Twelve years after Full Metal Jacket, Stanley Kubrick bowed out and signed off on his final film, The Fourteenth: Eyes Wide Shut. In the 1960s, he bought the rights to a story by Austrian writer Arthur Schnitzler under the title. A trauma novel. This story of a drifting couple was an ideal basis for him to explore the cinematic relationship between sexual relations and the tension that arises from it, between jealousy and passion.
But if the master began to think about the adaptation of the author’s story in the 60s, the production began only in 1996 in London, in absolute secrecy. And, in the tradition of Kubrick’s maniacal perfectionism, the duration of the shoot will break all records and give approval to the most prominent star couple of the time: Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise.
It was also the blessing of a very rich career for the actor. He had already filmed with great directors such as Sidney Pollack, Brian De Palma, Martin Scorsese or Oliver Stone. Collaborating with a living legend like Stanley Kubrick would only help establish the actor in Hollywood.
Endless shooting
Cruise therefore did not hesitate a moment when the master invited him to his mansion in Hertfordshire to discuss his character with him. But until this meeting, which would establish their collaboration, Kubrick was very hesitant to give her the role. This is Co-Executive Officer From Warner Bros., Terry Semel, who told him that Cruise would be a safe bet for his film.
If Kubrick has long enjoyed Warner’s colossal trust, we imagine it would also be inappropriate for the director to upset the studio, which had previously given him near-total freedom, if not alone. It should also be remembered that The Master hasn’t toured with a major star since Jack Nicholson.
When they landed in London in the fall of 1996, the couple expected to return to Hollywood in the spring. Instead, they stayed all summer, fall, and another Christmas. Filming ended in January 1998; But in May they were called back for a few months to do new covers. In total, they will spend 15 months Eyes closedGuinness World Record for longest continuous shooting.
A flexible, endless duration for Cruise, who also had to keep an eye on the activities of his production company Cruise/Wagner and multiply round trips between the United States and London. quoted in the book Tom Cruise: Anatomy of an Actor About Amy Nicholson he will say: “I remember talking to Stanley and saying, ‘Listen Stanley, I don’t care how long this is going to take, but I want to know: Is it going to be over in six months? People waited, writers waited.” Stanley. I don’t care if you tell me it’s been two years.”
An actor known for his extensive preparation for high-profile roles, Cruise was deeply troubled by Kubrick’s working methods, who also refused to show daytime races daily; Practice is used extensively by Cruz to improve or correct his act.
Involvement and frustration such that the actress developed an ulcer during filming, which Kubrick even tried to hide … and filming Homer for the couple Kidman – Cruise, who split within two years of the film’s release.
If no Eyes closed Is one of Kubrick’s lowest rated films judging by your ratings, obviously still a film to see and (re)discover, if only to see Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in the film. It is available on Amazon Prime as well as VOD.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
