THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN WATCHING
"VANILLA SKY"
POSSIBLE SPOILERS!!!
Just like I did with my copy of The Usual Suspects, Cameron Crowe's remake of the Spanish film Open Your Eyes contains so many clues embedded in the story which has meaning towards the story's final revelation. Cameron was a very good choice to direct the remake because of his flair for pop culture and pop culture itself holds the key to the characters' existence. I'm told this movie is horseshit compared to the original but it's still a damn good remake, even if it does drag on a bit. But, nonetheless, it's a fascinating journey of one man searching for happiness but ends up living a nightmare...
There is an episode of The Twilight Zone playing in Times Square.
The Times Square sequence represents both the theme of pop culture and David's ultimate loneliness in a world where he believes happiness is available in quick fixes.
Notice the subliminal appearance of Katie Holmes. This photo was also used by a famous magazine which Cameron Crowe has a past relationship with... it all has to do with the theme of pop culture.
David (Tom Cruise) and Brian (Jason Lee) drive past a man wearing a shirt which reads "Revolution #9".
The sticker on David's car features the date February 30th, 2001.
Notice Julie's (Cameron Diaz) mobile phone ring. Think of the lyrics to that song.
David makes a casual response to Brian at his party which holds the secret to the movie.
The hologram of John Coltrane is playing "My Favourite Things".
"To Kill A Mockingbird" is the movie playing on the TV during the prison scenes.
David sings "One Of Us" by Joan Osbourne as he is wheeled away for surgery on his face.
David's patient number on his X-Ray (during his face reconstruction) will reappear later.
There is a word written backwards on the prison's chalkboard.
At the club, Sofia (Penelope Cruz) wears a shirt which says "ST. ROSE", the Patron Saint of Latin America and South America, and the Patron Saint of Vanity.
Notice the appearance of the song "Last Goodbye" by Jeff Buckley.
The famous album cover of Bob Dylan's "Freewheelin'" features twice, at two different points, in the movie.
Listen to the soundtrack in the scene where Sofia finds David asleep in the street and tells him to "open your eyes".
Brian and McCabe both mention they are from Ohio.
R.E.M. feature on the soundtrack.
McCabe (Kurt Russell) bears an remarkable resemblance to Gregory Peck.
"Jules et Jim" is a poster in David's apartment which was a French film which climaxes with a woman driving her lover off a bridge.
Steven Spielberg makes a cameo at David's birthday party.
Near the end, Sofia (Penelope Cruz) wears an Audrey Hepburn-style jacket.
ALWAYS pay attention to the look and colour of the sky.