SEC feature presentation: ‘Vanilla Sky’

By MICHAEL D. LOVULLO

Staff Writer

As a thriller, a romance and a visual spectacle of science fiction cinema, Vanilla Sky combines all of these genres to deliver surrealism in American-pop form.

The protagonist David Aames (Tom Cruise), a New York magazine publisher who lives an elite playboy lifestyle in the shadow of his father’s grand design, has his world turned upside down after a car accident executed by a jilted lover.

“When did you stop caring?” asks David’s confused lover, Julie Gianni (Cameron Diaz), before aiming the car head-on into a Central Park tree, an accident that leaves his face disfigured.

However irrational, Gianni’s actions are the result of David’s new love interest and her inability to take their relationship as lightly as he does. Taking many of the things that come his way for granted, especially his relationships, David is mystified when a witty, Spanish dancer named Sofia (Penelope Cruz) enters his world.

What follows is a non-chronological thrill ride through David’s psyche as he copes with his disfigurement and tries to place together clues as to why he was convicted of murder.

Lending a guiding hand is McCabe (Kurt Russell), a psychologist who wants to get to the bottom of this death. David’s closest friend, Brian Shelby (Dogma’s Jason Lee), a freelance writer who originally introduced David to Sofia, also helps him to make sense of his blurred perceptions to get to the truth.

The film’s diverse soundtrack, which showcases songs by some of the finest talent on both sides of the Atlantic, is an excellent accessory to the film’s unique pace.

The opening scene shows David running in a dream world through the empty streets of New York’s Times Square with Radiohead’s “Everything in its Right Place” blaring in the background as a melodic accompaniment to the anxiety he feels.

Sigur Ros’ “Svefn-G-Englar” mocks David’s bewilderment later in the film as he tirelessly walks from one venue to the next, constantly questioning reality.

The title track “Vanilla Sky,” by Paul McCartney, stands out as well, as it received the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song and was recognized with an Oscar nomination.

But the film’s strongest points remain in its design. Like a collage, with parts in non-sequential order, the film might seem hard to follow. When looked at as a whole, however, the artistry of the piece stands clear.

The DVD, scheduled for release on May 21, will contain trailers and TV spots, an interview with Paul McCartney, two documentaries and a gag reel. It will be available for viewing in its original 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format.

So “open your eyes,” as Sofia requests, multiple times throughout the film, to understand the emotional roller coaster that is Vanilla Sky at the SEC Theater from April 11 to April 13 at 7:30 p.m.