New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

The movie polarized critics and audiences. Although the majority of critics gave it positive regards, some considered it glorified pornography. And while Kidman may spend less time acting and more time writhing, I never got the sense that Kubrick was out to make the audience horny rather than talk about marital problems and the expected responsibilities one has as a high-ranking member of society (Cruise gave me a laugh as he waves his license to be a doctor around as if it were a police badge). I must side with the cheerers and not the jeerers, who applauded the film’s in-depth look into serious material that most big studios wouldn’t even touch from a mile away. Kubrick displays the sexual acts in a meaningful context that is more art than obscene. Pornography does not teach morals, but Eyes Wide Shut shows the consequences of well-mannered people in immoral situations where responsibility is thrown out the window. However, there are some times when I wanted to jump into the film and tape Nicole’s mouth shut so she didn’t tell anymore empty alcohol/marijuana-fueled secrets or smack some sense into Tom, telling him that he has a wife hotter than most of the naked ladies in the film – waiting and ready in bed throughout the movie.

The rift between critics and the box office fizzle probably affected its Oscar chances in the year where another marriage-in-crisis nudity-filled drama, American Beauty, a film I found beautiful but overrated, swept the awards. And while Kubrick cited this as “his greatest contribution to the art of cinema” according to the film’s executive producer and Kubrick’s brother-in-law Jan Harlan, controversy arose once R. Lee Ermey, one of the stars of Full Metal Jacket, said Kubrick confided in him calling it “a piece of shit” and that “Kidman and Cruise had their way with him.” Maybe these are the reasons why the conservative Academy shied away, giving the film zero nominations (however, it did receive a Golden Globe nom for the brilliantly haunting score by Jocelyn Pook).

Today, a film like this one, without a PG-13 rating or McDonald toy tie-ins, probably would never have received a wide release, or even the budget to be made, but Eyes Wide Shut is still talked about with its ambiguous resolutions and one of Kubrick’s rare happy endings, but again, that is up for “argucission”. With the intense themes still prevalent, but rarely seen in such a raw presentation, the way Kubrick delivers them just does not have the same impact. Although it still packs a wallop, I feel 11 years ago it gave a knock-out punch. As times change and couples divorce and star power fades, one thing still stands: Kubrick is a master visionary whose work deserves to be seen with eyes wide open.

Verdict: Not With Us
Three and a Half Stars out of Four but Overly Dated

Continued:       1       2       3       4