Well here is some Non-Spoiler rumors about the behind the scenes world of EYES WIDE SHUT. It doesn't paint a pretty picture of Stanley Kubrick, but I hold this is strictly 'rumor' material. Personally tonight I watched THE KILLING and SPARTACUS back to back, and am in the midst of Kubrick worship. If he can make movies this good, I don't care if he keeps the actors in a three foot by three foot by three foot box with no light, airholes or food for months at a time. I love his films, and that is what is important. I have no idea what Kubrick is like on set, but the man's work is brilliant. I'm watching Kirk Douglas as a filmic god, as I type, preparing to battle the Roman legions,. and I'm thinking, "Harry, that's what I call myself when I think. Harry, he's goooooooooood!!! Reallllllll good!!! This is soooo much better than Braveheart, and you know how much you liked that one!" By the way, have you seen THE KILLING with Sterling Hayden and Elisha Cook? WOW. Go find it!!! It's really something!! Oh yeah, this came from... the toga wearing Laughton!!!
One of my teacher privately coached Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut for the past year. Well, she talked about how crueling Kubrick is. He will rehease a scene all day long before he even turns on any of the cameras and if they don't come close, everyone has put in a full day without any scenes on film. Plus, Kubrick gives the actors before shooting piles and piles of books, painting, journels any research but that is where it ends. During filming, he said "that was shit ,try it again " "that was closer, but not it" He gives no direction and expects the actors to giving him different choices and that is what my teacher helped them with. Here one interesting story: Nicole had a 5 page monologue which in film its is almost unheard of. Well, Susan (my teacher) and Nicole tore it apart. Nicole goes to the set and does it as planned and does a wonderful job. Kubrick at the end starts clapping and saying bravo and That was academy award material, Tom starts crying and Nicole starts crrying. Susan is crying , everyone is overjoyed. Then Kubrick said "But, wrong film, come back tomorrow and we will try it again." Well, Nicole was furious . Anyways, also Jennifer Jason Leigh is in the movie and was scheduled to work 3 days but Kubrick tought it was to emotionally cruel for her to do the whole 3 days and cut her part down to 2 days work. Well, I thought this info was kinda interesting.
