


All right, so I finally get to write in something cool. Was at the Beverly
Connection last night, and got an offer to see a film, which "they couldn't
tell me what it was til I was in the theatre". Well, of course I did!
(Crossing fingers and hoping it was oh, I dunno, something I actually wanted
to see rather than, like, a kids movie).


So we get in there, and the woman who announced the film, I could barely
hear her, but I did hear the words "Vanilla Sky" and everyone in the
theatre was like, yay! Good movie! The movie starts, and its pretty much
everything they've said it was-- ..nobody mentioned the sound though (as
opposed to the soundtrack) its really great. Loved the Times Square scene.


Whole cast is stellar, even Tom Cruise under all that makeup. All in all,
not a waste of time, in fact, was totally worth every second. Crowe is
gonna get something for this film, I just don't know what. (One interesting
thing though, you can see the WTC during the last scene, so I'm not sure if
this cut was done before or after September 11. Should be interesting to see
if they keep it in or not).


C ya:


Buttercup









I totally lucked out last night…went to see Zoolander at theBeverly Connection and instead got recruited to see Vanilla Sky. Crowe is one of my faves and did not disappoint --- the movie blew my fuckin mind. I figured it would be funny and nuanced liked McGuire, Say Anything,etc. Instead, it was a hell of a lot darker and intense. Cruise was amazing and he wears this mask half the time that is creepy but effective (he was also there, sitting in the back in a dark hat, very cool).

Anyway, Cameron Diaz is tragic and goes against her “Something About Mary” type and Cruz does her best work since “All About My Mother.” The first half feels very much like a Crowe-type movie (funny with a mix of tragic) but the second half is total departure – a very twisted mind fuck. It was the most surprising, funny and intriguing movie since Being John Malkavich (which I also raved about). Bottomline, this is going to be a big one. And it’s nice to see Crowe put something out so quickly. I thought we were going to have to wait another 4 years after Almost famous.

The Thinking Monkey








Hey, Harry, I struck gold last night and was saved
from seeing Don't Say a Word (which I know will be an
awful MD movie but I can't get that hot girl who was
on the cover of Maxim's voice out of my head -- "I'll
never tell" -- the best marketing since Sixth Sense).
Instead I was picked to see Crowe's Vanilla Sky.

I'm
sure others are writing in to rave but I thought I'd
throw my two-cents in too.

Fucking awesome.

I came
away confused in a good way and more impressed with
Crowe than ever. Different, darker and more daring
than anything he's done. Just like McGuire, he uses
Tom's stud image to great effect. Couple of weird
notes - they shoot Times Square completely empty and
its eerie as hell. Also, I wonder if they will keep
the NYC skyline shot at the end with the World Trade
Center. They left it in at this point and it must be
by choice. I'm excited to see the final product and
its cool that I can compare it to this version.
Although, it hit all the right notes and I doubt they
have to change it much.

Cecil the sea sick sea serpent



And now a word from our favorite flying squirrel...





Hey Harry:

Went to go see "Zoolander" last night at the Beverly Connection and didn't
get to see it, sadly, because I got to see---Vanilla SKY!

(I'm hoping the
majority of the audience has never heard of AICN, so I can be the sole
relator of good cool news -- some how, I doubt it)

We were stuck in a leetle,
tiny theatre in the downstairs of the B.C. cramped but thank god, otherwise
I would have never heard the incredibly quiet lady say "The film you're
seeing is Vanilla Sky". We all cheered, it was great. I have a feeling we
all expected to see something lame, but did it anyway because it was free.
(for once, being a poor ass motherfucker is a good thing).

The film is absolutely great. I've read earlier reviews where people say
Crowe fucks with Cruise's character's mind and everyone else's---totally
true. I'm still working out the whole story, and needless to say, there's
parts where I'm still fuzzy. But a quick rundown:

--That Times Square scene everyone talks about? Wacky. Very Wacky. Don't
know how they did it... but wow... if its real I'm impressed.


--Tom Cruise is great, Penelope Cruz actually impressed me, Cameron Diaz
took a part exactly opposite from anything I've ever seen her in (except
maybe "Shes the One").


--Visually and technically, this is one of the better films I've seen this
year... creepy, solid, beautiful... wow! One of those dvd-worthy buys too......


