EYES WIDE SHUT (1999) Movie Review

[@chasblankenship697]

I wouldn't say that he couldn't comprehend Alice's fantasy. In fact quite the opposite, all of the close ups of Bill are there to ensure that he's fully comprehending it...it's just that he can't believe it, or doesn't want to believe it, because of who he is and his sense of status. He's a wealthy, respected New York Doctor with a beautiful wife and daughter...he's overconfident and comfortable in his role and the point of Alice's confession...just like her dream later on when the night ends...is to shatter all of that. To laugh in his face, to bring him down a notch because he's a bit too smug for his own good. The irony of the movie is that the character has this sense of elitism and entitlement...throwing money at his problems, being complacent in his marriage...and yet you realize he's really just a glorified servant. He wears black and white just like Victor Ziegler's butler or Marion Nathenson's maid...he's called up to deal with Mandy like a servant taking out trash. And when he dares to infiltrate ACTUAL elite circles at the Somerton mansion, he's out of his depth and he doesn't belong. I can agree to a point that the surface of the story is relatively light, but that's fine because there's plenty going on beneath it.

[@cooltalktalks4944]

Loved your views. I believe Dr Bill, like many men who put their wives on a pedestal, do know that women fantasize but not HIS woman! His wife is a possession, an ornament, a n extension of himself, a status symbol and he doesn’t appreciate her. Also I think Tom did a fine job here. Kubrick does undermine a lot of actors. Many see Nicholson as great in the Shining but I saw it as overacting. Nicholson himself didn’t like his performance but Kubrick pushed him into it. It’s like Hitchcock who used actors as props to tell a story and didn’t bother to conjure up deeper emotions.

[@cooltalktalks4944]

@@WildMan576 agree. I went I to the film thinking it was about sexuality and came out believing it was about the intimacy of relationships.

[@alannothnagle]

@@cooltalktalks4944 I agree that Cruise is perfect in this role. Dr. Bill is smug and always slow on the uptake - note how he constantly repeats what everyone tells him (although he's not the only one to do so) - and that's Cruise all over!

[@simonpenum]

That's such a wonderful observation that I hadn't quite put my finger on when I watched it the other night- I definitely noticed Bill's dismissive sense of superiority: throwing money at people of lower social status and the condescending way he was towards his old friend, Nick who "never became a Dr" like Bill. The film says so much more about class than I even realised before- thanks!

[@johnhein2539]

Strong read on the reality of class. It reminds of my favorite detail of Cosmopolis where this billionaire has a DAILY checkup, cancer screening, basically every disease screening, even has a doctor come out to his limo to give him his check up. Basically if he ever dies by disease, he's going to ruin a bunch of doctors for missing it. There is a point to wealth where this is a huge reality.

[@ChaosReigns45]

The ritual sequence was probably one of the most trippy sequences ever. Combined with colours surrounding the place, the mystery of the masks and general atmosphere. Generally, this movie contains some of the best colouring i've seen on a movie, very hypnotic & mysterious, not even mentioning the great music.

[@Paredinho1]

This movie is a documentary, yall have to be blind and ignorant asf to pretend there is nothing in that ritual that resembles real elite circles. Watch the NEWS.

[@Trudon]

That shit is real. The elite do it.

[@jsm530]

This ain't a movie it's a reflection of what these sick malignant tumors do!!! Fuckking demons

[@jellybeanz1989]

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman are perfect casting for this, they basically play themselves lol

[@Thespeedrap]

Sadly they broke up after this movie ended.Which is a shame they was great together in alot of movies.

[@allengreene9954]

@@Thespeedrap Tom probably regrets that he divorced her🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@davecampoli8671]

@@Thespeedrap apparently the church of scientology had a lot to do with their break up. I think Nicole Kidman's father was a psychiatrist and the church of scientology was not happy about that. So Tom Cruise was basically manipulated into divorcing Nicole Kidman. I probably got some of the detail wrong, but that's basically what happened.

[@monilaninetynine3811]

​@@davecampoli8671Also, the church branded Nicole as a "suppressive person" and she refused to join the church.

[@zlodrim9284]

I highly disagree with Eyes Wide Shut being a victim of Kubrick's cult status and would actually go so far as to say it's his best work by a long mile, even though that's arguable considering the subject being Kubrick. And I also highly disagree with you when you said it tangles the themes it touches only on the surface, since there's a lot to analyze and talk about here. Concerning the characters, both Bill and Alice are well defined in the opening scene: Alice's real status is unmistakably suggested: the wife as prostitute. She's identified with the hooker Mandy through a series of parallels: they're both tall redheads with a taste for numbing drugs, we first see them both in bathrooms, and Mandy's last night "being fucked by hundreds of men" is echoed in Alice's dream. Alice is also associated with the streetwalker Domino by the purple of her sheets and Domino's dress, and by their conspicuous dressing-table mirrors (the essential accoutrement of anyone who lives by her looks). Mandy and Domino are connected, as in dream-associations, by the identical consonants of their names, just as Alice is connected with Domino's roommate Sally (their names being aural anagrams). When Domino disappears, she's replaced by Sally the next day, just as in dream-logic one person may turn into another yet remain the same. In a sense, there is only one woman in the film. Lee Siegel sees the various prostitutes that Bill meets as different incarnations of his wife, the woman he's really seeking all along. But the similarities between them are more revealing (if less romantic) when read the other way--as insinuating that Alice is just another, higher-class whore. When we last see her in the film, in that toy store, she's surrounded by shelves full of stuffed tigers like the one on Domino's bed. (Kubrick also used tiger and leopard-print patterns in Lolita as a code to connote Charlotte Haze's predatory sexuality.) Even in this scene, as she delivers the film's ostensible moral, Alice is visually linked to a doomed hooker. She's also grooming her daughter Helena (named after the most beautiful woman in history) to become a high-ticket item like herself. During the montage of their day at home, we see Helena alongside her mother in almost every shot, holding the brush while her mother gathers her hair into a ponytail, brushing her teeth at the mirror, learning to groom herself. When we overhear her doing word problems with her mother, she's learning how to calculate which boy has more money than the other. We hear her reading a bedtime story aloud, reciting the line, "...before me when I jump into my bed." In this film, a line about "jumping into bed" can't be innocent. Her mother silently mouths it along with her, echoing and coaching her. At Bill's office, we see a photo of Helena in a purple dress, like the one worn by the girl her father paid for sex the night before. Like his wife, Bill Harford is defined by his first line: "Honey, have you seen my wallet?" She is a possession; he is a buyer. ("Doctor Bill," as both his wife and Domino call him, is a pun, like Jack D. Ripper or Private Joker.) He flashes his credentials and hands out fifty- and hundred-dollar bills to charm, bribe, or intimidate cabbies, clerks, receptionists, and hookers--all members of the vast, compliant service economy on whom the enormous disparities of wealth in America are founded. Including (unconsummated) prostitution, costume rental, assorted bribes, and cab fare, his tab for a single illicit night out totals over seven hundred dollars. He does not seem fazed by the expenditure. His asking Domino "Should we talk about money?" his repeated insistence on paying her for services not quite rendered, his extended haggling with Milich and the cab driver--all these conversations about cash are too frequent, drawn-out, and conspicuous to be included in the interest of verisimilitude. Doctor Bill is nothing if not a conspicuous consumer; he even tears a hundred-dollar-bill in half with a smirk. It's also funny how the critics at the time of the film's release talked shit on it, especially the orgy scene being their biggest gripe, because it wasn't the masturbation material they were expecting it to be. Critics so wanted Kubrick's orgy to be dark and dangerous and full of sexual energy, but Kubrick wanted to show that sex without emotion is ritualistic, contrived, and in thrall to authority and fear. Everyone droned on about how unerotic Kubrick's orgy is, but no one talked about how intensely erotic is Bill's fantasy. Kubrick also further examines one of ideas prominent in A Clockwork Orange, how morality and culture are unrelated and I think his quote best explains it: "I think this suggests the failure of culture to have any morally refining effect on society. Many top Nazis were cultured and sophisticated men, but it didn't do them, or anyone else, much good." This point is reprised overtly in Eyes Wide Shut when we hear the title of a Beethoven opera used as the password to an orgy. Eyes Wide Shot is a typically Freudian film, as it explores the psychological areas that drive sexual desires and death instincts. It replays gender conventions constructed within social and symbolic relations patterned within mainstream cinema. But what differentiate Eyes Wide Shut from the typical Hollywood pattern is the scene in which Bill' subjectivity is threatened during the masked ball when he is asked to remove his mask and clothes. This time he is the one to be watched by hundred of hidden eyes and his anxiety reaches crucial point. Ironically, a gazing male becomes "gazed at". To Freud this is a typical anxiety dream that symbolizes impotence and insecurity. It seems like to Kubrick it was his trademark as a filmmaker to question established and seemingly flawless patterns within basically patriarchal society and Hollywood gender representation. You should definitely give it another shot in the future, you might change your mind yet again.

