Studio:Warner Bros. ,Prod.& Dir.Stanley Kubrick,Stars Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman,Sydney Pollack, Marie Richardson,Rade Sherbedgia, Todd Field .Release date:Fri. July 16,1999..Theater:20scr.Movie played on:3 Theater was packed..Gross so far:Looks like the film of the week..

I am a Kubrick fan. I'll state that at the outset. Since he is now deceased, I went to this film expecting a closure to the canon, and I received it. Eyes Wide Shut (love the title) from the opening Kubrickian white on black titles, through the wide angle steadicam shots, from the first steps of perilous journey, through the end "punch line" spoken by Nicole, has just the right tone as the cap to a great career.
If, as I have always suspected, Stanley directed essentially the same movie, although in different genres, with various source materials, then the themes which permeated his canon are not only here, but all the "loose ends are tied", and in this film, the protaganists are redeemed, and the audience can sigh a collective sigh, and journey out into the real world feeling as if they escaped the clutches of doom, from which the protaganists of all other Kubrick films never do.
Alex, in Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, Hal 9000, Humbert Humbert, Jack Torrance,  Private "Pyle" in Full Metal Jacket, to name but a few.  Kubrick "heroes" are all but heroes. They are tragic figures. They are pawns in their oppressive worlds, doomed to tragedy, set upon by unrelenting forces, and they always fail. The message Kubrick posits seems to be that mankind is doomed by his environment, and by his foolishness. I get the feeling that Eyes Wide Shut is the tag line to the cosmic joke.It is so fitting that the film is the last work by this giant auteur of a filmmaker. Although somewhat long (I didn't notice the length) at about three hours (but then again, what Kubrick film is short?, maybe excepting The Killers) the film is excellently structured, and carries all the "trademarks" of his work. The pullback shots, the steadicam work, the interesting character placement.The fact that even though the setting is New York City, almost everything was shot within a ten mile radius of  Stanley's home in England.
Tom and Nicole are excellent. I am somewhat disappointed that the film is Tom's and Nicole is not in a lot of scenes, but why quibble. Her monologues are excellent, and one can see that she is much more than just a pretty face. (I've been following her career since the underrated Dead Calm). Tom even excites as an actor in this film. I really feel that the cameraderie on the set shows through the performances. Even the supporting characters and extras are wonderful.
I must say that the script was not that great, in my opinion. I was extremely upset at the fact that so much of the lines were repeated. (parroted) by the characters. I cannot think of a specific example, but there were quite a few in the film.Dr.  Bill Harford (Tom)  will ask a question of another character, and they will repeat the question. Or vice versa. It was annoying.
I recommend the film, but probably not as a date flick. The characters are questioning their sexuality, and I found myself thinking that married or otherwise attached couples in the audience might have spirited discussions upon leaving the theater. I really think this will intice some sparring from couples who are questioning their own sexuality.
Too bad Kubrick didn't have the "time" to make A.I. I'm sure it would have been a worthy successor to 2001, but since I know that he had the rights for this novel for years, and had contemplated making it, but didn't feel as if he were "ready", I am very glad it was completed before his death.
It almost seems as if it were preordained.
I disagree with Roger Ebert, who didn't like the ending because he feels it "needlessly" ties up loose ends. I think that is one of the film's strengths, as I said before.
My feeling is that this will get great numbers, and deservedly so. People didn't flock to Full Metal Jacket to see Matthew Modine. I don't even remember that The Shining was a hit when it came out, even though it starred Jack Nicholson. I know Barry Lyndon bombed. No one understood it at all. Some will not understand Eyes Wide Shut at all, either. They will be put off by the sexuality, and by the unnerving qualities of the piece, but like all of Kubrick, his art is subtle. The piece deserves to be seen quite a few times, and more will be revealed by each viewing. Stanley Kubrick was a true master, and will be greatly missed. Eyes Wide Shut is a fitting end to a great career.
I would also like to mention that I bought the DVD boxed set two weeks before the film came out, and viewed a few flicks in the canon before going to the theater to see Eyes. I would hope that other directors get these kinds of boxed sets, but hope they don't have to die before the sets are released.