Remember that movie, Vanilla Sky with Tom Cruise? Well, that movie was a remake of this one.

The plot is about a wealthy man who falls in love with this best friend’s love interest, and while at his birthday party, they head back to her house.  This is where all the shenanigans begins. Sort of. The next morning as he is leaving the girl’s house, a woman (from the party) followed him there and offers him a ride home, which he accepts. She goes crazy and crashes the car and from here on out it’s wtf is going on.

It’s a great movie. I saw the Vanilla Sky version before I saw this one, so I knew what was coming, which was too bad because this original is awesome. Oh, and it doesn’t have Tom Cruise in it, but Penélope Cruz is in it! FTW! Kinda cool they brought her back in Vanilla Sky playing the same part.

I’d recommend this movie over Vanilla Sky anyday. It is in Spanish, so subtitles all the way. I’ve seen it around named Permanent Midnight as well, and its original Spanish name, Abre los ojos.

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Open Your Eyes

Alejandro Amenábar (Writer). Artisan Entertainment 1997, DVD, $4.82

What a crazy movie. I guess the term is existential. The film is about an eco-friendly guy (played by Jason Schwartzman) that meets on three occasions the same guy. He wonders what the meaning of this coincidence is and stumbles upon a company that calls themselves existential detectives.

There’s such a high power cast, I didn’t know what to expect. Jason Schwartzman, Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin, Jude Law, Mark Wahlberg, Naomi Watts, Kevin Dunn. Not a cast you’d think would end up on wtflicks. They pulled it off though. Discussing the big question, what’s life about, who am I, why am I doing this, etc. in a sorta of comedy and half serious way. Entertaining movie, but didn’t really get me thinking, just hit the surface of the thinking aspect, my guess is that’s on purpose. I think they wanted more average movie watchers to watch this one.

All in all, decent movie, if you’re bored with the usual, check this fun loving comedy out.

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I Heart Huckabees

David O. Russell (Producer). 20th Century Fox 2004, DVD, $5.94

Two Disc Special Edition on Amazon

I Heart Huckabees (Two-Disc Special Edition)

David O. Russell (Producer). 20th Century Fox 2004, DVD, $11.85

What a bizarre movie. The movie is about a schizophrenic guy trying to get his daughter back from a foster lady. I guess he broke out of the mental ward he was in, because I see no way they would let him out.

Within the first four minutes, he kills a girl and steals a car. I guess it’s gonna be a pretty interesting movie. Police get after him, or so he thinks and takes off to find his daughter.

The main character played by Peter Greene and is not his normal acting self we’ve come to know him as. I don’t know if schizophrenia is really like it is portrayed in the film, but I think he does a good job.

Pretty decent movie, reminds me of some David Cronenberg movies the way it’s shot and directed.

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Clean, Shaven – Criterion Collection

Criterion 1995, DVD, $17.99

I know I haven’t been keeping up to date with this, and I need to do a better job. But anyway, today’s review is about a movie based on some short stories by author J.T. LeRoy. The  film is about the life of a child who is taken away from his foster family from his mother. He doesn’t want to be with her because of her lifestyle of drugs and general child abuse.

His mom takes him and moves from place to place with a new father it seems every year. The kid goes through a lot as well as anyone around him. One of his fathers even rapes him. Pretty heartbreaking story, if you have a heart.

It’s got some good acting: Asia Argento, Jimmy Bennett, and Jeremy Renner (you’ll probably recognize him from The Hurt Locker) to name a few.

It’s a decent movie, I’d totally recommend seeing it.

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The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

Asia Argento (Writer). Palm Pictures (Home Entertainment) 2004, DVD, $7.18