Disappointing

Rating: 5/10 (19 July 1999)

Although I consider myself a Kubric fan, I was disappointed in this film. The catalyst for the plot is Nicole's character's admission that she was tempted not just to cheat on her husband, but also to give up her marriage and child for just one night with some guy she never even had a conversation with. Give me a break! Since Nicole's character is not a total flake, I had a major problem believing this. I also thought the plot was overly moralistic and misogynistic. Women who indulge in promiscuous sex are severely punished while men are not (the Sydney Pollack character). There is excessive female nudity, while Tom rarely takes off his over-coat. There are many nude scenes of Nicole, and when she's not naked, she's frequently clad in just her underwear. The orgy scene was ridiculous with the digitized cover-ups. This movie dragged on in what seemed like real time. On the plus side, I loved the look of the film, as well as the cinematography and use of light. Tom was perfectly cast.