Review
Open Your Eyes
- Director
- Alejandro Amenábar
- Year
- 1997
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho
- Review date
- Tuesday, July 25, 2006
On César’s 25th birthday, Pelayo introduces him to Sofía (Penélope Cruz), his date for the night. César immediately likes Sofía and sees in her not only a potential catch but also a way out from obsessed ex-girlfriend Nuria (Najwa Nimri). As the birthday boy takes the girl away, Pelayo is heartbroken, but that’s not really the sort of thing César thinks about. Sofía, however, isn’t an easy catch, but indeed a fairly decent girl who seems to be looking for something meaningful. César falls for that and experiences love for the first time. Temptation and cockiness, however, take him back to Nuria immediately after he leaves Sofía’s place. And then Nuria, and destiny, take a hand.
The story turns from a mildly romantic drama into a psychological thriller of sorts, an excruciating misadventure that explores the mind of a very disturbed man trying to recover his life after losing what he valued most about himself. It’s not as drastic a transition though. César figures his life is worthless and sees everything around him falling apart, including his friendship with Pelayo and, most significantly, his romance with Sofía. But then, right when everything seems completely hopeless, things start getting better, life smiles once again to the now-unfortunate young man. How and why this happens, neither he nor we understand at first. His narration from the future keeps foreshadowing even stranger things to come. It all gets better but it also gets weirder and then out of control and totally unsustainable. Is César losing his mind or is life like a dream, where nightmares sometimes take over without a warning, spoiling sweet dreams that also come and go as they please? That’s the kind of question this movie compels.
I consider Abre los Ojos a modern masterpiece and one of the most entertaining films from the end of the 20th century. Amenábar’s pen is so powerful and affecting, it could be described as devastating. His script, co-written by Mateo Gil, is the closest approach to the world of dreams that I have ever seen on film, and the result is exactly the same. You can go from totally joyful to utterly unhappy, complete with R.E.M. and tachycardia, from one minute to the next, without a way out or the least comprehension of why things are changing so drastically. Dreams always appear as reality, and even a bored realist believes in them while he’s there.
Some people have a problem with the film giving them a hard time. Indeed, César’s quest is no picnic. Amenábar really believes in giving his characters a hard time for them to evolve. This hero, masterfully played by Noriega, goes from arrogant to victimized and his attitude changes so much, he’s another character altogether, but his evolution is credible and quite palpable. I didn’t have a problem with suffering along with him because I always cared and wanted him to keep fighting and looking for the truth, and really enjoyed it when it looked like he was going the right way. I especially enjoy the sequence where he and Antonio (Lera) play sleuths in a quest for truth. The climax, featuring an enigmatic character that shows up sporadically throughout the movie (Gérard Barray) is mesmerizing, quite unpredictable, outright poignant, and full of hope. I loved it, in spite of its underlying sadness.
Alejandro Amenábar is one of today’s finest directors and he has a lot more to offer. He’s an artist in all the extent of the word, as proven by his craft in this film, not only co-writing and directing but also composing the beautiful score. His direction is fully imaginative, pushing all the buttons to take the audience to all the right places. Be it a Hitchcock homage or a quiet scene under the rain, the proper reaction emerges in the form of overwhelming sentiment.
Few films have managed to play around with my perceptions and expectations like this Spanish gem; it’s one of my favorite films.
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Comments
Cris wrote at 6/22/2002:
This movie moved me in many ways. Made me wonder about the main character's sanity and about all the changes he had to go through... it's so sad to realize, along with Cesar, how sweet that girl is, the girl he now can't have, the things he was able to achieve, that are now turned into dreams of the past.It makes us think of how important appearance is, looks, prescence, physical acceptance, how necessary for all of us, how he plummeted when he thought he had lost all those things.
I think this is an excelent movie, even if it was quite hard to watch! Let's see how Vanilla Sky turns out.
Morris wrote at 6/22/2002:
OK, so I've now seen both movies and feel like I can comment freely on both of them. It's hard for me to decide on which I love the most, but I guess I'd have to go with "Open Your Eyes". Not that I didn't like "Vanilla Sky". I actually rate both movies with 3 stars. How can that be? Well, for me, "Open Your Eyes" was a harsher, more enigmatic and difficult experience. It is a very difficult movie to watch and I remember feeling disturbed after watching it. I didn't fully understand it yet I felt intrigued, affected. It left me thinking.
"Vanilla Sky" is totally different in many aspects. It is a much safer movie. Even though it has the same weird ending, everything is tided up pretty nicely. You end up understanding almost everything, or at least feeling like you've got a good idea of what went on. It is more "Hollywood" (to call it some way), although I don't consider that a bad thing since it is very well done. What I actually loved about "Vanilla Sky" was the way Cameron Crowe included all those pop references all the time. I loved that and it's something that you won't find in this magnitude in the original movie.
Those are the reasons why I like both of them equal. What one has to offer the other hasn't and viceversa. I guess they complement each other. At least for me.
Penelope Cruz is adorable in both movies. Eduardo Noriega and Tom Cruise are great, although I do prefer Noriega in the role. But the highlight for me is Cameron Diaz, who is hipnotic and scary as Jianne. Watch out for that scene in the car and how she slowly changes going throughout a whole gamut of emotions with seamless effort.
So anyway, at the bottom there is a story, and this movies have a great story to tell. Good for them!
Groucho wrote at 6/22/2002:
Spoilers ahead.I have seen this movie again after a while and I must say that it gets harder and harder to watch. I find the main character terribly appealing at first which makes it terrible for me, knowing what fate awaits him. All the scenes at first, especially at his party (which is the reason why I saw it again, for I just celebrated my own birthday in a similar way), make it clear that you can't get any cooler than that guy.
I suffer very much along with César. How everything turns against him, how nobody likes him anymore, and how his best friend becomes the worst traitor... though he's not any worse with César than César was with him before. Plus you do get the feeling that Sofía is being very mean... though it's more than common for a girl to want nothing with a guy she met, liked and kissed, all in one night.
I can't insist enough that this movie is a must. It is a rare piece that's enjoyable throughout though terrible things happen. The surreal touches are just perfect for the whole trip.
Alejandro Amenábar is my hero!
Morris wrote at 6/22/2002:
I'm impressed man. You really really like this movie. I love when that happens to anyone! Groucho wrote at 6/22/2002:
Yeah, I guess I do love this movie terribly much! You should see it again, friend. Groucho wrote at 11/8/2005 7:36:48 PM:
Just saw this film again (it's been countless times now), and [SPOILERS AHEAD] I noticed something I had missed before. It's incredible how there are still some details to be discovered. Or maybe I'm just plain dumb. Anyway, I realized that the park where César meets Sofía after the accident, where she tells him he's a monster anyway, then makes a funny face (all of which turns out to be a dream), which is the same where they walk together after she confesses she loves him in spite of everything, doesn't exist except in César's dreams! That's why he feels a deja vu, because he had dreamt about the place, but he's actually dreaming again. There is a "real" scene in a park, where he says it reminds him of a dream, but it's not the same park, or at least not the same beautiful spot. That's awesome!! Groucho wrote at 7/25/2006 1:36:03 PM:
The love keeps growing.New comments are temporarily disabled
Morris wrote at 6/22/2002:
I definitely agree on everything said here. This movie is great, mind-bending and truly bizarre. A rare achievement that must be experienced by everyone no matter if you'll love it or hate it.