Stanley Kubrick creates a film that still stands out among his filmography... A Masterpiece

Rating: Null/10 (11 June 2011)

1...2...3... Eyes Wide Shut! I always like to review films as soon as possible because I like to have a review that has been written right out of emotion after a film ends. It is only after time passes that I will see how my initial thoughts on it has changed or not. I don't even think that this will be put in effect here, simply because I doubt there will be much change in how I feel about this film as time passes by.
Kubrick is known for succeeding in creating films in different genres. Yet, one can still see his signature in all of his films. That is also present here, especially in the opening 20 minutes. Yet, it also stands- out quite apart from the rest of his films I have seen. It never once left me feel unattached. It never lingered for me, it never became dull at one moment.
First off, the acting. The only time I have seen a great performance by Cruise was in Magnolia (also the same year as this). I wouldn't call him a great actor because of one great performance though. This role demanded something different... and he was solid. It was not a great performance by any means, but he did well enough. Yet I can't help but think that maybe a better actor would have been more than capable of turning in a better performance. Cruise is out-staged by Nicole Kidman, who does have a lot of great performances under her belt, this being no exception. In fact, compared to her work in The Hours, The Others, and even Dogville, this performance might still be her finest yet.
I don't like putting out sections of films apart, and I won't do that except for the section in the middle of the film that is perhaps some of the finest filmmaking I have seen. It is an eerie, moody, sort of horrifying and suspenseful sequence that reminded me a lot of David lynch. It's truly captivating and absorbing filmmaking, and even Kubrick should be proud of that.
I am surprised to say that this is also a very ambiguous film, perhaps even his most ambiguous (yeah, I know, how is that possible when 2001 still exists). I think I can safely say that this is Kubrick's 3rd masterpiece (out of 6 Kubrick films seen, impressive!). I also recommend it to fans of Lynch (who is probably my other favorite director).