Arriving a year after Almost Famous, Cameron Crowes Vanilla Sky, for many, signalled the beginning of the end of an illustrious career. Since then, Crowe's gone from bomb Elizabethtown to the worst-reviewed film of his career, Aloha. Dismissed as a failure on release, however, Vanilla Sky isnt quite the disaster critics of 2001 would have you believe. While Crowes mix of rom-com cutesiness (complete with woefully outdated soundtrack) and intense, dreamy drama doesnt entirely work its sometimes like watching two ill-fitting movies crashing into each other Vanilla Sky is intriguingly thick with ideas. Vanilla Skys thoughtful fantasy side is, surprisingly for Crowe, much more effective than its romantic inclinations, and its here where the film shines brightest. Built to confuse and provoke discussion, Vanilla Sky doesnt come with one or two definitive endings its rather completely open-ended. According to Crowe, there are five possible interpretations of Vanilla Skys climax, but on top of those theres still more going on. As the follow-up to arguably the directors most successful movie, Vanilla Sky has all the hallmarks of a vanity project its over-long, over-stuffed, expensive-looking and indulgent. But what makes Vanilla Sky so interesting is that Crowe throws seemingly every idea hes ever had at the wall, then leaves the viewer to make up their own mind as to what theyve just witnessed.
Lover of film, writer of words, pretentious beyond belief. Thinks Scorsese and Kubrick are the kings of cinema, but PT Anderson and David Fincher are the dashing young princes. Follow Brogan on twitter if you can take shameless self-promotion: @BroganMorris1
