Vanilla Sky has everything. It is tender but with a raw edge, has an emotional side set against supreme shallowness and floats along yet has an engaging thriller storyline.

It is just a cracker. Tom Cruise stars as David Aames, a publishing magnate with everything, including a penchant for fast cars, fast women and the fast lane.

His latest fancy is Cameron Diaz’s flighty character, Julie Gianni. Like all his conquests, there is nothing permanent between them.

However, the morning after he meets his true love (Penelope Cruz), Julie goes wacko, driving him off a bridge in her car.

Aames is horrifically scarred and his world unravels, until he is offered some miraculous medical treatment.

The face is healed but the mental scars are not.

Cruise is very good, particularly when Aames is confined to a mask and is still able to exude emotions. Kurt Russell shows up as Aames’ psychiatrist, while Cruz (reprising her role in the Spanish original) is enchanting.

Some critics slated Vanilla Sky but it is a winner — just make sure you stay alert through to

the end.