Genius. The performances are excellent throughout, especially Nicole Kidman's, the soundtrack is brilliant, but what elevates it to being a truly great movie is the direction of Stanley Kubrick, who tragically died shortly after the movie was completed. Eyes Wide Shut is a sublime achievement which restored my faith in the art of cinema, and I think ranks above most of Kubrick's other movies, except maybe Dr. Strangelove. Stanley Kubrick was certainly eccentric (as he would not leave the country, Greenwich Village had to be reconstructed in London) and was said to film each scene hundreds of times, but if this is the result then it's worth it. Some have dismissed Eyes Wide Shut as a poorly made porno flick but they do a superb job of missing the point. I can't be bothered to explain the plot here, go and see it, it's very good.
The Players:
Tom Cruise as Ben
Nicole Kidman as Alice
written by Ed in December 1999