Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Eyes Wide Shut (1999), directed by Stanley Kubrick.
In his earlier films -- say The Killing (1956), Paths of Glory (1957), Lolita (1962) and Dr. Strangelove (1964) -- I feel that I understand what Kubrick is thinking, what he intends. Things change with 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and his films become big cinema events, real head-scratchers as to what he is after: A Clockwork Orange (1971), Barry Lyndon (1975) and The Shining (1980).
In this his last film I am again not sure what he is about. It is an erotic thriller plus scenes from a marriage plus absurd semi-comic night-time adventures close to the wild side.
As is the case with most of his films, I liked it better with a rewatch than originally. Some thoughts scribbled during a recent viewing:
The early scenes are of nudity and the intimacies of a married couple. Having real married couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman for the parts is both intriguing and disorienting. They are acting but in some sense they aren't.
What other prominent acting couple could have done this? Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie could have been even more physical, more hormonally charged; would that have worked or not?
Rich beautiful people: of course we envy them. You just know they have better sex than ordinary people. In the movies they do.
And yet: when they get to the party she immediately starts drinking and both flirt heavily with strangers. Is this their life?
What must it be like (for the actors, not just their characters) to be so strongly desired by so many? Combined blessing and curse. Most of us will never know.
When they get home she plants terrifying thoughts in his mind: that female sexuality is not what men believe it to be, but something far more risky.
The first time I saw this I felt manipulated by the impossibly beautiful female nudity. Even the corpse has a million-dollar body with big boobs and long legs. You could justify it by saying these are high-end sex workers, but the truth is this is a movie and therefor a fantasy. Realism is nowhere near the goal, whatever that might be.
The husband has a series of adventures and is ready to cheat on his wife, but never actually does the deed. Neither did she, as far as we know.
It gets weird but less involving at the secret sex club. Other people's passions are often mysterious and not everyone has the same kinks, but ceremonial masked (and masqued) ritualistic orgies? No one was giggling. I just don't get it. People pay for that? Are willing to kill for it?
The wife relates her disturbing dream which seems oddly wrapped up with his nighttime sojourn, as if she were all the women he saw that night. She found the dream both degrading and exultant.
With Leelee Sobieski, age 16. Director Sydney Pollack has a prominent role.
Like Brazil (1985) it is a Christmas film.
Stupid title. You could pick a better one from a hat.
Available on Blu-ray.
