Cool News
The Scrubbing Bubble takes a look at EYES WIDE OPEN... yeah it's about that Kubrick film...
Hey folks, Harry here. I forwarded this review to Moriarty for comment since I'm scared of spoilers falling across my eyes on this... Kubrick's last film. This is not a review of the film, but rather a fascinating book that... I'll buy AFTER I see the movie, but you might want to pick up sooner. Moriarty should be finishing his piece on this book tomorrow. Do take note that there ARE SPOILERS below....
It's in your bookstores now. A book about Stanley Kubrick that you cannot
pass up under any circumstances.
It's written by the man who spent two years working on the screenplay for
EYES WIDE SHUT with Mr. Kubrick. It's an incredible look at the creative
process that went into making the film. It's also chock full of spoilers so
watch out.
Frederic Raphael's memoir of his time working with Stanley Kubrick is
wonderful. Anyone who writes scripts should read it. Anyone who loves Mr.
Kubrick's work should read it. Everyone should read it.
Here's a few interesting tid bits to spark your interest...
SPOILERS AHEAD
1) Kubrick toyed with the idea of using KIM BASINGER and ALEC BALDWIN in the
leads!
2) Cruise and Kidman don't play shrinks. Cruise plays a doctor and Kidman
(in the early drafts of the script) plays a painter.
3) Cruise is in every scene of the film. Kidman is in it quite less.
4) Don't expect a film dripping with pornographic images. The movie is an
erotic suspense thriller as only Stanley Kubrick could make it. It involves
Cruise's character being drawn into an underground sex circuit called THE
FREE after he and Kidman begin revealing their dreams of sleeping with other
people to each other.
Spoilers aside, I was really moved by this book. Raphael paints a picture of
Kubrick that is simultaneously exasperating and endearing. Their endless
phone conversations are reprinted here word for word. The book ends, of
course, with Kubrick's death. I read the last page with heartbreak. Once
you read this book you'll really have a better understanding of Mr. Kubrick
and why the day he died was such an incredible loss for cinema.
Bravo. Dish out the twelve bucks and buy the book. For a record of a
director's last film, taking you from conception to shooting script, it's
worth tons more.
As Always,
THE SCRUBBING BUBBLE
-
+ Expand All
-
Stanley Kubrick's death was such a loss. First him, then DeForest Kelley... :-(
-
Jun 21, 1999 4:00:15 AM CDT
There's an article in the June 14th issue of the New Yorker but
by paragonian
I've already read a lot of Kubrick stuff, I didn't even know who he was until about a year ago when I was trying to see all the movies on the AFI list and stumbled onto a couple of his films then more and then a couple of biographies. The only ones I'd seen before were Full Metal Jacket (great for insults, although probably not intended as comedy) and The Shining ( best King horror film adaptation). Of course I fell asleep during Dr. Strangelove but it was cause I was tired as hell and now it's my favorite Kubrick film and I've seen all of em except Fear and Desire which is probably really bad anyway. I don't know if Kubrick's a genius or anything, he seemed like a self absorbed, megalomanical, egotistical, spoiled, heartless bastard from what I'd read of his early days. But then when he got to Strangelove that's when he got more involved in his films, stretched film technology and learned all about his subject matter and completely controlled all aspects of everything to the last detail, probably to a fault though. I do wish he would've made a lot more films and maybe have done some small personal ones but from what he's done he's my favorite filmmaker so far. There's a lot struggling filmmakers can learn from him though cause he made it back in the fifties the way independents like Rodriguez do nowdays. I refuse to get this book until after I've seen the movie though, I'm going in eyes wide shut.
-
If only Rosie O'Donnell would die... Maybe she'll choke on one of those toasted goat turds that she always scarfs down!
-
what do I see??? Eyes Wide Shut or Blair Witch Project firsT????
-
She basically says what I read above. Tom and her aren't shrinks. They are married and have a child. She also claims sex is a small part of the story. Also, it's only very loosely based on "Traumnovelle" by Arthur Schnitzler. One quick comment before I go: whoever said The Shining is the best King adaptation is so way off. Kubrick destroyed the book. The movie wasn't all that bad, but he changed it so much that it became nothing like Stephen King's work at all. The mini-series, in my opinion, was a better adaptation. And don't jump down my throat. I love Strangelove, 2001, and A Clockwork Orange. I just feel The Shining could have been much, much better. Jack Nicholson wasn't scary because Kubrick sucked the humanity out of him. He was supposed to be a human struggling with alcoholism, not some crazy lunatic. Oh well, nobody makes a career of masterpieces, although he came mighty close.
-
Kubrick's The Shining was an astounding dissappointment for me (it was mortally wounded by Kubricks wanton modifications). Also, Hear! Hear! for the comment about the miniseries being the superior screen adaptaion of a King work. For me, it was one of the greatest moments ever on television!
-
I was interested to hear that sex is a minor element as I saw the trailer for the first time this week. I suppose,though, that I'd rather see a misleading trailer than a trailer with literally every surprising shot from the film.
