The most challenging role of Tom Cruise’s career: “Was it hard? Yes. Did I mind? No”
Eyes Wide Shut is largely seen as Stanley Kubrick’s swan song, a production shrouded in mystery and clouded by the death of Kubrick himself, who passed away a few days after the release.
When the legendary auteur announced that he was working with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, many people speculated about the intention behind this choice. The director previously made unconventional casting decisions by working with commercial Hollywood actors such as Ryan O’Neal for Barry Lyndon. However, Cruise has since reflected on the challenges of working with Kubrick and, ultimately, how rewarding it was.
There were many people in the film industry who suspected that the casting of Cruise was a way for Kubrick to better control and manipulate the actor. After many commercial and blockbuster films, some thought that Cruise would be keener to impress the director and feel as though he had something to prove, which would perhaps make him more malleable and hard-working. However, I doubt that Cruise needs any more incentive to maintain a strong work ethic, as he has always shown an intense commitment to the art of filmmaking and as a great admirer of Kubrick’s work, there was already a strong motive to create a perfect performance.
Despite many contradicting rumours about Kubrick’s approach to working with actors, with some people claiming that he is extreme and borderline abusive in the way he coaxes performances out of his performers, Cruise has only ever maintained his admiration and respect for the director, despite the extensive shooting process for Eyes Wide Shut.
Eyes Wide Shut follows a man called Bill Hartford, who becomes obsessed with the idea of having a sexual encounter with another woman after his wife reveals that she has sexual fantasies about other men and, in turn, discovers a secret society that uncovers a greater conspiracy.
The role was challenging for many reasons but partly because of the fact that Cruise and Kidman had to perform these very emotionally intense scenes that mirror the private conversations that all couples have. There is a lengthy scene as they both discuss their insecurities and sexual desires outside of their marriage, which many people suspect was carefully orchestrated by Kubrick to reveal a truth that he wouldn’t be able to find from two actors who weren’t married.
When asked about the shoot and Jack Nicholson’s allusions towards a toxic working relationship with the director, Cruise said, “I never talked to Jack about his experience, but it was intense working with Stanley. It was very demanding. Was it hard? Yes. But did I mind? No. Was Stanley ever angry or did he abuse our relationship? Not once. If I didn’t want to do something, I was never pushed. He was the very voice of sanity. We’d talk, relax and bring things back into focus”.
Despite the contradictory statements about Kubrick’s working habits and approach to collaboration, both Kidman and Cruise have always sung their praises and spoken highly of the director, describing the experience as being incredibly challenging yet formative in their careers. It is because of these statements that Kubrick lives on as one of the most mysterious and enigmatic directors of all time, with film lovers still trying to find clarity on the man behind the camera.
