A must for the Kubrick collection.

Rating: 7/10 (12 February 2002)

I can understand how this is not a movie for everyone. The slow pace and anti-climactic ending bother me, considering the tremendous combined talent that spend 18 months on this film. But I find it to be forgiveable, considering the many high points of this film. The attention to minor details and characters made Dr. Bill's journey more intriguing. Dr. Bill was painfully bland, sort of an everyman. I too, was drawn in by that hooker with a heart of gold. The scene where Dr. Bill is brought in to be questioned before the man in the red cloak at the orgy is chilling, no matter how many times I see it, as it is when he is getting stalked on the streets. And the movie kept my interest, especially as Dr. Bill's actions the night before eat away at him as he searches for Nick and Mandy until he finally breaks down at home with his wife. And as always, the grand director has created a surreal and fascinating world in this film. To me, that's what makes watching movies worth it. You get lost in it and in this case, it stays with you after it's over. Whether you've seen other Kubrick films or not I hope you can understand what he was trying to accomplish with this.