--People are freaks, and laughed at the car crash scene... what the fuck?



So we left the theatre, and I thought I spotted Tom Cruise, but I may be
mistaken. Sat in the crowded parking lot with the girlfriend and both of us
were just in total awe. We were a little taken aback by the World Trade
Center shot at the end, but who knows if that will be there in the final cut
(word to Hollywood: None of us fell to pieces at the sight of it, maybe you
could, I dunno, freakin leave it in?)



Rocky.









Harry here.... And lastly we have the final review... the one that seems to have seen a completely different film that the reviewers above. How do I explain this? Well the movie is a mind fuck flick. As a result there will be people who react BADLY to that process. They won't like having their heads screwed with. They might very well lash out. Now Bruce Wayne (the reviewer below) mentions that the films he was most looking forward to this fall are LORD OF THE RINGS and HARRY POTTER. He mentions loving JERRY MAGUIRE and ALMOST FAMOUS... However, that type of material is miles away from OPEN YOUR EYES, which this film is based upon. Those others are 'safe' films. Quality films for mainstream audiences... This is something all together different. From the above reviews and comments we get that film goers that 'get' the references and material get it... This movie is a tad dangerous... not all together safe... now... here's Bruce Wayne....





Hey Harry



I just got back from a screening of Vanilla Sky at the Beverly connection tonight in LA. By the way Peter Parker and Mary Jane were there as well. Not sure what movie they saw though. Guess they are still dating. Anyway, I saw that you had some reviews up recently. I didn't read them because I didn't want the movie spoiled for me before I saw it. But now that I'd seen it, I wanted to check them out. I am writing because I think they must have seen a completely different film. Our film was about two hours, so maybe that extra half hour added a lot, because I and all my freinds HATED IT. And it seemed like everyhone esle there did as well.



I'd go into the plot and tell you what it was about, but I have no idea. Tom's in an accident he si disfigured, then he's not, then he is again, or is he? I couldn't tell you.



My friends and I are all HUGE Cameron Crowe fans. Love Jerry Maguire Loved Almost Famous. And was sooo excited for this. And while I didn't expect it to be like his other films, I at least expected it to make sense. It didn't.



I actually have hope reading the other reviews, maybe Paramount was trying to get him to cut the film and he didn't want to, so he made this lame ass cut. I really can't describe how much we all disiked this film. I have no diea what it was about, what he was trying to say, or what the point was. And its such a shame because no one can get a better performance out of Tom Cruise than Cameron Crowe. And Cruise is still very good here. Crowe brings out the lighter, more fun. laid back side in Tom. He never seemed looser than in Jerry Maguire and he has fun moments of that in this.



But the movie is just so pointless. You never know what is real and what is not, There is kind of an explanation at the very end. I won't give it away, but even with that it doesn't add up and is still very confusing. The final moment makes you think maybe

POSSIBLE HUGE SPOILERS





























the whole thing was a dream. Which is just as lame. Or maybe it wasn't saying that. We don't know.











END SPOILERS




Anyway Kurt Russell like the other reviewer said was very good. Cameron Diaz was fine and isn't give much to do, which is a shame. And Penelope Cruz is certainly better than she has been in her other US films, but still makes you wonder what all the fuss is about. She does have nice chemistry with Tom and they do have some nice scenes together early on. But the movie is just so bad you don't care.



All I kept thinkingw as I would love for Cameron Crowe to come up after the film and seriously explain it all to me.



Tom and Penelope were there sitting in the back row. As was many Paramount brass, studio heads: Sherry Lansing and Jonathan Dolgen among them. Honestly they seemed as confused as the rest of us, the Studio types that is. Dolgen didn't even stay for the talk afterw hich leads me to believe that he knew how much everyone hated it.



I really have to say this was one of the most disapoitning movies I have ever seen. My friends and myself could not have been more excited before the film began. Here we were seeing what we all deemed maybe the third most anticipated movie of the year. It would be #1 if not for Lord of The Rings and Harry Potter. But it just left me wondering what the hell was the point. Maybe there is a good movie in there, but we sure didn't see it. Remember how disapointed and angry people were with Eyes Wide Shut and AI. (I actually mostly liked both those films) But most seemed not to, and I can't imagine what they will think of this, but I can tell you its not going to be good. I am suprised there is not more buzz of the tremendous stink associated with this. I couldn't belive readingt he other positive reviews, which makes me think that perhaps there was more to what they saw than what we did.



