What a disappointment

Rating: 1/10 (25 July 1999)

What a disappointment!! Anyone who rated this movie higher than a 5 probably did so cause they liked all the nudity. But let me tell you, this movie was just down right horrible. And I love Stanley Kubrick films! Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket are both in my top 20 of favorite films. This is probably in the bottom 5 and I can't believe I sat through all 2 3/4 hours of this movie. As I left the theatre, it turns out I was not the only one who felt extremely disappointment by this movie. Everyone was complaining about this movie (for those who actually stuck out the entire film, there were several walk outs too).
Where did the movie go wrong? Well, first he cast Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise as the couple. Let's face it, Nicole and Tom are incredible actors on their own. (Kidman - To Die For, Portrait of a Lady, Dead Calm and Cruise - Rain Main, Jerry Maguire, A Few Good Men just to name a few). But the other 2 films that Cruise/Kidman starred together in (Days of Thunder and Far & Away) they just have absolutely no chemistry whatsoever. This movie just proved it one more time. If either of them is to ever win an Oscar, they should stop starring in movies together.
Second, personally I do think that Kidman is the better of the 2 actors and yet she was practically delegated to a supporting role. She is a strong actress and deserves a much better role than what this movie had to offer her. Did she have to be drunk during the dance scene? All this talk of the sex between her and Cruise was nothing compared to her porn-star romp with the Navy officer. Nicole, you deserve a much better part than what this movie offered. Tell your husband you love him and go find a movie script and a co-star that will help earn you an Oscar.
And Cruise, first, what's this with Doctor's flashing their badges everywhere they go? He was just not believable as a doctor? That whole badge thing was like "Hey, I'm a doctor here's my badge, now can you do something to help me get this plot out of a rut?"
Finally, just a few other things that bugged me. Was it necessary that the prositute have to have HIV? I realize that safe sex and HIV/AIDS awareness is an important topic, but it added nothing to this movie. I was slightly offended at the 13 year-old prostitute, just felt it wasn't necessary and quite disturbing. And yes, what's the big deal about having to block out the orgy scene? I mean, we saw the sex, we saw total frontal nudity. And let's face it, this movie should be NC-17 rated. No parents in their right mind would let their kids go see this movie. Then again, no parents in their right mind should go see this movie.
This movie is a sad finale for Stanley Kubrick. He's had a marvoulous film history with some of the most memorable, visual, thought-provoking movies of our time. It's a shame this had to be his last hurrah. If you've never seen any of Kubrick's other films, please rent them so you can appreciate the fact that he was a brililant director.
Well, that's my say. Oh, and get ride of that horrible music in the movie too. That was the most treacherous sound to my ears.