Vanilla Sky (Paramount's Presents Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Paramount
Release Date: November 16, 2021
Rating: R
Film: 4.5/5
 
Plot
Young, handsome and wealthy, publishing tycoon David Aames can have anything his heart desires. Still, David’s charmed life seems incomplete. One night, David meets the woman of his dreams and believes he may have found the missing piece. But a fateful encounter with a jealous lover suddenly sends David’s world out of control, rocketing him on a roller-coaster ride of romance, sex, suspicion and dreams…to a shocking, final awakening you will never forget.
 
My Thoughts
After the wildly successful teaming of Tom Cruise and director Cameron Crowe in Jerry Maguire, audiences expected another romantic comedy and boy were they shocked when they walked out of the theater after seeing this! In lieu of comedy you have a mystery told from the perspective of Aames to a psychologist with many bizarre twists and turns along the way.
 
This is one of those films that gets better the more times you watch it as you see more hidden clues that Crowe places in plain sight. I’ve seen this film for times in the past 20 years and I honestly enjoy it more with each subsequent viewing. Cruise does an outstanding job in the lead and Diaz and Cruz compliment him well.
 
A new 4K scan was done for this release (to prepare for the eventual 4K release) and I have to say the improvement over the 2015 version is immense. Film grain is persevered, the color timing is consistent, and the black levels are inky and deep. The audio track is the same from the previous release and is very engaging and balanced throughout. Dialog is always intelligible and the soundtrack showcases every speaker in the room.
 
      
Video 5/5 (AVC)
 
 Audio 4.5/5 (DTS-HD MA 5.1)
 
Special Features:
 

• Filmmaker Focus: Cameron Crowe on Vanilla Sky
• Alternate Ending (with optional commentary from Crowe)
• Deleted Scenes (with optional commentary from Crowe)
• Mask Test (with optional commentary from Crowe)
• Kurt Russell Single Take (with optional commentary from Crowe)
• Commentary with Director Cameron Crowe and Composer Nancy Wilson
• Prelude to a Dream
• Hitting it Hard
• An Interview with Paul McCartney
• Gag Reel
• Music Video
• Photo Gallery
• Theatrical Trailers
• Blu-ray + Digital Copy

 

 
Conclusion
Like a fine wine, this is a movie that just gets better as it ages. Repeat viewings are a must which makes this an easy one to recommend and Paramount’s 27^th entry in their Presents series is a winner. Highly recommended.
 
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS2000 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 88” 16x9 Fixed Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
SVS SB-3000 Subwoofer
JL Audio Dominion F110 Subwoofer x 2
Mini DSP HD  controlling all subwoofers
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner

[claw]

Have you also seen the Spanish film Abre los Ojos (Open your Eyes)?  Penelope Cruz had the same role in both films.

I lived in Madrid for 4 years back in the 90's when Abre los Ojos was released.

[AVSCraig]

Love this movie, but as I have the Blu-ray, I'll wait for that eventual 4K release.

[bmoney]

Another I e never seen. I’ll add it to the queue 

[David Vaughn]

Love this movie, but as I have the Blu-ray, I'll wait for that eventual 4K release.

I'm looking forward to the eventual 4K. The new video encode is loads better than the last release. 

[Paul Heroy]

Have you also seen the Spanish film Abre los Ojos (Open your Eyes)?  Penelope Cruz had the same role in both films.

I lived in Madrid for 4 years back in the 90's when Abre los Ojos was released.

I saw the Spanish version first and liked it a lot, so when the Cruise version came out I don't think I ever saw it. Many times when Hollywood remakes a foreign film they do too much Americanization of it. Maybe I should give this a shot.

[David Vaughn]

I saw the Spanish version first and liked it a lot, so when the Cruise version came out I don't think I ever saw it. Many times when Hollywood remakes a foreign film they do too much Americanization of it. Maybe I should give this a shot.

My daughter and her fiancé watched it with us last night and they loved it (first time viewing). Both said they wanted to see it again soon to pick up on things that they missed.