A moving end to a spectacular career.

Rating: 10/10 (1 January 2000)

Considering Stanley Kubrick's track record, I was amazed to see Eyes Wide Shut garnering negative press from many distinguished sources. However, once I remembered that most of Kubrick's films initially confused and shocked most of the viewers, I could understand why people would give it negative reviews. I felt certain that the film would rise above the bad press. And when I saw the film I was vindicated. The film drew me in and didn't let go for days. Kubrick has capped off his career with one of his very best films. The script was intense and engaging, Tom Cruise was great and Nicole Kidman gave one of the most moving monologues I've seen in a movie. I think one reason the film got bad press was because the highly toted sex in the film is very slight, most of it was shown in the trailers. This is not a sex film, it is a film about sex and fidelity and how these actions and ideas intertwine and create emotions, often highly irrational emotions, within people. One of the most incredible aspects of the film is the way the plot really does draw you in, whether you know it or not. By the time I got to the "New York Underground Orgy" scene which was so controversial, I was so engrossed in the plot that the sex did not get a reaction out of me, and that is a big achievement. Overall, Eyes Wide Shut is one of Kubrick's best films, with incredible acting, amazing directing, and a storyline and dialogue that should, and probably will, be taught in film schools.