Open Your Eyes (1997)

César (Eduardo Noriega) is talking to his psychiatrist Antonio (Chete Lera) in an institution while wearing a prosthetic mask. In flashbacks, he was a handsome vain playboy. He flirts with Sofia (Penélope Cruz) who his best friend Pelayo (Fele Martínez) likes a lot. His ex Nuria (Najwa Nimri) offers a ride and deliberately drives off the road. His face is horribly disfigured and Sofia finds it hard to deal with his frustrations. Then it turns into something more surreal.It's an interesting odd relationship movie for the first half. The movie keeps me involved but it also keeps me wondering about a creeping sense of something wrong with the story. The jumbled intercut timeline seems to be off and then it takes off. I definitely want more foreshadowing of the twist but it's still a fascinating turn. This plays like a compelling dream that I sensed as a dream before the reveal. Does that make sense?

I originally wanted to see this just because Penelope Cruz is just about the hottest girl ever. When I finally did, I was blown away - definitely the best movie I have seen in several years. Makes you think about how we define reality, what we base love and our perception of others on, the trappings of society and our own minds, etc. And it's not just cerebral, it keeps you on the edge and involved until the end. You don't have to work to think about it like in many intellectually significant movies, it's so well thought out and executed that it just shakes it into you - you don't think the stuff, you feel it, then let all the thinking come later. Incredible movie. Not to mention that Penelope Cruz has to be the most beautiful girl ever to walk the face of the Earth and can act, as well. I can say without absolutely certainty you should see this and with fair certainty that you'll find it worth owning.

Open Your Eyes - Alejandro Amenábar (1997) Classic. Alejandro is one of the rarest gem of the Spanish Cinema and Rare Gem of the world Cinema.Have you ever asked yourself - What is reality ?, If you will ask it yourself now, you will get many answers, May be none of them is true and possibly all of them is true. It's is impossible to prove in theories. Because reality is beyond our knowledge and experience. or depends on what is your belief about reality.and What is Dream ? Real or Subconscious Anticipation, Is it extension of Life we are living ? or is it real than the life ? There are so many questions like that this film may stimulate you to ask yourself. The answer may come and may not come.The film was made in 1997, I will say may be people only considered it as an entertaining film in 1997. In 2013 I will say it's an enlightening film for those who can think beyond, which considered as reality in everyday life. and if you are routine dreamer than everything on this film will make sense to you.Vedanta (The oldest scripture on the planet) mentions that whatever we can see, touch, taste, hear is not the reality but just the projection of something which we can not see, can not touch, and can not hear, The experience which comes form touch, taste, hearing etc. is considered as physical reality The other level is imagination and anticipation which is considered as virtual reality. These are two kinds of concepts of reality known to most of the human civilization. But there must be real reality and everything else is projection of that, and constantly changing, and because it is changing or can be altered can not be considered as reality.Well you might be irritated by now with my article and confusing statement. You might feel the same while watching this film and I must warn you this film does not answer what reality is ? But it questions it ?, and It will leave you with this question in a very powerful way, If you will keep asking this question over and over what is reality ? how we create it ?, How It can be altered ? how it can be realized ? may be you will sense enlightenment.And if you sense that please do let me know :)

Abre los ojos (Open your eyes), 1997, which most people might know better in its American remake Vanilla Sky (with Tom Cruise and Penélope Cruz) by Cameron Crowe. I'm glad I haven't seen the remake when I had the chance some years ago - my mother's been a huge fan of Tom though gladly her interest declined with his Scientology and Katie deliriums - cause it would have spoiled this very nice movie.The story ? Handsome and rich guy César (Eduardo Noriega) leads an epicurean life of one-night stands until one of them, Nuria, wants - not just a little crave for chicken at 2 in the morning - no she really wants him for more than one night. Of course, our womanizer doesn't give a damn and while trying to escape from her at his party, he comes to meet the beautiful Sofia (Penélope Cruz) and.. obviously she turns the Don Juan into a lovestruck Prince Charming. It would have ended there and you had the classical New-York - ahem Madrid - based romantic comedy. You can stop here if you don't want to be spoiled.But, here comes Nuria again. She offers him a lift in her car, and tired Don Juan accepts. He doesn't freak out when his driver swallows a bunch of pills and begin to talk about happiness. He does when she drives faster and faster. Caramba, we're out of the road. She dies. He lives. His handsome face looks more like the Elephant man's now. But it's not the worst. The flash forwards sequences of our protagonist show that he is now in an asylum, accused of murder.I'm not saying more. Only that the movie is one of these thrillers that keep you breathless.