Eyes Wide Shut (DVD)

In the eyes of some, Stanley Kubrick was the last of the classic directors, and Eyes Wide Shut marks his final effort. Possibly the last great film of the 20th century, yet oft overlooked, Eyes Wide Shut -- despite its distorted reputation and commercial failure -- shows Kubrick not only working at the height of his technical genius, but also introduces something quite rare for a Kubrick film; an emphasis on human emotion. Although the emotion isn't overdone (Kubrick was always a minimalist in that sense), it does make Eyes Wide Shut stand out from the rest of his films, which is a pity considering the reception it received. Indeed, much like its star, Tom ...  Read the complete review

I must start this review by stating that I'm more than aware that I'm in the small minority that love the movie Eyes Wide Shut, I'm not trying to get you to invest cash in this movie, the chances are if you have not seen it you might not enjoy it. Strangely, or maybe not so strange this review of Stanley Kubrick's last, and in my opinion finest movie. As thus all I ask is that with some years passed since its release the next time you see the movie on TV, or are stuck for a DVD rental you give this film a shot; now all the controversy and expectation has passed you can enjoy the movie for what it is. Dr. Bill Harford (Tom Cruise) and his wife Alice (Nicole ...  Read the complete review

Personally, I thought they marketed this film all wrong. Stanley Kubrick's final film played out as a sardonic comedy and its hero, Dr. Bill Harford (Tom Cruise), as your traditional confused hero who stumbles around trying to figure things out for a little while before returning to the relative safety and so-called security of his marriage. The confusion seems to circle around that wonderful and mysterious three letter word, s-e-x. That's all Bill seems to think about, whether he admits it or not. The only difference between his thoughts and those of his beautiful wife, Alice (Nicole Kidman) is she's at least willing to admit that she has sexual ...  Read the complete review

Eyes Wide Shut is often unfairly criticised as unfocused and overlong - many expected Kubrick's final film (which didn't premier until after his death) to be some sort of ridiculous masterpiece that could live up to the epic scale of 2001: A Space Oddysey. I contest, though, that it is one of his best films, and I sincerely hope that it is re-evaluated in the coming years for the masterpiece that it is. The film begins with Dr. Bill Harford (Tom Cruise) and Alice Harford (Nicole Kidman) having a discussion, resulting in Bill learning that Alice once considered committing infidelity because of Bill's self assured, overly confident nature. This causes Bill to ...  Read the complete review

'Eyes Wide Shut' has tremendous potential. Created by the highly acclaimed director Stanley Kubrick and featuring the real-life couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, I expected high things of this film. I was very disappointed. Cruise and Kidman play a wealthy married couple who fall out after a marijuana-fueled argument. Cruise, tormented by visions of his wife with other men, wanders off into the night and ultimately ends up at a Masonic sex ritual. It takes about 90 minutes to get this far, and the final 60 unearths the explanation for the bizarre series of events he has been through. As plots go it's a clever if slightly thin idea, but nonetheless a ...  Read the complete review