[@deckofcards87]

IAmThem You should have uploaded the review!

[@Tuesdayfarm]

All of the above, plus Kubrick shows us that there is a rabbit hole in our culture through which real conspiracies can operate.

[@toja8323]

Wow how you came up this?

[@kylieeeramirez7838]

Great insight! That's exactly what the movie is about.

[@bojackhorseman3995]

One of the best KZbin posts I've seen in a long time. I think it's funny how Kubrick movies become much darker and unsettling when the full subtext of the film is known.

[@JR-qr3kl]

Hmm. I think you're missing an entire aspect of the film: the way society and power functions. While featuring erotic themes, I think the film ultimately explores how power organizes, and how that organization constructs society; while not organically, but because of human nature. In other words, hidden desires and sexuality are the themes that govern people; therefore power is derivative of these core desires -- the Greeks would refer to eros or pathos, etc .... I think the aspect you're missing that brings it all together (the erotic, the hidden, the dreamlike, the masks, etc), is the hidden society narrative, which is perhaps the actual open society -- or, more importantly, society in general.

[@KhrissBliss]

Bingo: it was publicized as an erotic movie about sexuality but to enjoy it, you have to grasp that it’s about power, like Barry Lyndon: it’s bourgeoisie vs. aristocracy. There’s probably more financial transactions than sex going on. Cruise is clinging to his bourgeois family fantasy while the elites chase some occult power trip. The x-rated scenes are conspicuously lackluster & uninitimate yet symetrical & framed for aesthetics

[@kthx1138]

And MONEY. The rich are the ones who have the means and the power to explore all their deviant sexual desires.

[@MarcillaSmith]

She's crushing on Nicole Kidman and expending too much psychological energy trying to suppress it

[@dandogzbutt1518]

EROS is actually on a neon red sign behind tom’s head before he enters a doorway. I forget what section maybe the rainbow costume store

[@steverok67]

Regarding "the scene", I don't think Dr. Bill was shocked because she had fantasies. It was the way she laid it out that floored him. She expressed, in no uncertain terms, and in detail, that she had basic desires that could level him and blow up their lives. It's one thing to acknowledge that it exists, but to hear her describe it, using the very commanding traits you cite, basically alerted him to just how vulnerable he and his marriage were.

[@alannothnagle]

Eloquently stated. The scene is downright vicious, and it entirely knocks poor old Dr. Bill for a loop. Until this evening, the man has been living in an absolute fantasy land, not just regarding his wife and sexuality in general, but rather the entire world he lives in, particularly power relations. He's been living all these years with his "eyes wide shut," and his wife's cruel attack rips them wide open.

[@palmereldritch7777]

@@alannothnagle .....and it's so disingenous to put this in the mind/words of the woman. "Poor Dr. Bill (?)" doesn't have any fantasies of himself ? Or is he just so much of a narcissist, that he considers himself to be God's gift to sex and women? Well okay....casting. Still the central premise just doesn't work. The whole time poor dr. Bill acts like he's a virgin. The poor visualization of his paranoid fantasy....is well ---Kubrick is a great visual storyteller.....but the Kidman fantasy???????? What was that? didn't even cut it as a perfume commercial. My take is Kubrick was such a cold guy, he didn't know what desire is all about.

[@voltdgt2529]

Go to the kitchen then feed ya cats. Femcels

[@zombieOG209]

I made it through most of the review. I’m surprised you didn’t mention that there’s high significance in this film not just because of the relationship between Tom and Nicole...but the Erie truth imbedded in the film about these sex parties they have in these huge mansion party’s owned by the elite. For example, the mansion the movie was shot at was a real Rothschild mansion. These party’s really happen, there were pictures leaked online showing just how creepy they really are. There’s also speculation that much more sinister things happen at these elite party’s. I think the director wanted to, not just tell a story about a husband and wife, but also to OPEN the audience’s eyes to a world they had no idea happened behind closed doors at these elite gatherings. We would know more about the story but 30 minutes were cut from the film without explanation, and unfortunately stanley kubrick passed away during editing....

[@palmereldritch7777]

ow, really big orgies from the rich....so big fucking what? Open your eyes and visit some middle of the road and low brow orgies. Plenty of those around. Of course rich people have sex......what's the big deal? And sexual slavery and abuse play out on every level of financial means. This sort of conspiracy thinking is just really dumb. Sex is just part of the human-animal experience.

[@arminvanbuuren883]

I think that Tom Cruise was a perfect protagonist for this role,the same way that Ryan O' Neal was perfect for Barry Lyndon.They are both not really charismatic as actors and their performances are skeletal and almost nonhuman,which is exactly what Kubrick intended.

[@kevino8452]

I think Tom Cruise is extremely charismatic.

[@Snailbarf]

He's charismatic as a facade, which is great cause as his night progresses, he's increasingly out of his element. However, Cruise can't pull it off when the facade is supposed to shatter towards the end. I didn't think Kidman was that great either. The scene where they smoke weed like it's a truth serum is laughably bad. I only rewatch it for the masquerade scene. The last great scene Kubrick will ever do.

[@TheOverlordOfProcrastination]

Putting the words 'Stanley Kubrick' and 'half-baked' in the same review? Error. This is a wonderful movie.

[@Yawnpawn1]

Not if you don't get it and call it half-baked to have an easy way out! The reason why it's called EWS. This is not just about Alice and Bill, it's about the normal viewer, who dares not risking his complacent world view for stretching his mind. It's by no means a nice movie, but it's one of the best ever made. It's challenging and disturbing. The only thing I dislike is that the cuts are too jumpy for a movie I have to watch that often to explore. Everything else could not have been made better, as far as I as a simple mind could say. I don't believe for a second that this is not the cut Kubrick wanted or that major scenes are missing. It's a sledge hammer if try to understand it long enough. I've seen it about 6 times in full length and at least 50 times in parts. And I will continue watching it. It's the opposite of a blockbuster.

