Much respect to Kubick...but

Rating: 4/10 (1 August 2008)

I love Stanley Kubricks movies, absolutely love them.
Overall I felt this film was trying very hard to say something but fell flat. It is an ambitious attempt.
First the GOOD:
I love the idea of the film which was an exploration of one man's journey into sexual and moral discovery. Midway through the film you get the sense of an amazing thriller is being unleashed before you. I love the idea of Tom Cruise and Nichole Kidman (who were married back then) doing this movie.
The movie had the dry subtle humor that Kubrick was known for and I loved that part of it.
Now the BAD: There were a few problems with the film. My biggest annoyance was the dialog. Many times in the movie the dialog would go something like this: person:1"Take off your clothes" Tom Cruise: "Take...off...my...clothes"
So many times in the film someone would speak to Tom Cruises character telling him something and he would just repeat what they said back, but very very slowly. After the 5th time it got very very annoying.
The score was decent except for the single piano playing during suspenseful moments. A single piano note playing over and over again. Also very annoying.
The plot of the film had great aspirations but after the midway point I thought the suspense was built up in perfect Kubrick style but there was never any conclusion. Also Tom Cruises character had the most random thing happen to him that it seemed unrealistic and more or less unrelated to the plot of the movie.
Some of the scenes I felt went on for way too long like Nichole Kidmans crying scene when her husband came back form the party.
I have tried very hard to like this movie and was among the excited fans waiting to see this movie when it first came out.