Tom Cruise’s most underrated sci-fi film features a cameo from Steven Spielberg

The best types of cameos are those that are completely unexpected, sandwiched between innocuous scenes, or left in the background as a little treat that’s easily missed. Directors often make brief appearances in their own films, with some, like Alfred Hitchcock, appearing in a portion of their filmography (including as a telephone operator in The Lodger and carrying a trumpet case on the street in Vertigo). ). Like Hitchcock, a handful of directors appear in their own works – from Martin Scorsese to Peter Jackson – and they generally play smaller roles, with the exception of a few characters who become more important for storytelling or budget reasons.

Others, like Steven Spielberg, make brief cameo appearances in their colleagues’ films, such as as a man in an electric wheelchair in “Gremlins” or as an alien gracing a television monitor in “Men in Black.” Of course, this also extended to his own directing work. For example, we hear Spielberg’s voice as an Amity Point Lifestation Worker in Jaws and see him as a tourist at an airport in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Now, if I told you that Spielberg made a super-quick cameo in Cameron Crowe’s “Vanilla Sky,” you might treat that information like the fever dream that grips the edges of that particularly surreal film, but it’s actually true.

For context, “Vanilla Sky” tells the story of one David Aames (Tom Cruise), a billionaire playboy of sorts known for throwing lavish parties in Manhattan before his life is turned upside down by a riotous incident. David recounts a special birthday party that acts as a catalyst for his eventual fate, and here we see his friends and business associates streaming in, including a wild Steven Spielberg, who greets him with a cheery “Happy birthday, you son of Ab.” greeted ****!” before hugging him. I don’t remember seeing this cameo when I first saw Crowe’s film, as it’s part of a long montage leading up to the fateful meeting , focusing primarily on the expository narrative.

According to Far Out Magazine, Spielberg agreed to a cameo as a party guest in “Vanilla Sky” because he was working with Cruise on “Minority Report” around the same timewhich was intended to encompass the eccentricities of Philip K. Dick’s work along with the typical Spielbergian sensibilities that typically follow a blockbuster style. “Minority Report” ultimately proved to be a successful adaptation and a fascinating piece of futuristic science fiction in its own right, with a cameo that was a “thank you” from a fellow director. Yes, Crowe appears in Spielberg’s sci-fi thriller. He plays the role of a man riding the subway who takes an intense look at Cruise’s John Anderton, a crime expert who is now a wanted man.

Spielberg’s cameo in Vanilla Sky isn’t much of an Easter egg since it’s clearly visible to all, but there are other aspects of the film that hide some layers of symbolism that Crowe wanted to decipher for the audience themselves. It’s not controversial to say that “Vanilla Sky” provoked divisive reactions upon its release (and in some cases still does), but the experience Crowe creates bears the hallmarks of a cult favorite adored by those who Value a film over appearances, deception and appearances. The Easter eggs Crowe planted are worth exploring, and the director once told Vulture about the unexplored parts:

“There are a few things that people didn’t understand. But there’s a lot they’ve figured out. It’s a kind of shell game to figure out when the events in David Aames’ life change and when the reality, or the “dream,” begins. […] I don’t think this has ever come out before: I did a lot of subliminal music cues.”

If you’re interested in unearthing more details that are often overlooked at first glance, it’s time to watch “Vanilla Sky” again – and maybe this time we’ll really, truly open our eyes.