EWS Fails To Live Up To The Kubrick Legacy

Rating: 1/10 (17 July 1999)

I like Stanley Kubrick. What director can boast of such a wide variety of films and styles while maintaining such a high level of work? Few, and Kubrick was one of them. The man was a filmmaking genius. No one can argue that point. However, we CAN argue the merits of individual films within a lifetime of work, and EWS would have to rank as a major disappointment when measured against Kubrick's past achievements.
The film was beautiful visually. Kubrick certainly had his own vision, as every good director does, and his fans certainly won't be disappointed from this perspective. As far as the craft of making films goes, EWS was often fantastic. However, the actual story drags in places, which isn't good for such a long film. In fact it was so much so that I heard some of the 30 or so patrons in the theater begin to make comments to the screen about it. Some movies are meant to be interactive, with cheering and such, but when a film generates only "get on with it!" and lots of "sheesh"es, it's not a good thing.
Sydney Pollack was extremely solid in his role. Nicole Kidman's rear end did a fine job. And the whole scene of the orgy party was very well done. Another highlight was Alan Cumming, who provided a much-needed wake-up and comic relief as the hotel clerk. But these were not enough to save the film.
I suppose that we should all play nice and rave about EWS, seeing as the master filmmaker died just after its completion. And I suppose that we should also go along with some fawning critics and claim this is a wonderful film, worthy of praise alongside truly amazing Kubrick films like 2001 and Dr Strangelove, because, after all, it's his last film. We should, I suppose, also ignore Nicole Kidman's weak performance (her pot smoking scene was laughable, and performance generally shallow), Tom Cruise's overwrought emotional performance (which was, barring the often senseless crying and whining, nicely done), a piano soundtrack that threatens to cause insanity, and a totally inadequate and weak end scene. Why? Well, it was Kubrick's last film, of course.
Baloney. The truth is, unless you're serious Kubrick fan, or a die-hard Kidman or Cruise fan, you're bound to be disappointed. Like mystery? It's here only as a misleading force. Like romance? Look elsewhere. Want drama? There's some, but it's fairly bland stuff. EWS takes on many angles and delivers on precious few of them. True, it's nice to have someone take a "mature" look at sex and relationships, and to do it intelligently and seriously. Intelligent films are a good thing, when done right. There are elements of genius in this film, but it simply doesn't come together in a way that relieves the boring stretches and overshadows the weak performances and ending.
I can't imagine that this film is going to be a favorite among the general movie-going public. I'm sure that that's just how die-hard Kubrick fans would want it, and that's great for them. However, to fans like myself who have enjoyed Kubrick's work in the past, and had high expectations for this film, it's a disappointment. Looking back now I can't understand the secrecy or hype around the movie. And I'm guessing that neither will most movie fans.