Abre los Ojos (1997)

Abre los Ojos (1997, SPA/FRA/ITA) C-117m. *** D: Alejandro Amenábar. Starring Edoardo Noriega, Penélope Cruz, Chete Lera, Fele Martinez, Najwa Nimri, Alejandro Amenábar. Amenábar's follow-up to his debut stunner TESIS (1996) is equally fascinating if admittedly outrageous psycho fantasy. Rich and handsome Noriega can get any girl he wants, but shies away from commitments. When he meets his friend's latest acquaintance Cruz, he is immediately infatuated, but does not live to see the romance bud, as his ex-girlfriend crashes their car deliberately - which kills her and leaves him disfigured. From then on, it's anyone's guess what's real and what's a dream or imagination. At least the frame narrative, where Noriega tells his story to a psychiatrist in prison, seems real. Unique thriller is not for all tastes, but Amenábar keeps things bubbling and makes some interesting observations about individual perception Have you ever really opened your eyes? Fine score by Mariano Marín and the director, who also coscripted with Mateo Gil. Remade by Cameron Crowe in 2001 as VANILLA SKY, which also starred Cruz. English title: OPEN YOUR EYES.


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© Ron Altman