Stanley Kubrick's movie CV is a case of quality over quantity, with many of his films being considered the best of their respective genres.
2001: A Space Odyssey had a seismic impact on the sci-fi genre, and critics and viewers continue to puzzle over it. With The Shining, Kubrick set out to make one of the best horror movies of all time, and while author Stephen King would disagree, he certainly achieved that goal. Kubrick's final project turned out to be Eyes Wide Shut, an erotic thriller that still holds the record for the longest continuous film shoot in history at over 15 months. The film adapted the 1926 novella Dream Story, which Kubrick once envisioned as a comedy starring Steve Martin.
Stanley Kubrick Thought Eyes Wide Shut Was His Best Movie
The final version of Eyes Wide Shut starred Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, who were married at the time of production. The iconic filmmaker died only a few days after finishing the theatrical cut and being that Eyes Wide Shut was Kubrick's last film and had spent so long in production, expectations were naturally high. Reviews for the film were somewhat mixed, however, though its reputation has grown considerably since its 1999 release. According to Kubrick collaborator and brother-in-law Jan Harlan (via Times Square Magazine), the director himself "... considered “Eyes Wide Shut” his greatest contribution to the art of the cinema."
Why Eyes Wide Shut Is Not The Best Kubrick Film
To be clear, Eyes Wide Shut is an INCREDIBLE movie. It's a fascinating, dreamy descent into a hellish underworld for its main character. Cruise and Kidman turn in some of their most vulnerable work as actors, the cinematography and design are gorgeous and the film leaves it up to audiences to interpret its meanings. That said, it's not a film without faults, and it's something of a credit to Kubrick that even a low-key masterpiece isn't actually his best work.
What should be regarded as Kubrick's best film is entirely subjective, of course. Dr. Strangelove is one of the most perfectly formed dark comedies (and anti-war movies) of all time. In of popular culture, pretty much every frame of The Shining - from the Grady Twins to the elevator of blood or "Here's Johnny!" - has imprinted itself in the collective consciousness. Few films will ever rival 2001's impact on a genre or the controversy raised by A Clockwork Orange. Eyes Wide Shut sits comfortably with all of the above, but it isn't quite Kubrick's greatest gift to the art form either.
Source: Times Square Magazine