[@Prodbyjah464]

Not half baked but not his best, still great

[@beestingza]

I just saw your more recent review and this one still stands on its own quite well. I like all your old reviews for that matter. Also I love how you talk to your future self at the end, knowing that you will revisit the film and likely reevaluate it once again. So cool how you came full circle 5 years later.

[@FN_FN]

absolutely agreed

[@Neufertful]

How can you say Tom's performance doesn't say enough? Bill is almost as if the audience is the protagonist of the movie and gets involved in these crazy situations. This is not a cheap Netflix film about sexuality, some erotic scenes, moanings and call it a day. This movie is about the role of women in society I would say, or at least in the society Bill lives in. The reason he uses his doctor credentials so much is because he has a high status but is nothing compared to the people having the secret ritual.

[@tidalgardens]

I really liked Eyes Wide Shut. I would love to hear your thoughts on the theatrical vs director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven by Ridley Scott.

[@crabbySm4ck3r]

I like your videos, but I don't much dig the idea that a character HAS to learn something or gain something or change over the course of the movie.

[@IMakeVeryDumbVids]

I agree, and I think especially in Kubrick films it's true, because I think many times he'll have characters not develop intentionally. Like the characters from 2001 don't develop at all, Jack from The Shining just becomes a crazy person (he actually made the character way more flat than he was in the book, removing all of his backstory). Alex from a clockwork orange has character development forced upon him, but he ends up just being the exact same guy that he was in the beginning. Not to mention all the characters in Dr. Strangelove are just caricatures. I don't think Kubrick cares so much about his characters really, and instead focuses on everything else that happens to them. You can see the same in a lot of Coen brothers films where the characters don't actually make any decisions, things just happen to them. Think of The Big Lebowski or A Serious Man.

[@kthx1138]

It's called a character ARC.

[@watermelonlalala]

@@kthx1138 But who says there has to be a character arc? A high school literature teacher? A Hollywood movie studio mogul? The character arc is only a device to tell the story. Hence, in some old Alice in Wonderland movies they will invent little problems for Alice in the opening scenes that aren't in the original story. Then she learns a lesson during the film and her problem is solved in the last scene, also invented by the scriptwriter, so there will be a character arc, a lesson to be learned from the movie. But apparently, Lewis Carroll had never heard of a character arc.

[@kthx1138]

Tom Cruise: Born on the Fourth of July IS a film where the cracks of veneer open on his character, Ron Kovic. Paralyzed from the waist down from a bullet that severed his spinal chord in Vietnam, Cruise turns himself inside out as Kovic!

[@ManMan-bj8it]

It wasn’t just that Alice had a meaningless desire to have sex with someone else. It was that she said she was fully willing to abandon bill and everything they’ve went through. It throws him in a loop because it makes him rethink the sincerity of there entire marriage. That his wife, the person who should give him undying comfort and support would have such vengeful thoughts. Is this just normal and something to ignore, or should this be something of concern and that should be talked about? Love your channel, interesting review even though I didn’t agree with it. I don’t mind listening to criticism for someone I really love, especially when it’s constructive.

[@mrrrl795]

I think the film is less about the characters themselves and their motivations (which are weak) but instead about exploring occult sexual rituals of societal elites.

[@lukasvymyslicky1646]

@J X H It's definitely NOT about sex

[@radupopa9701]

Wrong. Few people understand the essance of that film. There's a good reason why Kubrick considered this his best work.

[@classicvideogoodies]

Anyone saw the scenes with Bill in the mysterious, menacing, almost Illuminati-like setting of those orgy scenes and think of Tom Cruise in Scientology??

[@ciao63097]

Not really

[@cooltalktalks4944]

No

[@helgaratbone1691]

Like your vids! This one put a thorn in my brain so I watched the movie yesterday and picked out the thorn. I think you’re off base with T Cruise during the scene they’re high on pot. I don’t get your idea that Tom has a hard time believing or comprehending his wife could have a fantasy. It’s not that at all. It’s what Nicole says that goes beyond fantasy. She was ready or even compelled beyond her social wishes to act on this fantasy. If the encounter with the navy soldier somehow presented itself more in full then she would have been helpless to avoid it. She would have cheated on him regardless of her subjective wants and desires (love) She was helpless to her objective desire (lust) That is what Tom is struggling with. Not that his wife has fantasies but that she may at sometime in life..be unable to not act on one. That the primal physicality of a sexual encounter may win over their subjective ‘vows’ Nicole is making a secure Tom insecure. It’s a big part of anybody’s relationship .. when the first cracks of distrust enter. Tom Cruise is brilliant in this movie. I think you’re way off base and simplifying things waaay to much. Cmon. This is legit Kubrick!

[@steverok67]

Spot on.

[@Amleth89]

It surprises me how little, women seems to understand men sometimes. What breaks Bill it´s what you said plus the fact he didn't felt what Alice did felt.

[@suppe3267]

@@Amleth89 hey, don't lump every woman in with this particular reviewer lmao!

[@-k-b-]

With everything coming out about Epstein, this movie is on another level of feeling too real. The theme of jealousy is so palpable in this movie as well, reminded me a lot of Mulholland Drive. Tom did a great job all things considered too, I think the only scene in the movie that's a little annoying is when Ziegler explains everything to Tom, like Warner Bros added it in or something, unnecessary scene or at least underwritten. Besides that though really loved this movie

[@mrazcr000]

Kubrick had final cut. Studio could not do that under those terms. Unless movie rating was an issue.

[@Onmysheet]

EWS is one of my favourite Kubrick films. From my view it's about a doctor who smugly thinks he's got everything worked out in life, until one night changes all that. He realises he's out of his depth. (1) Barry Lyndon (2) Eyes Wide Shut (3) The Shining (4) 2001 A Space Odyssey (5) Dr Strangelove (6) Full Metal Jacket (7) A Clockwork Orange (8) Lolita

[@jimjames8501]

Jeez louise, where's paths of glory, which clearly towers over the rest of his work primarily because it's so straight-forward? For purposes of full disclosure, never seen Lolita or Barry Lyndon.

[@themoreyouknowfools4974]

The killing?

[@Onmysheet]

@@themoreyouknowfools4974 Haven't seen it.

[@paulthomas8884]

The best thing I've ever seen with Tom Cruise, viewing him strictly in terms of acting ability is Born on the Fourth of July. I'd never seen him perform like that before watching that movie. If you ever decide to check it out, be forewarned that it's incredibly depressing even by war movie standards.

