Movie Reviews

Eyes Wide Shut

I must first say that I love Stanley Kubrick. I am a huge fan of his. And I thought that my admiration would get me through  despite my not liking Tom Cruise or Nicole Kidman.

 I should have listened when Bettie said "Don't go!! It's 3 hours of your life you'll never get back!!"

After sitting through this extremely slow, drawn out, completely plotless film I realized something: Stanley Kubrick didn't just die, he bored himself to death. That's what did it. This movie. Even the hyped up infamous "orgy scene" could bore someone to death. (Although it was around this point of the movie that I thought it might get better - may actually have potential - but alas - it was only the music I really liked...) Obviously the people complaining the loudest about it haven't seen it.

And for those that say it's the sexiest film ever - you're out of your ever-lovin' minds. Why did the London tabloids even suggest a story that Tom and Nicole had to have a sex therapist during the filming of their love scenes? What love scenes? That whole, entire 25 seconds of the movie that they're actually touching each other?

I could go on and on...but why bother. It's simply the worst movie I've ever seen in my life. Which is really too bad. I really wanted to see this. and I really wanted to like it.

But for every cloud there is a rainbow. The bright point of this film? The music. The score was very haunting and eerie. I loved it.
(Trixie, Aug. 1999)

Okay. I was forced to see a movie that I hadn't wanted to. Any movie with Nicole Kidman or Tom Cruise is an instant turn-off for me. So you can imagine how I loathed the thought of a movie with both of them in it. I say I was forced into seeing at as I heard so many differing opinions of it that I had to see it for myself to understand where everyone was coming from.

I think better choices for the leads in the movie may have been people like Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Actors with some substance at the very least. The movie itself actually held my interest. It was rather intriguing and slightly suspenseful. I was totally sucked in at the castle with the, let's just say, 'costume party.' I want a mask now. There were so many cool ones. I am amazed at just how little seemed to happen in such a long time, but I didn't feel that the movie was dragging too much. Well, except for in the scenes where Nicole and Tom are together.

Overall, I'd recommend seeing it, even if it is just to be in on the dinner conversations and to know what the hype is about. No loss if you don't see it though until it comes out on video.
(Sheila, Aug. 1999)

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