Vanilla Sky the remake of Abre los Ojos was directed and written by Cameron Crowe, known for his time spent on Rolling Stone Magazine and for recent films such as Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire, Say Anything, and the Generation X piece Singles. Crowe is man whose had a lifelong love affair with music and all his prior films are gifted with soundtracks reflecting the messages, times, and Crowe's passion for the music to be involved in the story. Music from Vanilla Sky (the soundtrack) is no exception.

Vanilla Sky the remake of Abre los Ojos was directed and written by Cameron Crowe, known for his time spent on Rolling Stone Magazine and for recent films such as Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire, Say Anything, and the Generation X piece Singles. Crowe is man whose had a lifelong love affair with music and all his prior films are gifted with soundtracks reflecting the messages, times, and Crowe's passion for the music to be involved in the story. Music from Vanilla Sky (the soundtrack) is no exception, and features new tracks by Paul McCartney and R.E.M. Artists featured on the soundtrack include Radiohead, Peter Gabriel, Red House Painters, Jeff Buckley, Nancy Wilson (Crowe's Wife & Member of Heart), the Icelandic sensation Sigur Rus, Monkees, Bob Dylan, and Cameron Diaz singing as Julianna Gianni.

To best grasp an eclectically arranged soundtrack, this consumer bought tickets to the film. The movie opens with Cameron Diaz's voice (Julianna Gianni) waking up Tom Cruise (David Ames). Upon Ames rising from bed, the chords of Radiohead's Everything in the Right Place crescendo to the forefront. The song's haunting melody along with Yorke's vocal styling gives the illusion of the morning calm and an upcoming change.

Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill" is the next piece that stands out in the film. The song occurs as Penelope Cruz (Sofia) spends a night with Tom Cruise as their two characters are getting to know one another. Gabriel's song carries a hopeful upbeat rhythm, the lyrics emphasizing the discovery of home. The piece is prophetic as the night marks the discovery of mutual love and happiness.

As the film and music establish hope and positive life changes, Crowe inserts the tragedy. Julie Gianni displays her psychosis and tortured love from David Ames, and the pair are involved in a car accident. The music accompaniment is Diaz singing as Gianni her demo track I Fall Apart. She sings: "You look at me. You call my name . . . You are to blame" emphasizing the pain of the love Gianni feels for David Ames. The result of the film disfiguring Cruise's character and the wild ride ensues for viewers.

The sheer volume of songs and music found in the film limit how much different tracks can be discussed without giving away the film. Crowe and Bradeson do an excellent job in making all the chosen tracks for the soundtrack fit well into the story told into the film and the messages found within. Love and the Power of Choice are key themes found in the movie and the title track Vanilla Sky by Paul McCartney. McCartney sings: "Gonna learn every hour, you must appreciate / This is your time / This is your day" and helps to close out the film as the credits roll.

For fans familiar with Crowe's films and his music tastes, this soundtrack will already be on your list. Fans who buy the CD expecting to hear a couple tracks from their favorite artists may not be satisfied with only one track. In order to truly enjoy the soundtrack, seeing the movie is essential because then the song choices and layout make more sense. If you are thinking of buying Music from Vanilla Sky, I don't recommend it as a standalone soundtrack without having seen the film.

For links to artists and more information on the soundtrack, go to Vanilla Sky is now in a theater near you.

Brad DeMaagd was born in Sacramento, California in 1976. Mr. DeMaagd currently lives in Michigan, but is planning a move to Oregon in the late spring. Mr. DeMaagd attended Michigan State University where he majored in English, with minor studies in Economics and History. Mr. DeMaagd continues to pursue his goal of becoming an Acquisitions Editor at a publishing house. His past times include watching David Lynch films, NFL football, working on his stories, and reading an ever growing stack of books.

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