[@sarahsapsowitz4111]

Normally I really enjoy your reviews and typically agree with most of your takes. However, I don’t know if I can disagree with you more than your review of EWS. I feel your opinions are, I’ll use your term here, skeletal. You’re reviewing this film purely on what IMDB says the plot of the movie is. EWS is so deep, layered, and intelligent. Bill and Alice’s marriage in the film is facade, a mask if you will, for what this movie truly is about. Similar to The Shining one must read between the lines through Easter Eggs, symbolism, and motifs of what message Kubrick is attempting to tell us. I am not much of a conspiracy theorist at all, in fact I find that most people who are to be delusional and frankly just silly. But, in EWS the easter eggs and nods to some sort of secret society/freemasons/occult/illuminati/etc. is too much to be ignored. In fact any review of this film that doesn't at least mention this is probably missing the point. Where to begin? The star of Venus or Ishtar, pentacles, and pentagrams that are seen all over Ziegler's Christmas party. After the party, Bill and Alice return home and make love, we see Alice looking into the mirror, this would go on to be the movie poster for the film, on the poster Alice is seen looking into the mirror with one, eye of providence? Domino, the prostitute that Bill meets, has a strong resemblance to a high priestess. Rainbow Costumes and what goes on there with the owner and his underaged daughter, with her whispering to Bill what type of cloak he should rent. The symbolic pagan masks at the ritualistic orgy. The next day, when Bill goes to the diner looking for the piano player Nick Nightingale (Nightingale is a motif on its own) and there are eight cups next to Bill as he is questioning the waitress. Bill goes back to Rainbow Costumes and the owner has come to an "arrangement" with the businessmen. Bill and Alice take their daughter to a toy store, the daughter gets very excited when she walks by a board game entitled "The Magic Circle". Throughout the film there are loads more: Christmas trees, stuffed tigers, teddy bears, paintings in the background, and so on. One could make an argument that Alice was literally and figuratively grooming their daughter for the cult during the film. The one scene where Alice is helping her with her homework, the math problem is which boy has more money and Alice shoots Bill a sheepish grin. SPOILER AHEAD: In the toy store we see two men from Ziegler's Christmas party as well as a waiter that gives Alice's a glass of champagne at the same party. The last time we see their daughter in the film, she disappears in the toy store with the two men and the waiter from the party. Admittedly, a lot of this stuff is inferred and somewhat subtle. But, NOTHING in a Stanley Kubrick film is a coincidence. Even the character of Victor Ziegler one cannot ignore. A wealthy investment banker that holds these extravagant parties and is a part of ritualistic orgies. Remind of you of anyone? Baron Guy de Rothschild perhaps? The orgy is filmed in a Rothschild owned mansion, at least the depiction of the outside of the mansion. Or how about Victor Ziegler is inspired by Jeffrey Epstein? Ziegler's wife even looks an extradorinaiy amount like Ghislaine Maxwell. Was he just toying with the audience or was he trying to tell us a larger message? Was Kubrick attempting to expose the Occult? Maybe or maybe not, but any review of the film cannot omit any mentioning of such suggestion. As far as Tom Cruise's Bill Harford character being one dimensional, that was kind of the point. Stanley Kubrick came up with the last name Harford as an amalgamation of the name Harrison Ford. Allegedly Kubrick thought Harrison Ford was the most generic, white bread, and frankly kind of shitty actor. Thus, Kubrick wanted Bill Harford to be this thick, simple, generic, but yet well respected person in society type of character. So Tom Cruise played the exact character that Kubrick wanted him to play and for what its worth i thought was fantastic in the role. I agree with your opinion of Nicole Kidman, she is terrific in nearly everything she is in and EWS is certainly no exception. But back to Tom Cruise, your take that he is not a compelling actor is pretty out of touch. I agree that he often times takes on more kind of big budget films which often times doesn't lead to the most thespian challenging roles. However, lets not compare him to Vin Diesel either. Have you seen Cruise in Magnolia? Born on the Fourth of July? Hell, even though the movie was a little sappy, he was great in Jerry Maguire. To bring this diatribe to a merciful end, Eyes Wide Shut is a film that this review clearly missed the mark on or maybe deepfocuslens didn't view the film in deep focus. EWS tells a story behind the story. This film is anything but "expected', it is layered with motifs and symbolism. It is has a haunting effect that sticks with the audience for a long period of time. This film came out twenty-one years ago to the day of this writing, and yet people are still debating it today. I tried to not give away many spoilers with this post, but if you're wondering whether or not to give this movie a viewing if you haven't seen it or if it's been awhile since you've seen it, then please do watch it. Eyes Wide Shut is so much more than what this video review gives it credit for. Fidelio.

[@Amleth89]

Thanks for the insight Sarah, I agree with you 100%

[@adanerubielliddiard9453]

This comment was way accerted than the poor review.

[@johnbrowne3950]

The reviewer has her eyes wide shut. She's reviewing what's on the surface and competely missed what's burnling underneath. It all went over her head.

[@seijunsejuki]

She has a hard time believing a man could be so clueless about a woman's desires, I have a hard time believing that a woman would have a hard time believing that.

[@matrix91234]

I would say, its more fearful (As you can tell by some people), not clueless i doubt that. But you can tell by different types of people living in this world.

[@classicvideogoodies]

Regarding Tom Cruise, even he admitted in the making-of featurette on the DVD/Blu-ray that he found the role challenging and he wasn't sure if he understood everything in the film.

[@Yawnpawn1]

I'm pretty sure neither Kidman nor Cruise understood the movie. Or they are wise enough to hide their understanding.

[@newworldorder6764]

Yeaaah riiight

[@Whoa802]

Isn't that the case with every Kubrick film?

[@tiadiad]

I'm afraid you missed the mark when it comes to that pivotal dialogue scene between Alice and Bill at the beginning of the movie. Alice didn't just tell Bill that she got turned on by a stranger while they were married. She told him that at that moment she was willing to give up both her husband, and their daughter, for a chance to have sex with a stranger. She essentially revealed to her husband that there was a time during their marriage, when he and their daughter meant less to her than a one night stand with a stranger. That's what got the ball rolling. Kubrick being Kubrick, of course, that's just the tip of the iceberg. The most chilling scene in the movie is the one right at the end, at the toy store. Pay very close attention to what happens to their daughter. She gets led away by two men who were at the freaky sex club Tom visited earlier. Kubrick was f**ked up...

[@MrSkarz19]

I didn’t even notice the two men jfc

[@atarkus8]

I feel like unfortunately this movie was made for a very specific viewer. And if you happen to be in that niche, it will speak to you in ways nothing else can, and make you feel like someone is looking into your soul. But if you're not part of this niche... you'll be left scratching your head, wondering why Tom's character behaves the way he does, just as you did in your review here. From my perspective, the couple is very unbalanced in their sexual experience. Nicole's character is much more experienced and also more openly sexual than Tom's character. He is attractive, but not a ladies man. He was probably too shy and too reserved to ever have many sexual encounters, while she has had significantly more. That tends to make him harbor a lot of different feelings, some jealousy, some inadequacy, a lot of pent up desires that he's unable to fulfill because he takes faithfulness seriously. When Nicole reveals her thoughts it sends him over the edge... The idea of her with another man likely always made him uncomfortable, and her very vivid description is too much. So you can see him try to loosen up and probe the unknown. He finds the idea of these sex parties super exciting. He'll contemplate hiring a prostitute but isn't sure he'll go through with it. He's constantly surrounded by very attractive people some of whom would even make moves on him, but again this is all forbidden territory to him. It's only after going through all these crazy adventures that he's able to better come to grips with his feelings and make peace with them. The wife meanwhile will understand and reassure him at the very end. All I can say is, if you've ever been in a relationship like this, you'll feel like the movie is a documentary. If you haven't, and your life experience is very different, I don't doubt that it will all seem hard to relate to or understand. It's so on the nose that it makes me wonder if this is to some extent based on Kubrik's own life, or at least the lives of people he knew very well.

