The last masterpiece from Kubrick.

Rating: Null/10 (4 January 2003)

I heard a lot of people talk about this film before I saw it. The critics seemed disappointed with it, and I heard it mentioned that Mr Kubrick just made this movie as an excuse to surround himself with naked women. Yada-yada-yada... I had no preconceptions about the movie other than it was directed by Stanley Kubrick, a director who had always delivered smashing movies in the past. This film serves as a fitting epitaph to a master craftsman.
So what is the movie about? I think it is a mockery of English sexual repression and an attack on the male psyche. Far from being sexually explicit in content it is, in fact, extremely restrained. It is intellectually erotic but there is no heat of lust present, which is intentional. Victorian values are hammered home time and again (the "Dire consequences for Cruise's character and his family" spoken by the man in the red cloak at the masked orgy, and the hooker who turned out to be HIV positive that Cruise had nearly had sex with the night before), which is quite amusing. Kubrick is not preaching here, just gently mocking the country in which he resided and made his movies. Of course, the film wasn't only about that.
It can be taken for granted that every shot and scene was masterfully photographed, from the cinema verite style shots of New York streets to the arch-Gothic pathos of the masked orgy. It had a very film noir feeling throughout and the mystery of what is happening is interesting from start to end.
I do not think Tom Cruise could act his way out of a paper bag but somehow Kubrick got him to turn in a decent performance. The unusual soundtrack added plenty of atmosphere to the picture but really stole the scene, initially, in the masked orgy sequence. I also really enjoyed the way the naked women walked in that sequence - like androids with cold grace and perfect balance. I had never seen anything like it before and found it one of the most pleasing touches of the movie.
The last line of the film was a classic comedy moment. Kubrick essentially made comically black movies and this one was no exception in my mind.
I think this movie is equal to his best work, and better than some of his not so good movies. I give this movie 10 out of 10.