Believe the hype

Rating: 10/10 (16 July 1999)

Believe the hype - the movie delivers. Excellent performances by Kidman, Cruise and the rogue's gallery of supporting actors. Every shot in this movie belongs to Kubrick- the atmosphere, the sets, the psychology. A few things nag, however, at what the film might have been if Kubrick were still alive. The digital alterations during the "Orgy" sequence, while not disruptive, have corrupted the director's vision. The Studio's decision to add these images has betrayed the viewers and the very principle Kubrick worked his whole life to convey. This, and the shoebox ending, are possibly its only flaws. See the film as an opportune, provocative social essay, but view it also as the final chapter of an equally provocative, yet timeless, career.