Review of Eyes Wide Shut (1999) by Peter H — 07 Jan 2011

Stanley Kubrick's EYES WIDE SHUT [1999] they say all good things must come to an end and with the bold and brilliant direction carriers of one of the greatest directors of the 20th century; Stanley Kubrick his end came suddenly with a few weeks after the post production of Eyes Wide Shut, when he died of a heart attack. His final film Eyes Wide Shut would prove to be another fine film by the great director which like a few of His other films would open to a sting of controversy over the content. Eyes Wide Shut's depiction of sexual activity cased the film to be branded as near-pornographic but despite this film was a success at the box office due to the star power of Tom Cruise and his former wife Nicole Kidman being the most talked about star couples in Hollywood. In fact the film was heavily censored in the U.S and Canada to obtain an R rating, by Warner Brothers adding in digital underwear in some scenes. But in the rest of the world like Europe and Australia and New Zealand the film remained in its original form when in hit theatres in 1999. Now 12 years after this film's release and Kubrick's death, Eyes Wide Shut still can still amaze the viewer. As a fan of the films of Stanley Kubrick, what is my honest opinion on Kubrick's final film?

The Review: it's a dream like blend of human sexuality within the depth of a thriller told on the silver screen by Kubrick's masterful style of filmmaking. Based upon the 1926 novella TRAUMNOVELLE (Dream Story) by Arthur Schnitzler, Eyes Wide Shut tells a dark tale of sexuality set against the back drop of New York City around Christmas Time.

The Plot of the film: Manhattan Dr Bill Harford (Tom Cruise) and his wife Alice (Nicolle Kidman) attended a Christmas Party hosted by Victor Ziegler (Sydney Pollack), were Bill spots an old Medical School classmate who just happens to be the pianist while Alice goes off an is seduced by a mysterious Hungarian gentleman. After seeing Bill talking to two younger and attractive women Alice is becomes suspicious of her husband when he goes upstairs, as a matter of fact to aid Ziegler with a naked Female guest who had overdose on drugs.

The next night at home Bill and Alice get into a fight over the guests they spoke with, when Alice in a jealous way taunts Bill with the fact on a vacation she had saw a Naval Officer on leave and had thought of sleeping with the officer. The next moment the phone rings and Bill is sent out to attend the death of one of his bed ridden patients. On the way to the late patients home Bill has a vision of his wife making love to the Naval officer which poisons his mind with jealously. This in turn puts on the path to a night of near sexual depravity which starts when the grief stricken Adult Daughter of the late patient tries to kiss Bill. When Bill in a decent way refuses the advances of the morning Daughter and leaves her with her boyfriend when he shows up, Bill hits the streets of NYC looking for sex with his jealous filled mind. Bills quest leads him into the path of a prostitute who he nearly has sex with but when Alice calls Bill decides to leave but pay the prostitute for sex he didn't have. His journey counties even tougher into the New York night, his paths cross once again with the Pianist's at a local jazz cafe. After a chat with him Bill learns about the existence, the address and the password to a mysterious Orgy were the pianist plays the piano blindfolded. His quest for sexual vengeance against his wife sees Bill hitting a costume store for a Cloak, a Tux and a Mask. When Bill arrives at the orgy he soon discovers he has gotten into trouble when a Mysterious Female Escort tells him that his life is in danger for gate chasing the secret masked orgy.

Again like every other Kubrick Feature film, the great director's style of film making is flawless as always. The imagery is hypnotic and in parts with the acting, sets, lighting, costuming and musical score which blending together to create a powerful image to haunt the viewers mind. Which is typical of most Stanley Kubrick film, in fact the images I remember quite clearly from other Kubrick films like most of the Imagery in 2001: A Space Odyssey, Major Kong riding the A- Bomb to oblivion in Dr Strangelove, The rape sequence in A Clockwork Orange and The final Duel in Barry Lyndon for example. The strongest images in this Kubrick film I can remember quite clearly would be the Masked Ritual sequence at the orgy. The mix of that chanting, moving camera, lighting, and the costuming is quite haunting moment in this as a matter fact it's unforgettable.

On the acting in this it's very good; Tom Cruise is quite good as Dr Bill, Nicole Kidman was excellent as the dark Alice who fills Bills mind with envy and jealousy and Sydney Pollack is good in his role as the sleazy Ziegler. But however that been said there are a few flats with this film third act with the almost added on ending point in my view but that a side what makes this film quite disturbing is the fact its set around Christmas time. The festival lights and the soft lighting help create that dream -like and nightmarish atmosphere that adds more potency to the story about the dark side of sexuality.

Overall Eyes Wide Shut is a fine Kubrick film but sadly it's not one of his best with one or two draw backs. But despite this what Kubrick archived with this film is a dark and haunting final film from the "Directors director". It's a shame Stanley Kubrick's Filmography is quite small with only a dozen feature films and three industrial shorts, but neither the lest what Kubrick left behind cemented his legacy as one of the most important directors of the 20th Century.

Rating for Eyes Wide Shut 80%.