-
I'd just like to go on the record saying that Kubrick's "Shining" is a facinating and encaging horror film, but as a Stephen King book adaptation, it falls about in the middle. The best are, arguably, "Shawshank Redemption", "Stand By Me", and "Misery". All three "Shining"s (including the mini-series) are great works, but Kubrick's vision is really nothing like what King had in mind. Bud anyone who derides Kubrick really doesn't have any sort of grasp on film. Even if you HATE his body of work, it's impossible to reasonably argue against the fact that he influenced both his contemporaries as well as more recent filmakers to an extent rivaled only by Hitchcock and Welles. Every post I've seen on here arguing otherwise sounds like the ranting of a mentally disturbed six year old (and I imagine we'll see more of the same below.) To think a couple of days ago we may have lost King as well is downright ... scary.
-
Damn! Full Metal Jacket was still good! Screw set pieces and alla that, it was perfect...by the way...me love you long time.
-
that Kubrick is the grand master of everything artistic and everything else!
-
Last weeks issue of Entertainment Weekly had an extensive article regarding Kubricks A.I. The article mentioned what Kurick had in mind for the film and also contained Deniis Murens recolections about meeting Kubrick at his home in England to discuss the FX and about the FX test he showed him. Yes there was going to be the much rummored underwater city and it's also interesting to read what the FX artist had in mind for the look of the android boy.
-
The Shining is, in my opinion, the best horror film ever. It is the one movie that just me this creepy feeling every second I watch it. I have never seen a building in a film have such character. This house in Jan De Bont's The Haunting remake only wishes it had the atmosphere and character that hotel had. That movie just scares the crap out of me no matter how much you watch it,a nd not with any of that sudden jolt crap. This movie is real scariness. What a horror film should be and what I'm hoping The Blair Witch Project will be. The miniseries was done very well. Who would've thought I'd ever say that Steven Weber rivaled a performance by Jack Nicholson? Still, there was something missing from the TV version, and it was Kubrick.
-
ooooh I hope that movie is good. It looks pretty cool (tho I must admit I wouldn't have minded seeing Nicole Kidman doing more sex scenes ;-) As to the Shining. Pfah. I read the book and I think the movie is BETTER then the book. Kings stuff is hit and miss, and my favorite stuff of his is his non-horror (shawshank, stand by me, etc..). The Shining (the movie) scared the hell out of me and still does. The book, never read it again. Oh yeah and I thought the miniseries was pretty dumb.
-
Yes, I'm a MAJOR fan of Stanley Kubrick. No, I don't expect EYES WIDE SHUT to be the masterpiece to end all masterpieces. I'm very glad the movie isn't going the cheap route, with soft-core pornography and sex. In fact, the only Kubrick film that I had the LOWEST expectations for is now my favorite: BARRY LYNDON. I knew all about STRANGELOVE, 2001, CLOCKWORK, SHINING, etc., and how they were rightfully called masterpieces. BARRY LYNDON was one I really didn't hear anything about, and when I saw it, complete and uncut, it just blew me away. While I'm sure I won't have $129.99 on June 29 for the seven DVD collection of Kubrick's works, I'm sure I'll have the $20 to buy BARRY (thank God they're being sold separately). I look forward to EYES WIDE SHUT in the theater, as it will be my first (and unfortunately only) chance to see a Kubrick film that way (unless his earlier works are re-released theatrically). And BTW, I consider Stephen King's novel THE SHINING to be his second best book (right behind THE GREEN MILE), and I still love the Kubrick-Nicholson version. We can love both, can't we?
-
Its such a shame that the greatest director of the 20th century never got to work with the greatest actor. Can you imagine Ving Rhames as Sparticus?
-
Since the subject of The Shining seems to be dominating the Talk backs, I'll just give my thoughts. The Shining was meant to be a black comedy. I mean, Jack Nicholson's performance is so over the top you can't take it seriously. The film is not scary, but that's alright since their are not any scary movies. Still, The Shining is one of his best films along side Dr. Strangelove, a perfect movie, Paths of Glory and The Killing. 2001, Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon are all production design and camera moves, which drowns out the stories and characters. Kubricks decision to film the vietnam sequences in England greatly hurt Full Metal Jacket. We'll see were Eyes Wide Shut stands soon.
-
No,THE SHINING is not one of Stanley Kubrick's three best films. Those would be 2001 - StrangeLove - Clockwork Orange. But it is by far and away the best Stephen King adaptation: good lord, it actually has the audacity to mess with our minds (changing things from the way they were in the book - people die in it who didn't die in the book - how can that be?). Darned creepy and scarey and a gripping work of cinematic art. Every moment deliberate and assured. As for that mindnumbingly awful TV mini-series , well, once I started laughing at it, I felt a lot better. And no, Mr. Kubrick was not God. Just a particularly fine cinematic talent. RIP. -
I work in publishing, and a proposal just came in today for a Marxist analysis of "The Shining." Apparently the movie's a political statement, since you've got Danny wearing nothing but red, white, and blue, and Jack wearing nothing but tan and green. Oooooooooo!!! One of you, perhaps? Kubrick would probably agree. If you read the Lubrutto biography you could tell Kubrick's up to SOMETHING the way he tortures his cast and crew. I like the quote by Stephen King where he says "Kubrick wants to hurt people with this film." Lubrutto's account of the making of "Shining" and "Lyndon" and "Jacket" is pure agony. Kubrick totally mind-fucked his actors. Tom Cruise probably still wakes up in a cold sweat: "Another take, Stanley? Okay! Okay! Where do I stand? Okay, Stanley, okay--uh, sorry, Mr. Kubrick...sir..."
