6.9/10
243,118
1,296 user 153 critic

Vanilla Sky (2001)

A self-indulgent and vain publishing magnate finds his privileged life upended after a vehicular accident with a resentful lover.

Director:

Cameron Crowe

Writers:

Alejandro Amenábar (film "Abre Los Ojos"), Mateo Gil (film "Abre Los Ojos") | 1 more credit »
Popularity
1,463 ( 258)
Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 33 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Cruise ... David Aames
Penélope Cruz ... Sofia Serrano
Cameron Diaz ... Julie Gianni
Kurt Russell ... McCabe
Jason Lee ... Brian Shelby
Noah Taylor ... Edmund Ventura
Timothy Spall ... Thomas Tipp
Tilda Swinton ... Rebecca Dearborn
Michael Shannon ... Aaron
Delaina Mitchell ... David's Assistant
Shalom Harlow ... Colleen
Oona Hart ... Lynette
Ivana Milicevic ... Emma
Johnny Galecki ... Peter Brown
Jhaemi Willens Jhaemi Willens ... Jamie Berliner
Learn more

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Storyline

Incarcerated and charged with murder, David Aames Jr. is telling the story of how he got to where he is to McCabe, the police psychologist. That story includes: being the 51% shareholder of a major publishing firm, which he inherited from his long deceased parents; the firm's board, appointed by David Aames Sr., being the 49% shareholders who would probably like to see him gone as they see him as being too irresponsible and immature to run the company; his best bro friendship with author, Brian Shelby; his "friends with benefits" relationship with Julie Gianni, who saw their relationship in a slightly different light; his budding romance with Sofia Serrano, who Brian brought to David's party as his own date and who Brian saw as his own possible life mate; and being in an accident which disfigured his face and killed the person who caused the accident. But as the story proceeds, David isn't sure what is real and what is a dream/nightmare as many facets of the story are incompatible to ... Written by Huggo

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

What is happiness to you? See more »


Certificate:

14A | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

David Aames lives in The Dakota, the famed New York City apartment building where John Lennon lived (and died). The interior was built on a set, and the exterior seen briefly at the start of the film was shot without a permit, as the residents do not allow filming on the premises. See more »

Goofs

When Sofia is holding the present for David at the party. She gives it to David, then she is seen holding it in the next shot and then gives it to David again. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Sofía: [in Spanish] Open your eyes.
Sofía: [in English] Open your eyes. Open your eyes. Open your eyes. Open your eyes. Open you...
[David wakes up and pushes the snooze button on his alarm]
See more »

Crazy Credits

The end credits are done to a background of a skyscape changing the various colors of the day. See more »

Alternate Versions

Three parts from the quick montage at the end of the film suggest scenes cut from the final film: two frames from a scene that was in "Abre Los Ojos" (upon which "Vanilla Sky" was based) where David shoots a police officer in front of the L.E. building, a frame of David and Sofia on a bed where Sofia is wearing a bathrobe (she never wore a bathrobe in the film), and a frame set in David's company where David is a kid, sitting on a couch, and a man (possibly Thomas Tipp) is talking to him). See more »

Connections

References Persona (1966) See more »

Soundtracks

My Favorite Things
(1959)
by Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) and Richard Rodgers (music)
Performed by John Coltrane
See more »

User Reviews

 
a twist here, a twist there, ONE MAJOR twist, makes one twisted movie
7 February 2019 | by tdrishSee all my reviews

Pay attention very carefully, and I promise you....you still will not be able to figure this one out. The ONE MAJOR TWIST slaps you across the face like an angry mother, and leaves you standing slack jawed ( You won't see it coming, unless someone spoiled it for you.) The problem with Vanilla Sky is that I can admire the creativity used here, and I can give credit where credit is due. However, where do you draw the line in the sand, and say that your film is already unique, that you don't have to go out of your way to make it even more out of the norm then it is. Simply put: I thought this movie was a little too messed up for the average audience to watch. If I found any other complaints with the film, I do not remember it, its been awhile since I watched this, as it is an older title. Sometimes, a line has to be drawn, otherwise, the way I see it, it prevents your film from being enjoyable. It's not saying that this wasn't enjoyable. To an extent, it was. It's not just one that leaves you, wanting others to see it too. "DID YOU SEE VANILLA SKY YET?" It's not happening. Vanilla Sky is just one of those films that just served its purpose in its time era, and that was it. It quickly evaporated, not leaving even a trace of evidence as being anything remotely associated with an understanding, or even compassionate audience that supports all the work done here. Let's face it, its clear they worked hard on this film. From what I remember, all hearts and souls were poured into this...maybe even a little too much. ( This was the movie where Penelope...oh, never mind!) To even give away a summary of the film would be spoiling it, as it may and will give away some of the key points to the film. It's just all about how its put together. Sure, it will all come together, but it leaves a picture of a puzzle where some of the pieces were forced in that doesn't belong there. I can say this, the cinematography was amazing, in my opinion, maybe even the best of any film I have seen in 2001. The film excels, and then it seems to take a step back, and the minute it gets boring, it seems to decide to excel again by relying on another twist, and weather or not this twist works or not, it still leaves you watching. It leaves you wondering, what's going to happen next? It's a mystery, but it's a psychological mystery more then anything. I can't say anything more without spoiling the milk here, so if this sounds like your cup of coffee or tea, please drink up....and enjoy. Or at the very least, enjoy some stunning performances.


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Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Country:

USA | Spain

Language:

English | Spanish

Release Date:

14 December 2001 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Un ciel couleur vanille See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$68,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$25,015,518, 16 December 2001

Gross USA:

$100,618,344

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$203,388,341
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (alternate ending)

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »

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