Masterpiece only if Master!

Rating: Null/10 (31 July 2001)

I don't recall when I became a fanatical follower of Kubrick's. Perhaps it was The Shining, or perhaps A Clockwork Orange. What I do recall, though, is the fact that I was enthralled by such a technique; a technique which relinquishes all thought of art. A movie is general, generic, but what Kubrick did was art, but in his own right it was film, he made film. He exposed it, he framed it, he thought about it, he pondered it, he took it over and over and over again until it reached the level of being exhaustive....but when it was bathed in its chemical bath, that is when the celluloid turned into film, when it turned into a relative state of art.
Now I must admit, when I first heard that this piece was coming out, I could not believe it. I respect Tom Cruise, the man has worked with some of the finest directors in American History, that has to say something. When he was chosen, when I heard, I could not wait. Actually, it was much more than that, but my words fail me at the moment, unfortunately. Fast forward two years-plus, and you have Friday, June 16, 1999. I thought I would die before I'd ever get to see this film. Fortunately, I did not, I saw it and I was indifferent. Since that time I have pondered about the film, have seen it two other times at the cinema and once more on DVD. It was not his greatest work, I will be the first to admit that, but it was not a crap either. Many were disappointed when 2001 came out, too abstract: now, it is untouchable, it is infallable. EWS may not have been all that great, and analysts in the years to come may find excuses. But here is one, and a darn good one: It is Kubrick. Kubrick made the film. If anyone else would have attempted to make it, I would disagree, but, there are touches that he (Kubrick) had made throughout his career, that were evident on the piece. Therefore, enjoying Kubrick is to enjoy this film, and vice-versa.
Two years have already passed, and tonight, for the first time in a year, I will return to see it. This is a plea, to all those who I am sure, "know" films: take a second shot at it. Look at it again...but this time with eyes wide open.