Kubrick's final masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (18 July 1999)

EYES WIDE SHUT is Kubrick's final masterpiece. This has been his best cinematic psychology thesis since A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. I'm pretty confident that any fan of Stanley Kubrick will not be disappointed. It has the basic elements of any of his masterpieces: dark mood, surreal backdrops, violent nature and a psychological lesson to talk amongst the more cerebral moviegoer.
First and foremost, the mood ,which is classic Kubrick, is dark and mesmerizing. From the first shot of Nicole Kidman's naked back, the eyes are drawn into the celluloid screen. His use of neon and city lights only add more to the sexual and dangerous atmosphere that he's created. From the beginning, his camera eye throws the audience into each scene as a vulnerable bystander.
Second, the characters have a strong sense of detachment. Where some people may have a problem with this and may be accused of being two-dimensional, Kubrick fans should not be surprised. The characters in his previous films displayed the same sense of detachment. (History shows that only a handful of actors have been nominated for awards.) And once again, this is all Kubrick. However, I must note that Nicole Kidman gives her best performance of her career, thus far.
And also, the music is top-notch. The piano and strings become the blood stream for the film's intense moments. (Watch out for the music played in the masquerade scene. It literally SCARED me.)
I really don't seen any flaws in this picture. Seeing Tom Cruise in such a controversal film does not shock me thanks to his role as a vampire in INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE. The story was original, creative and as usual he does not provide a "Hollywood" ending which is unusual for a summer movie. However, Sidney Polluck's character should have had a surrealistic edge to him. Something like Peter Sellers in LOLITA. Sidney Polluck acted like...Sidney Polluck.
Nevertheless, the wait was worth it. I realize that there are many negative reviews about it but I believe it's because it's not a "Hollywood" movie and also because the movie is different than what most people expected. I think they'll like and accept it after another well-deserved look.
One last note: thank you Mr. Kubrick. You are an inspiration to those who expect a lot more from the films they enjoy watching.