-
Yes, I read the book, and yes, enjoyed it immensely. What troubled me, however, was the author's manner of quoting Kubrick. There was no mention that he'd recorded these conversations. Being a novelist, he might be using artistic licence to recreate the voice of Kubrick, in which case I -- as a reader -- want to resist. The word of Kubrick should be the word. I'm also suspect because the author's portion of the dialog does not read true; rather, it seems too clever, sometimes elliptical, as though the two of them were in some off-broadway show. That said, I liked the book and what it said about Kubrick. The source material is promising, though Kubrick was floundering in his attempt to digest it (according to the author. I'd just like to know if anyone's heard regarding the quotations....
-
I`ve been waiting to see "Eyes Wide Shut" for the last 3 years since they first started production. I think that it should have quite a bit of originality and should kick ass!I also expect it to be a big box-office hit. I`m glad "Barry Lyndon" was mentioned as a great Kubrick film. It seems like people have forgotten it among Kubrick`s best. Most Kubrick "fans" that I talk to have no idea what "Barry Lyndon" is when I mention it, it`s a great film people check it out!
-
I'll tell you one thing. If I was a talent in the film industry, and my last name began with a K, I'd be shaking like a baby right now.
Kieslowski, Kurosawa, Kubrick, Kelley...sigh. -
I don't know what the hell you're talking about. The Shining was scary. Black comedy? Whateva!
-
Everyone mentions Kubrick's three masterpieces as Strangelove, 2001, and Clockwork Orange (definitely three of the best films ever made), but nobody is mentioning what i consider to be another masterpiece of his, Paths of Glory, the World War I drama about three French soldiers scapegoated for a blunder of the generals. I'm sure most Kubrick fans have seen it, but the lack of its mention in the discussion suprises me. Anyway, I am looking forward to Eyes Wide Shut, just looking at the commercials for it give off that undiscribable Kubrick feel. I'm sure it'll be great. His films may not all be masterpieces, but they're never bad.
-
Somebody commented about the Kubrick collection being $150. If you look on the net you can find it for a lot less. I have found it for as low as $80 at 800.com.
-
Hey, this is just a little response to the person that had all those bad words to say about our pal Stanley... I think it's unfortunate that a man so dedicated to his work can somehow be criticized for that devotion. In an era when 'films' are slapped together around a snappy title and a DiCaprio attachment, the fact that this man would agonize over every frame and detail is awesome. This mortal man,who was given the same span of years as the rest of us, devoted a great deal of his life to building the most perfect creation that was possible for him, and it makes me want to cry to hear your sarcastic reference to it as "art." This was not megalomaniacal, this was selfless. Do you know how painful the process of creation can be? There are easier ways to get attention, and even then he was a complete recluse. Kubrik didn't ask for your worship, he just made the best films he could, and he didn't tell anybody to call them masterpieces. He sat down with Arthur Clarke because he wanted to make the ultimate science fiction movie, and goddamnit he did! And he made some other amazing ones. So leave the poor guy alone. He's just a man who made good movies.
-
According to DVD Express, all the new Kubrick DVD's are being released in 4:3 Pan&Scan, NOT in widescreen format. Needless to say, they won't be anamorphic either. Warner's is releasing all these titles now to capitalize on Kubrick's death and the release of his new movie. DO NOT BUY THESE DVD'S!!!! Hold out for anamorphic widescreen... unless you feel like buying them and throwing them away in a couple years when the real thing comes out.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Baz's THE GREAT GATSBY explodes with one helluva dazzling trailer! -- 171 total posts 154 posts
- G.I. JOE: RETALIATION Delayed Nine Months...Thanks To A Force More Sinister Than Cobra!! -- 141 total posts 141 posts
- UPDATED!!! A Six-Pack Of New Character Posters For THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Forecast A Lot Of Gotham Rain And Snow!! -- 265 total posts 129 posts
- Who Is The Voice Of Batman In WB's Animated Two Part THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS? -- 129 total posts 129 posts
- Cats Beware!! An ALF Movie May Soon Come Our Way... -- 126 total posts 126 posts
- Zach Galifianakis Is Ignatius J. Reilly? -- 81 total posts 81 posts
- AICN COMICS REVIEWS: INCREDIBLE HULK! DANGER CLUB! CLiNT 2.1! JAMES BOND! BATMAN INC.! AND MORE!!! -- 62 total posts 62 posts
- The Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day… the horror… the horror… -- 45 total posts 45 posts
- Quint has seen Andrew Dominik's crime thriller KILLING THEM SOFTLY starring Brad Pitt! Cannes 2012! -- 41 total posts 41 posts
- The Next Season Of DOCTOR WHO Was Delayed To Fall Just To Build Anticipation?? -- 68 total posts 38 posts