Product Details

• Actors: Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kurt Russell, Jason Lee
• Directors: Cameron Crowe
• Writers: Cameron Crowe, Alejandro Amenábar, Mateo Gil
• Producers: Cameron Crowe, Bill Block, Danny Bramson, Donald J. Lee Jr.
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English, French
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: May 21, 2002
• Run Time: 136 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (612 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JKMZ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,442 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Vanilla Sky" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz. Cameron Crowe's thrilling remake of Open Your Eyes , a sexy psychological tale of wealth, desire and true beauty. 2001/color/136 min/R/widescreen.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

112 of 122 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Stunning Masterpiece March 26, 2005

By Eric B. Norris

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

As you can see from the customer reviews bouncing between loving and hating this movie, it is not for everyone.

The first time I saw this movie in the theater I was unable to move when it was over. I was utterly stunned. I can count on one hand the times this has happened to me over a lifetime of movie viewing.

Tom Cruise plays David Aames, a rich young man who has inherited a publishing empire from his late father. Cameron Diaz is the girlfriend he really doesn't care about, and Jason Lee plays his best (and perhaps only) friend. Aames is utterly disconnected from his own life, and seems to care little about anything. One night his friend (Lee) brings an intriguing dancer (Penelope Cruz) to his birthday party. Cruise takes up with Cruz, but then experiences a waking nightmare that destroys his life. I can't reveal more of the plot without giving it away, and I suggest you NOT read any more reviews of this film and just see it--otherwise you'll deprive yourself of one incredible movie ride.

This movie is visually spectacular. There are scenes that set off the dive klaxon deep within my brain but I couldn't figure out why until much later in the film when the plot is revealed. What is this film? Science fiction? Yes, but... A psychological thriller? Yes, but... A love story? Yes, ultimately.

It's better not to categorize Vanilla Sky, and just enjoy (or not enjoy) it. I think this movie either works on you, or it doesn't. And this is probably the most polarizing movie I have ever seen. You'll either love it or hate it.

Jason Lee and Cameron Diaz give the performances of their careers. I would have said the same of Cruise, but then he uncorked Collateral.... Kurt Russell has a relatively small part as Cruise's psychologist, but he nails it perfectly.

Vanilla Sky is based on Spanish filmmaker Alejandro Amenábar's Abre Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes). I liked Vanilla Sky a lot more than Abre Los Ojos, unlike most American remakes of foreign films, because it contains additional scenes and more spectacular visuals. However, an English-only speaker like me can't really make a fair comparision because there are so many subtitles to watch in Abre Los Ojos it makes it hard to watch the actors. Penelope Cruz plays the same role in both films.

The real value of this film is that it makes you think about what (and more importantly, who) is at the core of your own life, and how will you feel about how you have lived when the clock runs out?

Vanilla Sky is a rare movie--unique in plot, and made with passion and care. I can't guarantee you'll like it, but there is no other movie more worth taking a chance on. Read more ›

39 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME!!! June 5, 2004

By E. Richards

Format:DVD

hmm...I wonder what makes all these people say that Vanilla Sky was a horrible movie? Perhaps it's the fact that they did not or could not understand the film. I own Vanilla Sky and Abre Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes) and i must say that Vanilla Sky lived up to, and went beyond all expectations. If you've seen Abre, then I would highly recommend seeing Vanilla Sky. The acting in Abre was great, but the cinematography of Vanilla was even better. Intriguing film that will have you scratching your head until the very end. A definite MUST SEE!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars living the dream??? February 27, 2005

By Raegen W. Richard

Format:DVD

"We're now on pause."
'Vanilla Sky' is one of my favorite movies of all time, for that reason I have discussed it with a number of people. It is true that you will either cherish, despise, or totally not get this film.

The film is complex both in content and presentation, thus many simply won't get it.

People dislike 'Vanilla Sky' because, the original, 'Abre los Ojos,' is more artsy and less glamorous...and it is for that reason, I gather, that many people prefer the original film and strongly denounce 'Vanilla Sky.' 'Vanilla Sky' is, in my opinion, more graceful and not quite as raw as Amenabar's original. Crowe made a great story and message digestible for American's, but in the process brought forth such a jarring and real message about so many aspects of life that I think people either don't want to or can't wrap their heads around it.

This is no bastardization. It is a cultural re-doing of a solid film; with excellent performances and great work by so many others behind the scenes, that ultimately comes off better than the original. I love this movie because it is a truthful depiction of a man who torments himself...who chooses to bring crap on to himself...and fate cuts him no slack because he has been blessed in many earthly ways, very realistic and unlike your typical Hollywood junk (but of course it is not originally conceived in Hollywood). So, he throws his blessings away on many an occasion by making foolishly impulsive decisions and generally refusing to take charge of his life. On other occasions the viewer cringes as he unfruitfully grasps for what he tossed out before.

The blunt realization is that all the little moments in life matter so very-very much.... That is life and 'Vanilla Sky' is a great allegory for some of the most important lessons: the sweet is never as sweet without the sour (hard work); there are no short cuts, no quick fixes; money can not repair the most important problems we are capable of bringing upon ourselves; and particularly if you are even slightly self-aware you must eventually chose to either: wake up (open your eyes) take control of your destiny and live a real life; or you will be engaging in a grand delusion, a dream. "Consequences...It's the little things...The little things...there's nothing bigger. Is there?"
Alas, all is not lost, every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around. Read more ›

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible September 16, 2004

By A. Lord

Format:DVD

This is one of my absolute favorite movies of all time. I find it so upsetting that this movie was so underrated. In my opinion, Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, and Cameron Diaz all deserved nominations for this incredible film. Only in Garden State have I seen such an enchanting female lead and Tom Cruise gives his finest performance aside from Magnolia. Something I can not understand is why so many people found this movie confusing. I am fourteen and have watched the movie ten or more times, but I was eleven when I first saw this film and I still understood it. I can't get why people are afraid to be captivated by a movie enough to be immersed into the film. Another reason this is one of my favorite films is because of the incredibly unpredictable ending. What an incredible movie. I highly reccomend this movie to all my friends.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Open your minds June 22, 2002

By Steven Reynolds

Format:DVD

What's most surprising about this film - other than that Cameron Diaz can be quite convincing in a dramatic role - is the way it has been marketed. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that what I had thought, from the trailers, was just going to be another romantic-thriller with an A-list cast, was actually a far more complex and compelling sci-fi story. From the tone of most reviews, however, it clearly doesn't pay to mislead your public. What is it with audiences these days? Don't they like surprises? You'd think that the deluge of predictable excrement that flows out of Hollywood's studios every year would have most viewers excited to find a film which doesn't pander to their expectations. Clearly not. I hope it doesn't discourage Crowe and others like him from pursuing projects like this one. Hollywood typically butchers every European film it tries to "repackage" into a spoon-fed format for American audiences. `Vanilla Sky' is a notable exception, and well worth seeing.