Nicole Kidmanhas had an incredible career spanning the past four decades, but there’s one movie co-starring her ex-husband, Tom Cruise, that stands as her finest work. As an Australian-American actress who made her debut in 1983, Kidman has worked consistently ever since, boasting a filmography filled with collaborations withtop-tier directorsand actors. Although the end of Kidman and Cruise’s marriage was a tabloid fiasco, before they split, they managed to make one truly all-time great film together.
While many might point toKidman’s Oscar-winning turn as Virginia Woolf inThe HoursorKidman’s other Academy Award-nominated performancesin films likeMoulin Rouge!,Rabbit Hole,Lion, orBeing the Ricardos, her greatest movie was directed by one of cinema’s most notable auteurs. With a dedication and fearlessness in taking on diverse and challenging roles, despite being over 25 years old, thisStanley Kubrick filmhas stood the test of time and only become more acclaimed as the years since.
Why Eyes Wide Shut Is Still Nicole Kidman’s Best Movie
Stanley Kubrick’s final film was also his highest-grossing release
Eyes Wide Shutwas Kubrick’s final movie, as the director died of a heart attack six days after presenting the final cut of the film to Warner Bros. As an R-rated erotic mystery, this film offers a haunting glimpse into a mask-wearing secret society that engages in explicit nightlong sexual orgies. WithCruise as Dr. Bill Harford and Kidman as his wife Alice,Eyes Wide Shutwas a fascinating exploration of sex, marriage, fidelity, and trust that saw the stability of the couple’s relationship spiral out of control after Alice admitted she had fantasized about infidelity.
WhileEyes Wide Shutis often praised as Kubrick’s final masterpiece and much of the conversation has revolved around Cruise’s encounters with the secret society, Kidman’s raw, intimate, and psychologically layered portrayal of Alice deserves just as much acclaim. As a vulnerable account of a woman grappling with desire, Kidman revealed a profound inner life that was integral to the film’s success. Through an unmatched expression of repression and marital dissatisfaction, Kidman’s performance became all the more compelling when considering her genuine relationship with Cruise likely informed it.
Nicole Kidman has continued working with the best directors around
Image via Max
It’s true thatEyes Wide Shutremains Kidman’s crowning achievement as an actress, but that’s not to say she hasn’t continued doing excellent work in the years since. In recent years, Kidman has continued working with some of the best directors around, and over the past few decades, has had roles in movies by the likes of Yorgos Lanthimos, Sofia Coppola, Aaron Sorkin, and Robert Eggers. It’s not just Kidman’s performances that have been trailblazing, as she’s also made a pledge (viaVariety) to work with a female director at least every 18 months.
Kidman’s recent work has solidified her status among the greatest actors working today, andEyes Wide Shutmarked a turning point in her career, leading to more serious and prestigious roles. It’s not just in film that Kidman has excelled, as recent television performances in HBO series likeBig Little LiesandThe Undoingshowcased her talents in long-form dramas on the small screen. WithNicole Kidman’srecent role as a high-powered CEO embroiled in an ill-advised affair with a younger man inBabygirlstanding as one of her finest performances, it’s clear this Academy Award-winning actress is still taking risks.