I hope maybe it was the length and that this screening was Cameron showing Paramount why the film can't be shorter, but as it is, it is BEYOND CRAP.



I still love Cameron and don't know what went wrong, maybe I should see the Spanish original to see what they were trying to do. Because i have no idea.



I really wanted to like this, and instead just felt dirty and depressed after.



One last note the talk of a Speilberg cameo is true, he hugs Tom Cruuise at one point during a party scene, it is very wucik and you could easily miss it. Anyway chalk up another one in the worst year for movies ever. Her's hoping HP and LOTR can redeem us.



You can call me Bruce Wayne



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    Readers Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 4:49:36 AM CDT

    man

    by gah rides again

    Based on his review, that reviewer is probably the kind of person who thought "12 Monkeys" was "WAAAAAAY too confusing." My brother used to have a field day with those folks when they would rent shit. "I didn't like the Usual Suspects it was just too boring I shut it off halfway through..." "Oh, well sorry you didn't like it. I think you might like Sinbad's new movie." Poor Sinbad, he's the secret treat of Masochists and dumb people everywhere.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 4:58:28 AM CDT

    could be good.....

    by reubz

    This film ,could live up to the hype and be a hit,if it doesn't confuse the viewer.As said in the last review,the reviewer didn't enjoy this film,because he was obviuosly confused. Anyway,im sure this film will be great,because all the other reviewers liked it and im glad that Cameron Crowe,made a film so soon after Almost Famous,instead of taking ages of.

    PS-I hope they leave the WTC shots in,because we need all the reminders we can get of the building.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 5:40:24 AM CDT

    This one is probably going to stink real bad

    by alpha

    Crowe makes some damn fine films but Cruise has made a lot of crap films over his career. I've seen the original and to be frank it sucked dog balls. The problem with twisty films is that they can get all clever and smug about themselves (OOOh I've got a big twist ... how clever). Usual Suspects and Sixth Sense work because they are good films even without the twist but a lot of the other ones seem to just want to have a twist for a twists sake which makes them seem like bad twilight zone ripoffs. Look at the smug twist at the end of POTA, how lame was that. I noted someone praised up 12 Monkeys .... gee that film looked great .... what a shame it was just a total piece of bleak nihlistic crap whose main message seemed to be DONT TRY, YOU CANT CHANGE ANYTHING ANYWAY. I walked out and shook my head at the end, everything was so pointless in that film including me wasting 2 hours on it. Like Baron M and other films from Gilliam they look fantastic but they end up being terribly disjointed and often almost unwatchable.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 5:46:50 AM CDT

    Amy Heckerling directed Fast Times At Ridgemount High

    by bigtuna

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 5:55:47 AM CDT

    ...yes, but Crowe WROTE Fast Times.

    by tesarta

    So he's sort of right.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 6:21:58 AM CDT

    Oh he WROTE Fast Times did he....

    by bigtuna

    I KNOW BUT I THOUGHT HE MEANT DIRECTED IT! SORRY!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 7:13:20 AM CDT

    Title?

    by jack d. ripper

    Does anyone know what the "Vanilla Sky" means? "Abre los Ojos" makes sense in context(guy's been in an accident, has surgery, must "open his eyes" once operation is over, and to new disfigured life", but what's "Vanilla Sky"? It sounds cool as all hell, but I hope it ain't another meaningless cool title like Reservoir Dogs or Ghost World.


