6. Drama in the Drama
Eyes Wide Shut starred two huge A-listers: Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman who at the time “in real life” were one of the most talked about married couples. As a consequence there was a lot of commotion concerning Eyes Wide Shut, even in its very early stages. Kubrick was famously quite weary of big names. He preferred a solid ensemble cast but the guys at Warner Bros. urged him to choose a star, something that according to them he hadn’t done since Jack Nicholson in The Shining.
In 1995 the only slice of information that Warner Bros. released into the public sphere was that Kubrick was making “a story of sexual jealousy and obsession starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman”. The sort of tag line you could easily see splashed across gossip websites. Rumors started to buzz all over the place: Kubrick, the mad genius is making a porno. Tom Cruise will be wearing a dress. Kidman is being forced into it etc. etc.
Back to real life post-Eyes Wide Shut: Cruise filed for a divorce from Kidman in 2001, two years after the release of this film. However, due to their immense popularity the whole world zoomed in on the premiere for a glimpse of trouble in paradise. The photos taken of the red carpet form their very own spin-off movie: Cruise vs. Kidman. Here are two in which, according to gossip reporters, Kidman refused to pose with Cruise who then had a right go at her. She was left sour faced and alone.
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4 Comments
I really liked watching all the films about the meaning of Kubrick’s films that have come into prominence lately, particularly Room 237.
Chuck Klosterman wrote a great piece on several Kubrick films in what he’s called New Criticism (or digging extremely deep into a nuanced, interpretive analysis of what the director was suggesting, rather than filmed).
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8508523/documentary-year
Check it out, pretty good reading and the Youtube clips on there are a bit addictive. As a film buff, I think you’d like it.
Cheers Robert!
You make some good points. I guess it depends on your standpoint. I dont believe in the after life, although I am bringing a change of underwear. Woody Allen Born 1935
The alternative movie posters are just great, i especially like the design of Criterion Collection approach, the venetian mask collage in b/w.