gregherk

I think a lot of people just wrote this off as another one of Tom Cruise's weird movies (Magnolia, Eyes Wide Shut) but Vanilla Sky is definitely its own movie. Many people said it was weird; it wasn't. It was different and confusing but not weird. Weird is Stanley Kubrick or Pauly Shore. Different is The Truman Show. Confusing is The Matrix or The Game. And unlike Kubrick, this movie has a conclusion. Everything makes sense -- maybe not immediately, maybe not even today, but it will make sense. Vanilla Sky is confusing because David Aames (Tom Cruise) is confused. THAT'S the point. That's where the so-called "weirdness" that turned critics away came in. If they had bothered to "open [their] eyes" as the original 1997 Spanish movie, they would have seen that. And if that's not enough reason to see it, go see it for the music. Cameron Crowe offers a wonderful soundtrack; he uses it to set the "feel" -- that notorious element that many movies lack. With songs like The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" playing at the dramatic and emotional climax of the movie, he creates an offbeat, yet astoundingly "right" feel. A wonderful film, in its script, music, acting, and images, Vanilla Sky is sadly, a superficial bandwagon movie that critics chide in order to appear intelligent. Excellent: A+

Ocean's Eleven feels like a jazz song. It has style – a sharp, crisp tone, clever and innovative. From one extreme to the other, it changes, coolly and calmly following the flow. The rhythm takes you and holds you until it feels like letting go. A remake of the 1960 Rat Pack movie of the same name, Ocean's Eleven is like a combination of The Thomas Crown Affair, Mission: Impossible, and Sneakers. This movie is one that holds on to you; even after it is over, you still feel it. Danny Ocean (George Clooney) sits in front of a parole board. When questioned, `What [he] would do if released,' Ocean sits back, smiles, and casually rolls his eyes left and right. After being released from jail, Ocean contacts friend Dusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) with his answer. Once he convinces Ryan, the two gather nine more friends, in preparation to rob 150 million from the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The packed cast includes Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, Carl Reiner, and Don Cheadle. With Ocean's Eleven, director Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Erin Brockovich) chalks up another success. Weaving together humor, suspense, and style, Soderbergh sets the definitive and delicate tone that distinguishes the movie. The jokes are part of the regular dialogue, so when they fall short, the movie as a whole remains strong. Judging from the random comments and expletives, the audience became actively involved with the film, heightening suspense. Visually, Soderbergh highlights the movie with deep yellows, blues, and reds. Suitably, most of the background music fits the `feel' of the movie: cool, clean, and crisp. At the end, however, the music shifts tone to a flowing, melodic harmony that confuses the already inconclusive ending.

The film possesses an aura reminiscent of the 60's: vibrant colors, smart one-liners, and a sly score. With few weak points and a loaded cast, Ocean's Eleven offers a modern and hip re-telling of the 1960's Rat Pack classic.

Rating: A

This video is hard to come across, but if you do, snag it. It is too funny. Mr T. teaches kids the importance of being honest, dealing with anger, and of course, the art of RAP. "We all have a rap," he says, "we just have to find it." Wow. What a profound statement. It's almost as profound as the wonderful wardrobe and hairdressing departments. If you find it "foolish" to laugh at Mr. T singing and rapping, you can always laugh at the classic 80's getups.