    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 7:26:11 AM CDT

    To Bruce Wayne, there is one other filmmaker...

    by ptafan

    ...who could probably coax a better performance out of Cruise than Crowe. Duh, my namesake, PTA! But about Vanlla Sky, it may be a love-it or hate-it type of film, but it looks like the type that I will really, really get into. Here's hoping...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 8:24:38 AM CDT

    Title may mean nothing

    by philmaker

    jack D. Ripper, I've heard the title means nothing. Crowe used it as the working title for Almost Famous (where it probably meant more given the psychedelic subject matter of that film). He just seems to have a hard-on for this title, though he may surprise and put some kind of reference in this film. Hopefully. Crowe has never been a pretensious filmmaker, I'd hate for him to start now. And to the moron shitting on twist ending, mind fuck films, get a life. I agree that twist endings are being over used, and mainly in undeserving films (Soul Survivors, and yes even Fight Club where - I'll get a lot of shit for this, but what the hell - it negates the entire film by suggesting it's okay to rebel and blow shit up as long as you're crazy) but I'd much rather be taken on a ride and surprised at the end of the film then dragged through another monotonous, predictable piece of crap like The Wedding Planner or Someone Like You. If you didn't get 12 Monkeys and the message it has, you probably didn't see what a life affirming film The Game was. And that's a shame. Original voices are what keep us going to the movies. O. Henry and Ambrose Bierce were brilliant. If you aren't familiar with them, then I'm not surprised you don't see the value of twist endings and how much work they require.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 8:38:41 AM CDT

    Spoiler? GAH!!!!!!

    by mr neth

    If that spoiler's right, then this has the potential to be the next... BOXING HELENA! All of a sudden, I'm very worried.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 11:00:34 AM CDT

    Piss-poor use of the SPOILER warning Harry!!!

    by hung-wei lo

    I was sitting there, enjoying the read, skipping stuff as I saw fit. Then, I came across your POSSIBLE HUGE SPOILERS warning. So I skipped passed all the white-space that you made, assuming that you had HIDDEN the text. Much to my surpise, I read the fucking spoiler right below it! You suck Harry. How about changing that spoiler warning to be a different text color? You've done it before!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 1:40:25 PM CDT

    The more I hear about this...

    by the hierophant

    the more I'm excited about it! I'm a BIG fan of movies with twist endings (O Henry's one of my favorite short story authors), and I hope this one pulls off something good. But like somebody here said, a good twist movie needs more than just a twist ending. It needs a good story, good performances, and compelling atmosphere to make the twist significant and not just one more cliche. Looks like I've got one more film to look forward to in December!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 2:09:41 PM CDT

    Vanilla Sky

    by birdie

    I also saw "Vanilla Sky" and I understand the element of confusion,BUT I loved the movie. I thought it was great because it assumes the audience is smart and interesting and throws something completely unformulaic and brilliant your way. It doesn't spell it out for you. It allows your imagination to fly. And maybe that's just too much for some people.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 2:17:48 PM CDT

    How old is Bruce Wayne?

    by niaiserie

    Just curious, I remember when the first time I saw Out of Sight I thought it was the most boring thing ever, it wasn't till I watched it again this year that I actually enjoyed it, so who knows?

    And that is a dumb ass spoiler warning, I did the same thing thinking it was hidden in the white space and then went straight to the line that was the spoiler, oh well, if that is the spoiler than its not something I'd be looking forward to being caught off guard by.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 2:30:08 PM CDT

    OT: what's up with the stupid sounds I hear on main page?

    by nixflix007

    It's getting pretty damn annoying, and for those with slow connections, I'd assume it takes a while to load.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 3:34:35 PM CDT

    i hate cameron crowe

    by salopasolini

    i truly do not understand what people see in his movies. Maguire was saccharine but tolerable, Say Anything was unbearable stupid and melodramatic, and Almost Famous was truly one of the worst movies that I have ever, EVER seen. What an incredible disservice to the music it supposedly was a tribute to--he made a cloying, sugary, TV-movieish piece of treacle instead of portraying the time, and the artists, realistically. I mean, if the kid's mom had told a real rock star to 'behave himself', the guy would have told her what stupid fucking bitch he thought she was, slammed the phone down, and immediately dropped enough acid to burn a hole in the sky. And that KID--what a fucking awful actor. "What am I to YOU??? What am I to YOU???" Jesus Christ, we get the point. And by the way, Kate Hudson is a terrible actress as well. Vanilla Sky sounds good--there's all these good reviews coming in and Cruise has been great lately--I loved Eyes Wide Shut and Magnolia--but I just really, really hope Crowe doesn't make this one into something sugary and pat like his other films. Fuck him.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 5:01:49 PM CDT

