12 Great Directors Who Helmed Terrible Movie Remakes

Before he set about sabotaging his career, writer/director Cameron Crowe made some of the most beloved films of the '80s and '90s, including Say Anything, Almost Famous and Jerry Maguire... for some reason, though - and at the height of his popularity, no less - the former music critic turned filmmaker decided to go down the remake route, teaming with Tom Cruise for an American adaptation of an acclaimed Spanish thriller.

The original film was 1997's Open Your Eyes, which tells the story of a handsome, wealthy guy whose life takes a sudden, dramatic turn when his psychotic girlfriend tries to kill him. It's a strange and melancholy picture, filled with odd twists and turns and scenes that have you wondering whether they're actually even happening.

Not at all the sort of movie that screams "remake!" - especially via Cameron Crowe, who is far better suited to movies in the dramedy vein.

It's no surprise that he struggled with his American version - even casting Penelope Cruz in exactly the same role as she appeared in Open Your Eyes couldn't save the aptly-named Vanilla Sky. Crowe's approach to the material is to be muddled and vague, and - despite an admirable performance from Cruise - it winds up feeling aimless and totally disconnected from any of its director's trademark sensibilities.

Crowe said that he made Vanilla Sky because he "adored" Open Your Eyes; if you really love a film, though, maybe it's better not to stamp all over its legacy?