[@vincenzoberetta1085]

The original novel, "Traumnovelle" by Arthur Schnitzler, literally starts where "The Dead" by James Joyce ends. In "The Dead" a married couple goes to a party; when they return home the wife confesses how a musical piece heard at the party reminded her of a boy who loved her when she was younger - and then she starts crying. This upends the whole idea that the husband had of their marriage and himself, causing a psychological collapse and a deeper understanding of the complexities of life. Joyce ends the story with this classic "epiphany". Schnitzler instead starts from there. I always wondered if it was a coincidence but there is no doubt that both artists were being influenced by the spirit of their times. Let's not forget how both tales are written in a period of time where people like Freud started diffusing the idea that - gasp! - women had a sexual side too, with desires, temptations and, yes, dreams. This was without doubt shocking in Europe at the beginning of the XX Century, but "so last century!" in 1999. I liked the movie a lot but, while watching it, my mind continuously drifted towards Vienna circa 1910. IMHO, the mistake that Kubrick made was to set it in modern New York. It would have worked better as a period piece.

[@ainslie187]

In my view, the focus of this film is dealing with western civilization- how it functions, how it's structured and the way individuals behave within said structure. It is a sort of surreal allegory laden with symbolism. A quick example of what I'm talking about is the Somerton orgy scene.The attendees are not there to get laid, they're there to get as close as possible to the center of the power structure which is embodied in Red Cloak. He sits on a throne that is adorned with the double headed eagle which symbolizes the very concept of empire. Red Cloak also pivots in the middle of a circle of 12 women waving the incense orb in a counterclockwise fashion. It seems to me that time emanates from him, he sets the tone for all of humanity; we behave according to his demands. He is an immutable force of nature- a force that is innate within all of us that propels us through life....the drive for power.

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

Interesting. I'm sure you've heard the theories that this film is trying to expose the secret societies and sex rituals of the ultra- elite that rule us from behind the masks of anonymity that great wealth can provide?

[@ainslie187]

EWS is more about society than the marriage of one couple, their relationship is really a minor part of the plot. The major part is dealing with society, materialism, commerce, and the power structure of empires. Cruise's character is blind to the reality of his existence, he's a nice enough guy but he's also an ambitious pleasure seeker and he's so focused on status, money and sex he doesn't realize what role he really plays in society. He services ultra-wealthy individuals who are manipulative and ruthless, and they pay him handsomely to be on call for them and keep their secrets, making him complicit in their crimes. He's bought and paid for, and so is his wife who (it is alluded to) is a glorified prostitute; she enjoys all the perks of her husband's income, spending her days shopping and primping in the mirror.....and that's about it. The couple represents the affluent American upper middle class more focused on getting laid and paid than opening their eyes to the reality that they are intimately involved in the promotion of violent empire.

[@Thespeedrap]

Every movie that's the last of any filmmaker is going to be decisive.

[@rajasnagpurkar]

Do you mean divisive? Or like decisive in how it allows everyone to make an ultimate judgement about their work

[@Thespeedrap]

@@rajasnagpurkar Divisive sorry I said the wrong word.

[@admiralsmelling1666]

According to Jay Weidner, who saw the film in Europe, a substantial amount of very creepy footage dealing with mind-control, has been cut from the film...not by Kubrick.

[@christophermacintyre5890]

Jay Weidner is a nut. He didn't see a version of the movie that is any different than what any one else saw. He imagined the film that he WANTED Eyes Wide Shut to be and is trying to pass off his imagined version of the film as something real.

[@jellybeanz1989]

EWS has an INSANE amount of subtext and hidden meanings that all tie in together. One of the hidden subplots is the child trafficking angle, which definitely "pushes for more" as a thematic per se, because whens the last time a movie ever dared to touch such a subject? And who knows what was cut in those famous 20 minutes

[@KhrissBliss]

Although the bedroom scene has uncomfortable acting for me, i tend to focus on what makes it Kubrickian, which is that Dr. Bob doesn’t so much say what he means, he’s just trying to say the “right” thing.

[@Amleth89]

In fact he could be speaking the truth, some people has selfimpost bounderies, that´s what hurts him, his wife was ready to let everything go while he tries all those years to not even give a chance to the lust. After watching the movie for a second time, when that scene comes, I remember thinking "Bill says what a young lover would say, "I´m sure of you" and gets a laugh as a response. But maybe this doesn´t matter, maybe the scene is what it is to fill the role of what a young man would feel, to make us remember how we were as young men.

[@christophermirkovich7290]

You just described how emotional Nicole Kidman presence was in that scene and you don't understand how TC character was shaken by her truth? Ha HA AH

[@thedeep7818]

Hmm. This is an interesting perspective. I have never thought about the film in this light before. It is always great to hear generally unpopular opinions when it comes to directors like Kubrick seeing how the majority of, if not damn near all of films are critically acclaimed across all sides. Thanks dude! p.s. Your probably the cutest film reviewer i've seen on this platform.

[@ricolowry]

The point I think missing in this interpretation is that Eyes Wide Shut is solely about the frailty of the male ego, and the film is a dream whereas the character's subconscious is struggling to deal with the shocking confession of his wife... his entire foundation has been fractured and he's scared, thus manufacturing all of the events in the film within his own mind in a dream.

[@ainslie187]

EWS is about the interrelation between psychology and sociology. It's about Western Civilization; the greatest empire on Earth at the close of a prolific century, and the elements that make it tick (ie. power and money). It's about the respective roles people fill in this society and why they are motivated to do the things they do (ie. sex, love, and fear). It's about dreams and the mystery of our inner lives where all our passions and desires are born. It also weaves history and mythology into the film via a plethora of symbols. EWS is both timeless and time capsule.

[@pashasadr4627]

Hey. I think you should watch it again and really pay attention to some of the dialogue. What do you think he was trying to say in this film? Because it is quite skeletal you really need to focus on what he does give you and what it means. There's too much too say on this subject.

[@chocolatecigar1]

What did you think of the double print of the sentences in the newspaper, where the woman dies?

[@alberturania5711]

I change my opinion almost every time I rewatch a Kubrick movie. Especially did on this one. I felt the same about you on Cruises performance but I now think he was brilliant. I think Kubrick wasn’t saying anything per se, as much as he was asking the question why do we keep our sexuality so secret even to our partners. Every time a sexual encounter happens it’s behind locked doors.

[@adriiiME]

Great insight! its tough finding someone who is Open minded (never mind a female) with interesting and deep views in film and art. Also I cant believe you're only on 6k subs with so much content produced. Will definitely be recommending your channel to others and especially my sister before she suffers permanent damage from watching the equivalent of aids on tv, also known as reality shows. Will be looking forward to your future uploads!

[@juzujuzu4555]

Eyes Wide Shut is the hardest Kubrick film to understand. Also you really cannot appreciate it as much as Kubricks other films without really understanding the deeper layers. You really need to have esoteric, occult, alchemy, numerology knowledge. Also this film is full of hidden and not so hidden information of secret society elite, CIA operatives etc. and what how and why of their actions. Ofcourse its film about sexuality and love. Good analysis on how to see Eyes Wide Shut as fairy tale -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqDcgGNmm9p0qbM Occult/numerologic layer can be seen in -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYPHd3mErK-VrLc and also in -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5-wmGiknNytppY In Kubrick's films most of the layers can be seen to have independent meaning, and thus many people find different theories for example in The Shining and think thats what the movie is all about. However those meanings and layers are all connected to form a complete whole on the subject at hand. After you really analyze The Shining or Eyes Wide Shut, you really understand the unbelievable amount of work Kubrick had put in his films, and understand the constant changes on script, because every evidence/trace are supporting all the layers and meanings, at least most of the time. After years of researching Kubrick's films, I have to agree that he was one of the most intelligent man that ever lived. And ofcourse I just scratched the surface.

