Highly Conservative

Rating: 6/10 (26 March 2001)

For a film that was advertised as the new 9 1/2 weeks, this is a very chilly film. The basic premise is that sex outside the sanctity of marriage will either kill or haunt you forever. There are some things to hate about this movie (that damned awful piano score) but also things to admire about it. If you feel this is Kubrick's worst movie, try sitting through Barry Lyndon. If Stanley was still alive I'd like to ask him what was up with Alan Cumming's character, was it supposed to be funny or just disturbing? I thought he was going to leap over the desk and kiss Cruise.
Overall, this film was a little suspenseful and NOT SEXY AT ALL. And the ending of the story with Kidman's promise to Cruise almost came off more like a threat. Or a life sentence. Whatever grandpa Stanley says, sex is not THAT scary. Not that I've ever been to his Hellfire club.
Out of four stars, 2 1/2. Interesting.