    I hate

    by hegemony cricket

    Man I fucken hate crap and when I see crap I hate it even more. It's like, it's real bad because I don't like it. I'm real important 'cause I'm on the internet. You better listen to me 'cause I AM movies..Like the MCP...So I'll de-res you if you keep fucking up. I want more movies I like to be made for me to see. I'm sick and fucken tired of people liking stuff. Fuck them. Maybe if they knew how I felt they'd make me King.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 7:15:41 PM CDT

    Hegemony Cricket really zeroed in

    by wino-forever

    on the tenor of this talkback.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 10:05:24 PM CDT

    There is something more vile here than that stuff under your toi

    by thehurricane

    Citizen geeks, something here has run afoul. Or possibly aduck, the Hurricane is not sure. Someone here, has insulted, Cameron Crowe. Who dare insult the man who provide the world with Lloyd Dabler and "Singles." The Hurricane is about alot of things, but few things he enjoys more than a Cameron Crowe film. Insulting Crowe is something only a vile fiend like Matt Hardy would do. Im sure the evil and perm having Hardy has taken to these talkbacks, under an assumed named, and mocked Cameron Crowe to just get back at the Hurricane. What's up wit dat? Dont you have Lita you perm having goon? If the Hurricane had Lita, the Hurricane would show off one of his "forbid" Hurripowers. Hurrisenses, tingling. Dising Cameron Crowe, evil does lark amoung the geeks and I am the superhero to stop it. (hurricane wind) ////Faster than express checkout, Stronger than Lex Luger on a 4 day bender of nothing but Kool-Aid packets. It's a bird, it's a plane, IT'S A HURRICANE////

    Reply to Talkback

  • Sep 30, 2001 11:46:49 PM CDT

    Hegemony Cricket Rules

    by twolone1

    That is all.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 01, 2001 6:21:32 AM CDT

    Open Your Eyes when the movie's over

    by zombiechrist

    I saw Open Your Eyes a while back (while visiting a friend in Austin, as a matter of fact). I thought it was well-made but overall quite lame. I was really surprised to hear it was being remade (by Cameron Crowe, whose instincts seems so good!). Rent the movie and see what you think. I hope Vanilla Sky is better than its source.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 01, 2001 10:55:25 AM CDT

    Mind fuck?

    by micmac

    I saw "Open Your Eyes" a couple of years ago in a Spanish conversation class. My mindset at the time was that it would be either super serious or super fucked up, as most foreign films tend to be. I was surprised by how...Hollywood it was. Very sci-fi, very slick. I loved it. But "dangerous"? Screws with your head? A "mind fuck"? Uh...okay. Maybe if you consider stuff like "The Others" and "The Matrix" as mind fucks. "Open Your Eyes" is just like them--a safe quality film with a cool, semi-trippy twist. "Mind fuck"...I swear, Harry can be such a frickin' dork sometimes.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 01, 2001 11:07:25 AM CDT

    hmmm...

    by deftone

    okay, i'm with whoever is apalled that someone hates cameron crowe....gasp!!!! that's just evil!!!

    second, i really agree with harry (oh god....the world really IS over) in that Vanilla Sky sounds like (from all the mind fuckage going on in the reviews that liked it) a movie that's not for everyone, but for those of us who like mindfuckage (not twist endings, mindfuckage...)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 01, 2001 6:19:40 PM CDT

    Eyes Wide Shut is a pile of crap ...

    by lou c.

    ... since someone mentioned it in this talkback, i just had to say that. i've never squirmed in boredom so much in my entire life watching that wretched cinematic turd. My estimation of it was that Kubrick (who i do admire as a great filmmaker) was a little out of touch when he made this. people actually having an orgy? oh my LORD! who would have ever thought of that? frankly, i thought what was supposed to a perverse look into the sexual mind was just boring and not in the least shocking. i would have rather he ended his career with full metal jacket. eyes wide shut is his equivalent of jordan's return to the wizards.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 01, 2001 9:07:59 PM CDT

    wucik = quick??? huh?

    by a goonie

    did that Bruce Wayne guy there at the end ACTUALLY spell quick "wucik." that seemed to be it to me. whatever the hell he was trying to say, "wucik" is not a word. in fact, it's not even close. gee, maybe he was trying to spell "short."

