Kubrick's swan song is NOT his best work

Rating: Null/10 (17 July 1999)

Let me begin by saying that I am not the greatest fan of Kubrick's work so this may add weight to my review if anyone cares to read. The man is a genius at cinematography, atmospheric setting, and camera work. I'll concede that, however he is NOT the best storyteller in the world. I suppose that's not his intention. He would rather have his audience leave his films with a total sense of astonishment and force it upon them to fill in the gaps with their own interpretations, like an artist of oil paintings or exquisite sculptures.
I loved Strangelove, 2001, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, however Eyes Wide Shut left too much of an emptiness within me. The visual film elements are mesmerising, but the dialogue will drive you NUTS. Especially Nicole Kidman, who takes 5 minutes to complete every damn sentence for dramatic effect (partially due to being drunk in the opening party sequence and stoned in another key scene in their bedroom). This film explores a theme of jealousy and it's consequences. Although no actual extra-marital affairs exist in this film, Cruise's character is driven into an all-night journey into the sexual underworld because his wife wanted to be unfaithful to him when the couple was on vacation a year before these present events.
Cruise is emotionally devastated and wanders the night alone and then runs into all sorts of weirdos along the way and ends up in a very sinister mansion on Long Island where a cult-like masquerade ball orgy-fest occurs. I will divulge no further except to say that this half-hour sequence is the best part of the film and makes you sit up in your seat with enormous interest of what exactly is happening here and what is going to happen to Cruise. The plot could have really taken off from there, and in my opinion, could have turned the film into a seedy conspiracy-mystery crime thriller. Alas, no. All the potential that was drawn from the chain of events at this mysterious house was terribly wasted in the third act and the resolution to the whole thing was a serious let down. The ending turned what had become interesting and open to interpretation into a lame explanation that is too trite and tidy. The whole thing remained an almost three hour examination or thesis, if you will, on human reaction to jealousy and what one's imagination can do to a relationship.
To conclude, I really wanted Stanley's final gift to the movie-goer to be the masterpiece that the hype would have you believe. Sadly, it wasn't. Not the worst film he's made, but certainly nowhere near his best. Rest in peace, Mr. Kubrick...