Kubrick's final masterpiece (Eyes Wide Shut (DVD))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	Eyes Wide Shut (DVD)
Date:	01/07/09 (7 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great acting, very intelligent

Disadvantages: VERY long, slow pace

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 lose his cool demeanour, resulting in him going on a night-long oddysey through the sexual underbelly of New York, where he ends up in a mansion, where a creepy, orgiastic night of indulgence takes place.

Eyes Wide Shut is a film of great psychological consequence - it considers the male and female perspective of sexual relationships, along with other notable motifs such as sexual possessiveness and jealousy. Only a director with such a smart mind (as no doubt honed on psycho noir works like A Clockwork Orange) could create a work so deep and complex, yet to this extent it does also run the risk of being rendered inaccessible to most viewers, not helped by the fact that it is incredibly long, running in at about three hours, and is also very slowly paced (particularly the mansion scenes).

Stanley Kubrick's final film is among his most challenging and divisive works, yet certainly justifies its lengthy run-time and slow pace with smart psychology, robust performances, and austere direction from Kubrick. The film's treatment of emotional infidelity encompasses myriad other themes - high-society boredom and desperation, sexual possessiveness, and the power of love. An unrelentingly compelling bookend to Kubrick's illustrious career.

Summary: Slow paced but amazing