[@codybolo7803]

You overanalyze everything and expect every character in every film to have the perfect arc. Also, you dont pay attention to scenes because you are so self absorbed in your " i vee been to film school and they gave me a bullet list that i have to check if i wanna be a well respected critic" fantasy. Just watch the fucking movie and try to feel it. Your reviews look really good on first glance but are actually not that great. Also you like to hate on great movies

[@michaelluciano1980]

What’s your take on the missing footage?

[@andy100hp]

Bill and Alice relationship is just the mere simple surface on the movie interpretation, the real (IMO) message of the film is power and how it is used in modern society.

[@CESSKAR]

I've just discovered your content. I like it, thanks. Will you review Conan the Barbarian?

[@rekisrax7344]

CESSKARm

[@dejabu24]

I love that movie best adventure fantasy ever

[@tbyles]

I can see why you think it is "skeletal" ..... ambiguity may not be "good" but it is a fact of life (and dying) (but I appreciate your comments!!!!... really I do!!!..... and I love this movie!!!!!)

[@bobdigital21]

The confession isn't just about a fantasy, if that was all it was it wouldn't be a big deal. It is a confession about if this person approached her that night, she 100% would have cheated. In fact she almost threw myself at him even without him showing her any particular interest. There is a difference between fantasy and near infidelity.

[@Batskillz82]

Tom was awesome in this movie. It was better than Barry Lyndon by a lot.

[@jerryw.903]

You are a gifted reviewer. Noticing your change in attitude toward a film over time is interesting. You identified what I did not like about the film when you contrasted Tom Cruise's character with Nicole Kidman's. I wonder how much of Kubrick's own psyche is reflected in Cruise. His sexuality is frozen and unresponsive. Even a baroque orgy does not break his detachment. You note the energy lurking in Nicole Kidman and wanting to get out. What a hell for a couple to desire in opposite directions. To see but not to feel; to feel but not to touch. Is there something fundamentally lacking and off about men which imprisons and frustrates women?

[@HBICTiff]

I don’t think that a character has to completely change over the course of a film. Tom Cruise’s character is withdrawn from sexuality and oblivious to things of that nature so much so that everything that happens around him in the film ends up having a small effect on him by the end. It is just how his character is made.

[@BrianandSnoopy1]

I totally agree with you when you mentioned "Lolita" . when i saw EWS for the 2nd time that is the conclusion i came up with: "he did this better with Lolita." i think to me the big thing that i walk away from it in terms of Kubrick - when you are looking back at his body of work after it was all said and done for him, is he was this guy that changed the way you do a certain genre of movie. he made Lolita - everybody then tried to copy him; 2001- same; Clockwork -same. nobody could take over the lead from him. then he made "Full Metal Jacket" - great film but he wasn't the trendsetter in it. a lot better films on the subject were already made at that point he came out with FMJ it did not really have the impact that it should have had . same with this film.With EWS. he was late to the party - and he really did not do it the "Kubrick" way that you were talking about. his time had already passed. and it showed with this movie. it is still a good one but it wasn't what it needed to be for me coming from Stan the man.

[@michellelewis3063]

An erotic film about sexuality, really? Because every other review says thats what its about so you think that too? Let me ask something, why would Kubrick depict an elite network of ritualized sex with extreme secrecy and implied murder and threats to maintain secrecy and call the film 'Eyes wide shut'? Is that anything to do with a struggling marriage? No, he deliberately refers to criminal abuse of power to exploit and abuse and the willingness to kill to cover that up, and how supposedly moral individuals can get drawn in to become a part of that criminal abuse. I appreciate that at time of publication of this video, Weinstein and Epstein had not reached public awareness, but the theme is there right in front of you, the title directly implies what the film is about, yet every reveiw somehow fails to see, as if they too have their eyes wide shut. Its the refusal to see that enables power to abuse, refusing to stand against power to stop it. But first one must open ones eyes and see.

[@a.z4652]

you got a little too heated over this

[@scottbarkley496]

You just secretly hate/hate on Tom Cruise

[@sunflowers2469]

just saw it and while I can say I appreciate all the fairy lights, the globe lights, the beauty of Nicole Kidman and that dress she wore at the party , all the paintings, & their daughter was adorable, those were the only things I liked about the film.

[@classicvideogoodies]

Did you watch the R-rated or unrated version? In the orgy scenes, the R-rated version censors the more explicit shots while the unrated version doesn't. AFAIK, all streaming versions in existence are the R-rated version. All discs made before 2007 were R-rated. Only the 2007 DVD & Blu-ray are unrated. The uncensored version was, of course, Kubrick's intended version. But it is too bad that the streaming versions, which are what most people see today, is still the censored R-rated version.

[@wenzer2001]

WS for me is a pretty straightforward "expose" if you will of the amorality of the elite. How the elite uses people and discards them like trash. I adore this movie and could watch it forever, but not for the plot, for the set production. I truly consider this to be the best set production I have ever seen on film. I live in NYC and have been to the homes of many Upper East Side couples similar to Bill and Alice (although usually older) and the apartment is SPOT ON! I love how the furniture appears random and to have been acquired over several years, maybe at auction or from an antique dealer? There is a balance of order and disarray in their belongings, it truly feels authentic and lived in. I especially loved the jazz club and street scenes in the way that everything glows! the Christmas lights motif is used in nearly all the shots of the film in such a beautiful and painterly way. So many of the shots look like still photographs and remind me of the work of Saul Leiter (A huge influence for Todd Hayne's Carol).

[@mikeciul8599]

I didn't see Eyes Wide Shut when it first came out, but when I was working on a performance around that time, one of my collaborators suggested putting me and a bandmate into a parody of the movie's poster. It got me curious about it and I hoped I would get to see it one day. Not long after that, I met my future ex-wife. In the first couple years of our relationship, I learned that she would react with rage when I indicated that I might be attracted to anyone else. She also became convinced that I had a crush on Nicole Kidman, and I gave up the thought that I might ever watch Eyes Wide Shut. Now, 3 years after my divorce, I've finally seen the movie. The scene at the beginning, where Bill and Alice fight, right before she admits her fantasy, was painfully familiar to me. Bill struggles to answer Alice's accusations, and tells some ridiculous lies about himself, and men and women. I was ready to accept that he believed those lies and was clinging to them out of fear of their relationship falling apart, because that's something I did myself for years. But at the point where Alice confesses her fantasy, the context shifted for me. Alice shows vulnerability, and I interpreted her previous accusations as an attempt to connect with Bill, by revealing that they had similar desires. The way I read the story, Bill starts out with the blinders on, in denial about not only his wife's sexuality, but also his own. He is afraid to accept that people can have complex inner lives, with desires that don't match the commitments they've made to each other. The action of the movie allows him to explore the feelings that he's denied in himself and in Alice, and ultimately realize he can be more faithful by acknowledging those feelings and still choosing to honor his commitment to his family. He is definitely a childish character, but not at all uninteresting or unbelievable to me, and I found the growth he experiences and the understanding that Alice shows to be very hopeful. I was surprised but satisfied by the film's "happy ending."

