There's good news and bad for Jerry Maguire fans as Cameron Crowe and Tom Cruise reunite for a dazzling, loyal - even keeping Penélope Cruz as the leading lady- and sharp remake of Spanish thriller Abre Los Ojos. It starts in classic Crowe romantic fantasyland as Cruise's spoiled rich kid woos Spanish sweetheart Sofia (Cruz). But just as you're getting happily stuck into your popcorn, it lurches into territory more usually occupied by David Lynch... It'll confuse as many as it exhilarates, but there's no denying that Vanilla Sky is a demanding, intelligent and adult movie. Not easygoing, but put in the effort and this'll reward you.
DVD Extras:
"It's a story, a puzzle, a nightmare, a lucid dream, a psychedelic pop song, a movie to argue over... Wherever you want to meet it, it will meet you there," blurbs Cameron Crowe, somewhat immodestly, on one of two short-but-sweet featurettes. Well, plenty of people wanted to meet Vanilla Sky down a dark alley and give it a good kicking. That, the director is clearly aware of (see right), but he's also endearingly enthusiastic about his "cover version" of Alejandro Amenábar's Open Your Eyes. His bizarre commentary, with wife Nancy Wilson strumming her guitar in the background, features contributions from his infant sons, as well as a phone call to Tom Cruise, and the numerous photo galleries are occasionally startling. Irritatingly, though, the Crowe-referenced Gag Reel and deleted scenes aren't included.






