Nicole Kidman Reveals Stanley Kubrick’s Rules for Actors During ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ on 25th Anniversary

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As a huge fan of Nicole Kidman‘s illustrious acting career, I can’t help but be in awe of her extraordinary experience working with Stanley Kubrick on “Eyes Wide Shut.” Twenty-five years have passed since that groundbreaking production, and the memories of those intense and transformative days still resonate with me.

Twenty-five years have passed since Nicole Kidman spoke her final line in Stanley Kubrick’s last movie, the thought-provoking posthumous work “Eyes Wide Shit,” which delved into the enigmas of matrimony and relationships.

In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, the actress reflects on her experience collaborating with the director on the 1999 drama, which she describes as a significant part of her career and notable for its extended filming duration.

Eyes Wide Shut, a film released in the late 1990s, was adapted from Arthur Schnitzler’s 1926 novella Traumnovelle. It took an impressive 400 days to shoot with Nicole Kidman, who was in her twenties at the time, and Tom Cruise, then Hollywood’s most popular actor. The production started with Kidman describing in a recent interview that they spent considerable time with Kubrick before filming began. Although Kubrick was renowned, he requested that they didn’t idolize him excessively. Over time, the trio developed enough trust for Kidman and Cruise to contribute ideas and improvise during filming, she shared.

But was Kubrick delving into the couple’s marriage to extract their lauded performances?

“He was probably gathering resources, or so it seemed. He showed curiosity and asked thoughtful questions. Yet, he had a clear vision for the game’s narrative. I recall him mentioning, ‘Triangles can be tricky. Be cautious when dealing with them.’ As triangles can make one player feel isolated, but he was mindful of this and knew how to keep us engaged.”

Kubrick’s refusal to establish a hierarchy during filming and insistence that everyone, including the three main actors, be equal in status resonated with Kidman. He believed that such a hierarchical mindset obstructed creativity. His directives also included avoiding instant “no” responses and refraining from asking Kubrick why their characters were acting or speaking in a certain way.

She shared that he wasn’t fond of flattering people excessively, and there was a mandatory 10-second pause before rejecting an idea. Learning this at a young age in my 20s, I responded with determination, “Alright, it’s a go.” This stage felt like creating student films in Australia, an innovative process.

Regarding the movie and her role, Nicole Kidman describes Alice as a complex character whose thoughts she is able to express. In the story, Alice shares a bitter monologue about her close call with infidelity with her doctor husband, leaving him shocked and dismayed as he reflects on his marriage’s past and potential future.

“People can cause great harm,” Kidman remarks. “Despite knowing someone, you can’t truly grasp their inner workings. They may be familiar to us, yet hidden depths still exist. It’s not always pleasant, but her words ring true.”

Approximately two and a half years had passed since filming on “Eyes Wide Shut” started when Kubrick showed a cut to Kidman, Cruise, and some Warner Bros. executives. Sadly, he passed away six days later. With such a long production that kept Kidman out of Hollywood for years as her career was taking off, would she make the same decision again?

“I would have stayed a third year,” she says. “Does that mean I’m crazy?”

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2024-07-17 22:24