[@RaikenXion]

The one main thing about this film that I noticed and was mainly interested in was not so much it's two lead stars, but actually the insight it gives into the world of secret socieities. Im not going to go all conspiracy theorist here, but I will say I do believe there are many that exist, and I do think many of them operate like this, engaging in dark rituals and I do think many of their members even leaders are individuals in our Governments etc, but thats all I'll say on that. There was a big fuss over Tom and Nicole and them going through a break up while making this movie, so I bet that really tested their acting chops.

[@jsammo6528]

You see a film 10x (lets say) and you think it’s fantastic, but. On the 11th viewing you think it’s meh. Maybe see it 12x and 11th was an aberration

[@briansinger5258]

It’s a painting. You can go as deep as you want into it. But rest assured, he superficiality of the characters is the key to understanding the esoteric meaning.

[@fijistarproductions990]

I gotta disagree. Eyes Wide Shut is my favourite movie. I didn’t find Bills jealousy with Alice out of character or out of place because no matter how upper class or smart you are, you would be rather upset and jealous. Jealousy and anger are two very important themes with sexuality so it worked for me especially when it relates to cheating and marriage. Also Bill was under the influence of Pot at the time. The character of Bill is certainly not degrading to the film but I respect your opinion.

[@taylormadevibe]

Ummmm… ya I just respectfully disagree on this take. Interest interpretation on Cruise specifically. The daughter is the game changer in this movie ( they aren’t newlyweds) so hearing what NK was seriously willing to give up for essentially one night of pleasure had him questioning everything. To make Cruise out to be “shallow” and even somewhat misogynistic was interesting. I saw vulnerably even naivety in his character more than being some shallow guy. Intriguing take nonetheless. Respect you for the review and it’s why films are so awesome. We all see it differently and when I watch again I will take note.

[@sherwood07]

Have you watched EWS since this review? If so, how have your views on it changed?

[@cruddddddddddddddd]

I think the film makes two interesting points about marriage: 1. Sex without any intimacy is meaningless; sex with no intimacy leads, ultimately, to the death of the relationship. This is symbolized by Bill almost literally dying as he seeks out sex without intimacy: the prostitute with HIV; Bill's potential murder at a sex-party where there is zero intimacy; and, finally, the masked woman dying instead of Bill. 2. Without mystery, it's harder to enjoy sex with the same partner over and over again, forever and eve. Not all intimacy in a relationship is sexy, and the more intimate you become with someone, the less sexy they will seem to you. Farting, burping, drooling in your sleep, vomiting, coughing, getting naked in an unsexy way, whatever: these are all intimate experiences that couples will be forced to see/hear/smell with their life-partners, and it just ain't that sexy once you've seen/heard/smelled it for 5 years. This mystery=sexy element is symbolized by Alice's fantasy and subsequent confession to Bill--she wants to feel sexy with someone she doesn't know... a stranger. Another example of this idea is the fact that a woman who looks a lot like Alice is in love with Bill; interestingly, her husband also looks similar to Bill--she wants Bill because she doesn't really know him. Lastly, Bill is infatuated by a prostitute and by masked women, all of whom are unknowable strangers. So, 100% intimacy=a dull, miserable sex life. 100% mystery=the death of the relationship. Alice understood this completely, which is why the film needed to focus on Bill as he learned these philosophical truths about his marriage. It's also interesting to me that the more Alice and Bill learn about one another, the less it helps their relationship. If you knew all the dark thoughts, desires of your partner, I doubt you would like it. This idea goes back to number-2, and leaving a little mystery between you and your life-partner. So, idk, I think it's a complex film with very complex and difficult themes. There's so much more that could be said other than what I wrote here. It's not my favorite Kubrick film (that belongs to 2001), but I still like it a lot, and find it so much more interesting than probably 90% of films. I also would have loved to have seen Kubrick's final edit. He only edited the film once. Kubrick said the only true art form in film is the editing process. I wonder what Warner Bros. edited out of this film that should have remained.

[@crackeduptv8815]

I have question for your next QNA have you ever thought about going into the film career and becoming a film director if so what would you do differently from the rest of film directors today.

[@claborn79]

As someone interested in psychoanalysis, particularly Lacanian, I love this film!

[@juandior1251]

well you cant forget about the 20 plus minutes that were cut out

[@christophermacintyre5890]

20 minutes were cut from 2001 as well. So what? There's no conspiracy or mystery here. He trimmed EWS down by 20 minutes before presenting to execs, and it is likely he would have trimmed it a bit more if he had lived another week or so. The only issue with the theatrical version of the film is we didn't get the absolutely last thoughts of Kubrick, and it is likely that the film would have been a tad shorter and tighter. Kubrick's films consist main of very long takes, meaning he could have cut the film down considerably and affected only the pace of the film, but not it's overall content. Standard operating procedure for Kubrick. Actually, the epilogue that Kubrick removed from The Shining had far greater impact due to the fact that it was an entirely new scene which fundamentally altered the film's meaning.

[@thorstonmanderlay5010]

Very much agree with your review. Tom Cruise, though better than usual compared to himself, was completely, utterly miscast in this. Like you I was constantly wishing we were following Nicole Kidman's character instead of his. And for all its pretensions of exploring sexuality and pushing the envelope, the film doesn't really do anything of the kind. In fact, it's quite tame and even prudish. It teases being daring without ever actually going there. Also, it's based on Dream Novella by Arthur Schnitzler. Schnitzler wrote many psychological stories about sexuality (La Ronde, Miss Elsa etc.), all set in his own time and world which was pre-WWI Vienna. In adapting this novella to 1990s New York, Kubrik failed to make the necessary changes to resonate believably within its new setting.

[@evanjohnmo]

There always seems to be an underlying message in Kubrick's films. It's the one thing he tries to hide the most, and it's also the one thing viewers are always trying to interpret. This ambiguity makes it so that we rewatch Kubrick's films. There's always the hidden message, but he also camouflages it with the over arching theme or superficial message. He creates a red herring. It's almost as if he knows that the one who actually figures out his satirical message will get bored with the movie and stop watching it. Is the finger being pointed at us?

[@gregorykolar7162]

Thinking about the protagonist (good luck with that) and antagonist is a helpful way to understand the story. Bill isn't the Protagonist - he's the ultimate antagonist. Alice is certainly an antagonistic character, but she turns out to be extremely superficial and devoid of loving feelings. We don't get to see why (allusions to her being involved in past sex parties. maybe?), but she is ultimately a moral-less individual who values the carnal. The story is about Bill's journey through his own morality and values. His experiences pit him in situations which both bring out a reality that he has buried (or never really faced) as well as, test his moral center. We get to see his eyes start to open to the realities that while things may be appealing on the surface - they are depraved at their core (Zeigler, the parties, the shop owner, etc.), but instead of choosing the moral high ground (in this story would be caring for his daughter, respecting his friend and not going to the party, calling the police on the shop owner, etc.), he selfishly chooses to follow his carnal desires. He ultimately chooses to follow his, wife whose final response shows us the path she has chosen. Kubrick juxtaposes this statement, with the daughter being lead away? left on her own? Ultimately, it doesn't matter what happens to the daughter specifically, because her parents decision to seek the carnal and not the moral basically seals her fate. Freaking sad!

[@jonglives]

I don't find the film erotic, it's detached because Tom Cruise is just observing everything.

