[7]

In the final film from Stanley Kubrick, a socialite couple (Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman) get in over their heads when they decide to follow their adulterous impulses. This movie gets a bad rep, but I think it's primarily because the casting of two superstars led to more commercial audience expectations. It's a more intimate portrait than that, and beautifully made. I really love the weed-smoking scene, especially for the sinister undertone in Kidman's performance. She outshines Cruise in this movie. Thematically, I enjoyed the exploration of infidelity -- men's, women's, real, imagined.  I find it interesting that the female character needs her husband to acknowledge her desires, while he seems uncomfortable acknowledging his own. (Ironic casting of Cruise?  I think so.) And of course, it's also fun to see the posh, clandestine orgy scene of Kubrick's dreams (with the full-frontal shots restored to the most recent DVD and blu-ray releases).

Sydney Pollack is memorable in a supporting role, the photography is exquisite, and the soundtrack is a bizarre but effective assemblage that includes Shastakovitch, Chris Isaak, and Hindu chants.  I used to hate the ending, but I think I’ve come around. Kubrick endings are like open flesh wounds. They never heal. But that also makes them hard to forget.