REVIEWS

"EYES WIDE SHUT"

"Eyes Wide Shut" is the final film made by the great Stanley Kubrick. He died late in the post-production process, and a lot has been said about what was tampered with. Lemmie settle the argument right now: Yes, there is an American version and an International version, and the International version IS more graphic. That being said, it needs to be stated that the American version isn't a single frame shorter. The difference is that the images that the evil bastards at the MPAA deemed to be too much for American audiences were obstructed by digitally created people. I'm not happy about that, but hopefully the DVD will offer the International version (but I doubt it since the other Stanley Kubrick films on DVD, including those in "The Stanley Kubrick Collection," are disappointing as far as the extras they have to offer). Anyway, despite the obstruction of some potentially eye-opening moments, "Eyes Wide Shut" is a fascinating, thought-provoking descent into what may be Stanley Kubrick's most personal film ever... though not necessarily his best.

I'm writing this a week after the film's release, so it may not be the case anymore, but when I saw "Eyes Wide Shut" this past Saturday, very little was known as far as what the movie was about. There was speculation, rumors, and all that kinda crap, but the movie I saw and the movie I expected to see ended up being two completely different movies. I don't wanna give away anything, but if you're expecting wall-to-wall sex, you're gonna be disappointed. Though there ARE a few steamy moments in the movie, it's a very low-key, cerebral film that takes some thinking. In other words, it's a Stanley Kubrick movie.

Stanley Kubrick always used music well in his movies, and "Eyes Wide Shut" is no exception. The music is simple, but SO creepy. It's haunting notes are used throughout, and it's very effective.

The acting is first-rate. Tom Cruise is a great actor, and this film is another to add to his very impressive resume. However, as great as Tom Cruise is, his wife, Nicole Kidman, is definitely the most powerful presence in the film. Her performance is phenomenal, and an Oscar nomination is almost guaranteed. If she doesn't get nominated, it'll be a true injustice. Every word out of her mouth, every movement she makes, every facial expression, everything about her performance is absolute perfection. Look at her and the way she says "if you men only knew." Also, she's never looked sexier. That's a pretty big statement coming outta me, because though I've always thought she was pretty, I never saw her as a knockout or anything. Well, she's definitely a knockout here. Whether undressed or fully clothed, her beauty is stunning.

The other performances are very good, too. Sydney Pollack plays "Victor Ziegler," Tom Cruise's wealthy friend in the movie. The role originally belonged to Harvey Keitel, and as much as I like Harvey Keitel, I'm glad Sydney Pollack got the role. He was perfect, and quite honestly, I really can't see Keitel as that character. Also, Jennifer Jason Leigh was supposed to play "Marion," the woman whose father died (not a spoiler, don't worry), but she was replaced by Marie Richardson. Marie Richardson was fine, but I think Jennifer Jason Leigh woulda been a lot more interesting. There were two scenes with Leelee Sobieski (she played the title character in the "Joan of Arc" TV mini-series and she was Elijah Wood's girlfriend in "Deep Impact"), and though her role was small, it's not one that you're gonna forget any time soon. She plays the young daughter of a man who owns a costume shop and she's great in the film, and with almost no dialogue.

"Eyes Wide Shut" was based on (actually, I think it was "inspired by") an obscure novel called "Traumnovelle" by Arthur Schnitzler. The screenplay was written by Kubrick and Frederic Raphael (a guy who wrote stuff I've never heard of), but despite the source material not being his and having a partner work with him on the screenplay, this movie is all Kubrick. As a matter of fact, the set for the home of the characters played by Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman was modeled to be exactly like Kubrick's own home. Freaky.

This movie is very deep, but not as much as most Kubrick's movies. It even seems to suggest you NOT dig too deeply. "A Clockwork Orange" and "2001" are far superior to this film, but that's okay, this movie is still very good. Still, it's about two hours and forty-five minutes long, and it does drag a bit. This is not a movie for everyone. I think that some will love it and some will hate it, but for film geeks and fans of Kubrick, his last film doesn't disappoint.

Scale of 1-10: 9