I watched Abre los Ojos, the Spanish version on which this film is based the day after i watched Vanilla Sky in the cinema. As in many cases, Vanilla Sky suffers from a lack of sincerity when compared to the original. I found Abre los Ojos to be more subtle and passionate. Despite the subtitles the Spanish version was more enjoyable.


Despite this, both films are very weird and hard to explain, especially if you dont want to give the whole film away. Tom Cruise plays David, who is a commitment-phobe. He has been dating (read sleeping with) the character played by Cameron Diaz. At a party he meets Sofia (Penelope Cruz,reprising the role she played in the original) and they spent the night at her flat. Diaz finds out and picks up Cruise in her car. Then she drives the car over the bridge killing herself and leaving Cruise badly disfigured. All this happens in the first half hour.


The film uses the flashback technique, which works in the beginning of the film buts begins to drag, especially in the last half hour. It is during this time that the film gets seriously weird. The storyline here stretches the audience's imagination to the limit, being deeply unbelievable. The film is overlong at two and a half hours and the strange ending made me aware of my surroundings, not good when the chairs are not comfy!!


In conclusion, although enjoyable for most of the film, the last half hour is too surreal to suspend the audiences' imagination. There are some nice touches of detail but i would advice people to watch Abre los Ojos as it is a better-made film.