Writer/Director: Stanley Kubrick
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise and Sydney Pollack
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many filmmakers in Hollywood have built a legacy as iconic as Stanley Kubrick. Ever since his rise to appreciation in the 1960’s, Kubrick is a director that made timeless films. Whether it is shining killers, space scavengers or troubled lovers, the director portrayed many memorable characters. Arguably, Kubrick’s finest strength as a filmmaker was his commitment. He is one of those directors that would always pour his heart and soul into each movie. Kubrick wasn’t ever afraid of taking risks in his career making complex movies with characters which weren’t always likeable. Creating a distinct trademark style, Kubrick became an iconic director whose timeless movies always left audiences with a glowing smile. A fantastic filmmaker building a legacy that’s iconic, Kubrick made entertaining movies which always captivated the public. He was never concerned about making films that would please the masses. With their complex plots, provocative topics and risky storytelling, Kubrick’s movies earned a huge fan following. Throughout his career, Kubrick made several unforgettable movies tackling commemorated themes that definitely without a doubt deserve to be talked about.
I’m a big fan of Kubrick and adore all the films he has directed in his career. However, “Eyes Wide Shut” is my favourite. Ever since release in 1999, Kubrick’s movie has stood the test of time as a romantic classic. Packed with bold production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies ever made in cinematic history. At the centre of it all is a phenomenal performance from Nicole Kidman, who embodies a woman trapped in a marriage that’s beyond repair. Ultimately, what makes “Eyes Wide Shut” a masterpiece is its universal appeal. Unlike most movies made by Stanley Kubrick, it tackles strong themes that everyone would relate to. It delivers a powerful message about infidelity which would resonate with everyone. A riveting masterpiece about a doomed romance, there are countless reasons why “Eyes Wide Shut” is a movie that is worth watching.
“Eyes Wide Shut” tells a story of a couple that experiences a broken marriage which is shut. Tom Cruise portrays Dr. Bill Hartford, a doctor that’s trapped in a broken marriage. Bill shares a complicated relationship with his wife Alice (Nicole Kidman), whom he loves dearly. Bill is confident that he can trust his wife whom he has never suspected of committing infidelity. However, Bill’s life forever changed when he discovers the shocking truth his wife is having an affair causing disaster. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Bill questions if it’s possible for him to recover from affairs which cause disaster. Just when all hope appears to be lost, Bill discovers an underground sexual group. Faced with a dilemma, Bill questions if it’s possible for him to recover from marriages causing trauma. Forced to keep his eyes wide shut, Bill questions it’s possible to become a successful doctor.
Stanley Kubrick is a newcomer towards stories of infidelity. Before he had directed “Eyes Wide Shut”, Kubrick had never made a movie about broken marriages before. Kubrick was known for making science fiction movies about space expeditions. With “Eyes Wide Shut”, however, Kubrick created his first psychological drama about infidelity. It was the director’s first ever attempt to capture the barriers experienced by lovers facing extramarital affairs but he pulled it off successfully. Using bold cinematography, Kubrick captures a couple that’s torn apart by broken marriage that causes tragedy. Kubrick effectively uses close-ups to capture tension faced by couples in broken relationships. For instance, closes-ups elevate the confessions scene. During this unforgettable scene, Alice reveals her extra-marital affair towards her husband causing a dilemma. One appreciates intense close-ups showcasing reactions to an extra-marital affair. Close-ups are tricky to use in films. As Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” claimed, montages elevate movie about scary sharks. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Kubrick captures the lives of doctors that experience a price to pay.
Another admirable aspect of “Eyes Wide Shut” is the set-design. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Kubrick effectively uses set-design to capture the lives of lovers facing a decline. Throughout the movie, the set-design plays a pivotal role in capturing lovers that decline. For instance, the set-design of a ballroom elevates the opening scene. During this memorable scene, Bill and Alice attend a ballroom party. One appreciates set-design capturing lovers whose lives are one declines. Moreover, the musical score is magical. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that couples in broken marriages bear. Through bold production, Kubrick captures the lives of couples in broken commemorated marriages that experience tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Eyes Wide Shut” is captivating classic that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses unreliable narration capturing tension faced by lovers experiencing marriage destruction. For instance, unreliable narration elevates the extra-marital affair scene. During this memorable scene, Bull discovers a strange underground sex club with consequences that are frightening. One appreciates unreliable narration capturing lovers whose Marta images face tension. Through this strong unreliable narration, Kubrick created a character that audiences can easily relate to. Unreliable narration is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” suggested, unreliable narration elevates science fiction movies about dreams. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Kubrick captures the lives of lovers torn apart by affairs today.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Tom Cruise delivers one of his best performances as Dr. Bill. Cruise achieved appreciations for playing action heroes in soaring aviation blockbusters. With “Eyes Wide Shut”, however, he took on his most provocative role. It isn’t easy to portray a man that engages in a sex club to cope with infidelity but Cruise pulled it off successfully. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charming and emotional in his most memorable role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, desperation and sexual desires of a man trapped in a broken marriage. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the finest actors working in the modern film industry today.
Nicole Kidman is captivating as a woman that is trapped in a broken marriage experiencing destruction. Kidman has always had a flair for playing strong women with emotional stories, and “Eyes Wide Shut” showcased her strength as an actress. It’s a challenging role that required the actress to perform sensitive scenes of nudity but she succeeded tremendously. Whether she is throwing a bad temper at her husband accused of infidelity or shocked to find the truth about her marriages, Kidman uses strong expressions to create a character that’s compelling. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most beloved actresses working in the modern film industry today.
Finally, “Eyes Wide Shut” would earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing marriages that are shut. Unlike most movies about broken marriages, it tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. It discusses wrong themes including identity, marriage and sexuality which would resonate with everyone. Despite its focus on underground sexual clubs which are uncomfortable, it tackles themes everyone would relate to. Therefore, “Eyes Wide Shut” is one of those rare commemorated movies about infidelity that everyone would adore.
Fans of Stanley Kubrick would appreciate “Eyes Wide Shut” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A bold classic about infidelity, it honours a director which made movies that are iconic.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking film lovers keeping eyes wide shut discovering evidence of extramarital affairs which are frightening, it’s a riveting reminder of a filmmaker that built a lasting legacy earning a huge fan following for his abilities to create larger-than-life science-fiction movies which are compelling whose captivating movies which remain classics today are definitely worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 