Video review: Vanilla Sky - Dreaming of a life that may not be

Vanilla Sky is an unconventional film that doesn’t fit neatly in any traditional genre, with elements of romance, science fiction and thriller films blurring the line between reality and dreams.

David Aames (Tom Cruise) is a wealthy playboy who enjoys a casual sexual relation-ship with the beautiful Julie Gianni (Cameron Diaz).

But soon David finds himself incarcerated, accused of a murder he doesn’t remember. He tries to sort things out with the help of a psychiatrist (Kurt Russell).

Gradually, David’s story unfolds, sometimes in flashback, sometimes in the present, sometimes in dreams. We learn that David’s troubles started at his 33rd birthday party. There he met the charming Sofia Serrano (Penelope Cruz).

He went home with her and had a wonderful time talking with her for the rest of the night. She kissed him goodbye, and when he left, he was walking on air.

Next morning, David took a ride with an agitated Julie. She drove wildly through Manhattan, telling him she wanted more from their relationship. Dissatisfied with David’s response, Julie succumbed to jealousy and rage. Her driving became erratic, and the speeding car flew off a bridge.

As the film progresses, we see a tender romantic relationship develop between David and Sofia. But David appears to be wracked with guilt over his careless treatment of Julie. Also, he is struggling to come to terms with his once handsome face having become hideously disfigured. We remain fascinated, but we are puzzled by scenes that seem impossible to reconcile with one another.

Vanilla Sky is fast-paced and highly entertaining. Tom Cruise turns in a strong performance. The romantic chemistry between him and Penelope Cruz is excellent, and the acting chemistry between Cruise and Cameron Diaz also hits the right notes.

Biggie & Tupac

When Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls were murdered within a few months of each other and no police investigation followed, even the most sceptical onlookers had to wonder if a conspiracy was afoot.

With the media dishing stories about how the East Coast and West Coast rap rivalry had finally ended in homicide, little else was said about the deaths of two of hip-hop’s most high-profile stars. Under the steady hand of docu-muckraker Nick Broomfield, Biggie & Tupac delves into these murders with shocking and stunning results.

Biggie & Tupac is most impressive for its journalistic qualities. Broomfield seems to uncover a massive scoop here, revealing the multitude of people involved and the possible motivations behind the killings.

From the involvement of the LAPD to the over-whelming hand Death Row Records owner Suge Knight played in events to the LA gang connection, Broomfield unlocks a mass of jaw-dropping information that makes the lack of official detective work on these cases all the more shocking.

And, more importantly, Biggie & Tupac touches on a larger issue: the devastating element of rap culture in which violence from the inner cities is literally played out on the public stage.