[@alisattar7798]

Why did you said Tom cruise is superficial and humble actor on the contrary he's fantastic and exptional actor but I can only tell the truth this fantastic review ❤❤❤❤

[@mondoenterprises6710]

The piano soundtrack is worth the price of admission alone.

[@UTJRod7]

Not sure why you think you'll get hate. Thought it was a really fair review, with a lot of points I mostly agree with it.

[@deepfocuslens]

I dissed a Kubrick film. I figured someone would get pissed off at some point.

[@Government_Username]

S is for Stanley is a good documentary on Netflix. There were some references to his driver in Eyes Wide Shut.

[@lexaz4532]

The ”red man” is significanthe The Romanian Priest as Enchanter. The film is related to the practice of "opening the Holy Book in Romania" not found in any cult book and is contrary to the rules established by the Church. Is a reverse fragment from Romania Orthodox Holy Liturgy. It belongs to the current of philosophical and religious thought.

[@troubadour723]

The best thing about this film is that it does leave a lot open to discussion (and not in an endless fanboy debate sort of way). I've read some who thought the main story arc is just a ruse to only slightly conceal an indictment of the Illuminati and other secret societies. Either way I wish he could have dispensed with the whole "Cruise/Kidman" thing and hired a British actor instead of Cruise, and set it in London instead of New York. He wouldn't have had the needless expense of reconstructing Manhattan on a soundstage. The original story was set in Vienna, so if you're not going to set it there, why New York then? Besides the "orgy house" doesn't look like anything found on Long Island, and in fact is a mansion outside London (incidentally once owned by the Rockefellers, who use to throw "masked balls" at the residence back in the old days). And you are 100% right that Kidman's character is far more interesting than Cruise's. But I'm not sure logistically how they could have gotten her out of the house on the "dream journey". Make her the doctor instead who gets called out? It would've made a radically different film.

[@jonrobinson3711]

I'd recommend the novella 'Dream Story' by Arthur Schnitzler. It takes a deeper dive into Alice's dream and is essentially to Eyes Wide Shut as King's The Shining is to Kubrick's.

[@joshnic6639]

In the 90’s it would be a shock to learn that your wife thought about other men. Of course times have changed drastically

[@710blodgett74]

I feel that this is a unfinished Kubrick film because Stanley was known to edit his films until the last min and he would tinker with his films until he knew they were perfect

[@mintmag8748]

I loved review review but not for the reasons you might think. I always struggled with Eyes Wide Shut. Understanding it's themes and points. But thanks to you, I think I get it now. Eyes Wide Shut is more about the temptation of sex rather than the sexual odyssey itself. Had he actually had sex with many of the offerings from the movie it would have destroyed his marriage. His marriage and lifestyle was in constant danger and he had to choose between what he wanted and what he needed. That's my take on it.

[@nickgeorgiou123]

Bill is like a lot of men, his ego and insecurity is not allowing him to face the truth until his wife shocks him into reality, that's the brilliance of Kubrick, he understands the male phyche perfectly

[@frankrivera8719]

You're opinion is so basic. The layers to this movies are ridiculous. To break down this movies should almost be a movie itself. This movie was meant to open the eyes of people like you. And confirm other people's already knowing of these occults of the elite.

[@Amleth89]

It surprises me how a Kubrick fan could make such a basic overview, I agree with you.

[@freddieduquet2065]

I understand and respect your points. Maybe I have to watch it again, too, to get a fresh look. I will say, I never really thought of Kubrick as a writer/director who had super developed characters to begin with. I think atmosphere is the main thing that captivates me in his films. A Clockwork Orange is really the only Kubrick film that I think has strong character development. Maybe FMJ, but I don't think as much.

[@psycane8462]

Damn, I love this film but I respect your opinion and understand your viewpoint. Another great video, hope you keep doing reviews of great classics (whether you like them or not). I'd be curious to see you do full length reviews on each of your Top 5 Favorite Films. Just an idea :) Have a great day!

[@jackdraper8558]

I would argue Terence Malik also would be considered self indulgent with the kind of acclaimed his received. Not saying that disregarding a traditional story structure is a cardinal sin that others say it is but when it then becomes boring, thats another line being crossed

[@amirfld6375]

I totally accept your sayings about this movie, but i think the lack of layers of bill character is coming from the book, because it is how it is in the book, a sexual childish person with her wife, also this movie is mysterious af, and it gives you a really horrifying feeling about this weird illumination paeties and people, the scene when zielger (bill's friend) is exposing the truths about everything he's been through is so breath taking, that's one of my favorite scenes! Also this movie had a lot of other points rather than just characters. Very good movie but yes not his best, colors was fascinating tho.

[@dancochrane5577]

That confession of love of the widow is one of the best, sexiest in the film for me.

[@genius179]

I know you said Cruise's performance lackluster but I personally feel different because: 1. Kubrick was having him do 55 takes of everything and some feel that Kubrick was using some of the worst takes in his scenes. 2. Cruise never saw the dailies either so how can he know the specific performance Kubrick wants out of him

[@goutham6248]

I always thought, Nicole Kidman is in that cult underneath one of the masks

[@pedrorocha9722]

After Clockwork, this is the one I enjoy. There's an artificiality in it that still didn't rub me the wrong way. It's very well constructed and delivered. For me, what gets scratched at a surface level is complexities of being a woman and a woman in relation to a man. When that finally is bluntly sugested by the wife..... the movie ends.

[@erictripton]

If I may chime in. All of the characters in this or any movie portray some things deep within us that don't get talked about. Regardless of the meaning, and values... the cinematography techniques of Kubrick tingle the senses. Barry Lyndon is his best in my book in regards to that. Ryan O'neal is what Kubrick had in mind, and if you watched Ryan flics as a child like I did, you would see why, at an older age, why he worked so well in Barry Lyndon. Charismatic choice of actors is another attribute Kubrick has when he created all his pieces. Just his music choices alone inspire one to no end... me anyway..

[@Guigley]

'Eyes Wide Shut' is one of the most fascinating failures I've ever seen.

[@EricZuniga69]

Nice review. And yes when I first watched this movie I literally fell asleep. But when I watched it again multiple times…I think this is my favorite Kubrick film. And after you recommended Lolita, I just watched it and I guess as a female you would lean more with Lolita better than this because she pretty much won in that relationship. But for my point of view I think Kubrick nailed what Dr. Bill is going through. And when you thought that they should have explored Alice’s journey more…I disagree because this is more about Dr. Bill.

[@bc7014]

"They" killed Stanley over this film... "they" don't even bother to live in the shadows anymore.. "THEY" are here

[@michaelwinkler7841]

If the whole film is a dream of the kidman character, the shallowness of cruise kind of makes sense… it‘s like the tries to fill his void by what he experiences. Eyes wide shut, the title would make sense

[@pedroV2003]

I haven't seen this movie in a while so take this with a grain of salt but I think Tom's reaction to Nicole's confession wasn't because she fantasized about another man but the severity of her fantasy. She says (paraphrasing) that when she saw this other man she was prepared to leave him, her daughter and basically walk away from everything for this fantasy man. That's a bit more than a wife telling her husband that she fancies a hall pass with some guy. My $.02. Anyway, I liked the movie but its not something I could watch a lot.

[@Shiro642]

His wife had no shame! She shouldve kept her fantasies to herself. You dont see men doing that in front of their wives