Oh what a shame!

Rating: Null/10 (18 November 1999)

How sad that this was Stanley Kubrick's last film! His other movies were such masterpieces. It had just started becoming an interesting psychological thriller and it ended, prompting me to believe that the film was not really finished as the Industry would have us believe. The story was flawed, sophomoric and amateurish in comparison to the visionary "2001" and the suspense of "The Shining". It also seemed an attempt by Kubrick to emulate (a nice word for copy) Greenaway.
But the worst part was the acting! I just about retched during Mrs. Cruise's drunken party scene. It wasn't just ham acting it was the whole herd of pigs. The woman is the very definition of a bimbo! And how about Dr. Bill saving the OD'ing woman with the power of his squeaky, adolescent voice alone! Then the Marijuana scene...my god such naievety. I can believe that Tom and Nicole haven't done any drugs in their Scientology-dominated lives but someone on the set must have been able to say..."Uh, gee I've never seen stoned people behave that way before...what exactly is in that joint?" Haven't they heard of method acting? OK, I'm no fan of either of them but these performances were simply too revolting. I can only say good things about some of the supporting cast in comparison. The costume shop owner Milich and the distraught daughter in love with Tom (Helena?) were the two most striking performances.
I could go on and on but won't. I am sorely disappointed and saddened that I saw this film and that it has tainted my otherwise great respect for a masterful film-maker. My only comfort is that I suspect that Mr. Kubrick may have died due to having viewed the atrocious acting of his two leads one time too many during editing. 3 out of 10 was my rating and that only out of respect for the Director.