Eduardo Noriega ... César
Penélope Cruz ... Sofía
Chete Lera ... Antonio
Fele Martínez ... Pelayo
Najwa Nimri ... Nuria
Gérard Barray ... Duvernois (señor TV)
Category: Suspense
Rated: R for brief nudity, language and simulated sex
This 1997 Spanish film is the story upon which Vanilla Sky was based and is much more enjoyable. Eduardo Noriega lacks Tom Cruise's arrogance. Penelope Cruz plays Sofia in both films and does a fine job although as one reviewer at IMDB points out, her performance in the original is somehow more appealing. She seems to more readily "become" Sofia in Abre Los Ojos. She seemed to somehow bring the aspects of her own personality that are similar to those in the personality of the Sofia character to the surface.
I found myself eager for the next scene as I watched. The actors' performances were powerful and intense and really brought the story to life. Najwa Nimri was smoldering and scary as hell as the disturbed and disturbing Nuria, luring the self-absorbed playboy Cesar deeper and deeper into a nightmare. Noriega pulls the viewer into his character's psyche, making us feel his terror and bewilderment. He is a truly gifted actor. While Penelope Cruz' performance as Sofia is well crafted and believable, Noriega and Nimri truly make the film. Chete Lera is solid and credible as Cesar's psychiatrist Antonio, Fele Martinez is a believable blend of sympathetic and pathetically jealous as Cesar's best friend Pelayo, and Gerard Barray is sleekly diabolical as Duvernois AKA Senor TV, the head of the mysterious corporation that is at the center of Cesar's troubles, whether it be an entity constructed of delusion or whether the delusions are constructed by the activities of the corporation.
Grab your popcorn and turn on your subtitles (unless, of course, you are fluent in Spanish.) This one will have you on the edge of your seat!
I found myself eager for the next scene as I watched. The actors' performances were powerful and intense and really brought the story to life. Najwa Nimri was smoldering and scary as hell as the disturbed and disturbing Nuria, luring the self-absorbed playboy Cesar deeper and deeper into a nightmare. Noriega pulls the viewer into his character's psyche, making us feel his terror and bewilderment. He is a truly gifted actor. While Penelope Cruz' performance as Sofia is well crafted and believable, Noriega and Nimri truly make the film. Chete Lera is solid and credible as Cesar's psychiatrist Antonio, Fele Martinez is a believable blend of sympathetic and pathetically jealous as Cesar's best friend Pelayo, and Gerard Barray is sleekly diabolical as Duvernois AKA Senor TV, the head of the mysterious corporation that is at the center of Cesar's troubles, whether it be an entity constructed of delusion or whether the delusions are constructed by the activities of the corporation.
Grab your popcorn and turn on your subtitles (unless, of course, you are fluent in Spanish.) This one will have you on the edge of your seat!
