So I have been watching Vanilla Sky for about two years now trying to figure it out. I watched it last night and finally understood (all thanks to Gatsby). The reality of the movie and the dream are purposely confused and intertwined to make the point that he was living his real life in his illusions. At one point she asks him who painted one of the pictures on his wall, but he addresses the pictures on both sides and ignores the one he was asked about--it's a really queer scene for a reason: his avoidance of the picture symbolizes his inability to face reality. Moving onto the lucid dream (ironically titled) he experiences a "revolution of the mind"--in other words he is disillusioned. In the end, after his awakening or dissillusion he is given the choice between a real life or his dream--a realist perspective or the preservation of idealism. Once reaching this point, the famous "sweet and sour speech" finds its important role in the movie. The message is saying that life is worth more when living with a realistic outlook. Idealism is a tool of survival--a fabricated illusory existence. The Great Gatsby ends "SO we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past"--Gatsby dies in his illusions--This is one option of the lucid dream, but in the end he choose reality because "The sweet isn't as sweet without the sour."

Next time we hang out sam I'll show you some really cool things in the movie.