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 02, 2001 11:19:35 AM CDT

    MAN, thanks for the friggin SPOILER

    by erik j fox

    Check the END SPOILERS, looks like you missed a very important line. Shit, now I'm gonna be sitting in the theater thinking its a dream. Thanks a ton.
    -Erik

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 02, 2001 3:02:10 PM CDT

    TZA must be blind AND stupid!!!

    by philmaker

    Dumbass, Anyone who says that The Godfather is an average and boring film doesn't even deserve the effort it's taking me to type this note. However, seeing as how I am in a forgiving mood, I'll continue. First off, Fight Club was a good film, but not by any stretch of the imagination a great film. In fact, let me say it was average. And I love David Fincher's style of filmmaking and approach to storytelling. The Sixth Sense was also a fine film, but not a masterpiece. The ending, despite your useless comment, is a masterstroke. I doubt the validity, in fact, of anyone who says they saw it coming without the benefit of knowing there was some sort of surprise ending to keep an eye out for. It's like Vanilla Sky - When this comes out all the morons who know there is a surprise ending will brag about how they saw it coming. Give me a break. Every one wants to be smarter than someone else, but hey, if you can't see the brilliance of a film like the Godfather, then why even try. Secondly, the ending of Sixth Sense (can't believe I'm defending this film) does make sense., you ass. Why not try explaining where it doesn't, if you're so wise. I'll give you this much to start with - the one flaw in the film is that it "cheats" the audience into believing that a year has passed. I say "cheats", because while a year does pass, it is not pivital to the story and only appears on screen to mislead the audience while providing a reasonable explanation for Willis' physical recovery. Also, I agree the ending doesn't have impact more than once, but the second time watching it you really see a great script at work. Two rules of commercial film screenwriting never used better - enter the scene as late as possible and if the dialogue doesn't move the story forward cut it. Fight Club wishes it were so tightly put together.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 02, 2001 10:37:40 PM CDT

    Cameron Crowe's - Singles

    by wanton_wallie

    I just saw it last night. I actually didn't know it was directed by him, I just grabbed the video... the movie's ok, in an Almost Famousy way.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 03, 2001 9:22:47 AM CDT

    TZA - lets agree to disagree

    by philmaker

    I agree that we obviously will not agree on this. However, i do agree with you about the sixth sense - like I said before, the film "cheats" by telling us it is the next fall and how could a man go a whole year without realizing. But I think this is explained in the film by the boy when he talks about how not everyone comes back right away or how they spend time unaware of their situation. Again, this film is tight. Not a word wasted. There is some suspension of disbelief required, like in all films, but it is reasonable. One final point, Casino is a great gangster film, though it borrows a lot from Goodfellas (a better film overall) and with regards to the Godfather being predictable, I can see that but only in the sense that we are viewing this film today, some 29 years later. I wasn't even born when this thing came out. So you have to view this film in the context of when it was made. Then it was a landmark achievement. It was very different and unpredictable, but in reality the predicability isn't why people love this film. It is the modern day Shakespearian story, the mood, the performances and the beautiful cinematography by Willis. It's like Citizen Kane. Taken today, it has all been done better since, but back then, holy fuck!!! Nothing was like it, not even a film like The Grapes of Wrath, where Toland was trying out his techniques. In fact, the only thing even close in appearance was a film called Docks of New York, shot some 15-20 years earlier and ignored in terms of stylistic influence by Hollywood. But I digress as usual. Enjoy Fight Club. But here's a tip for you - if you really want it to impress, watch it with the idea that perhaps Helena Bonham Carter is also a third part of his personality and doesn't really exist. Now that's a mind fuck! P.S. In light of the whole World Trade center thing, I am further disturbed by the message this film sends out there but takes no responsibility for (like the main character takes no responsibility because of his illness). He gets revenge against the government by destroying the economic heart of America and bringing a series of buildings to the ground. Disturbingly prophetic isn't it. And this guy is seen as a fucking hero by jockboys and rebelious youth everywhere. Sad but true.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Oct 08, 2001 6:58:32 AM CDT

    Vanilla Sky amazing trailer !!!!

    by mucsu

    I find the Vanilla Sky trailer on a hungarian website I think in DivX format: http://www.cameron-diaz.hu
    That may taped version from ET, but have good quality. In the trailer have some really amazing scene!

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