Kubrick's final masterpiece!

Rating: Null/10 (22 August 2000)

Don't believe the hype surrounding this film prior to viewing it. This is a simple film examining marital truths Kubrick-style. Why this film took so long to shoot, I don't know. Original cast members Jennifer Jason Leigh and Harvey Keitel were replaced mid-shoot with Marie Richardson and Sidney Pollock. It would have been interesting to see their contributions to this film (DVD, anyone?). Plus the orgy scene which had to be masked with digitized figures to gain an R-rating was uncalled for. I've seen the uncut version and it isn't anything that hasn't been seen in worse movies. Arthouse films are always the fall guy for this ratings madness. Tom Cruise gives a carefully understated performance which is tricky to a film like this. He could have broke his cool and unleashed it in a violent manner. Or, as he did in the film, he could choose the alternative. Nicole Kidman steals the film with her one monologue. Why she was not nominated for an Oscar is beyond me. Alan Cummings has a scene-stealing role as a hotel clerk. Definitely another feather in Kubrick's hat.