Eyes Wide Shut Reviews

Perhaps Kubrick's masterpiece?

Those who loathe Eyes Wide Shut are also those who hate reading novels. "Dude, like too many words..."

Marketing executives at Warner Bros. are to blame for this film's poor reception, though it's a masterpiece. EWS was billed as Hollywood sexiest movie, ever! Cruise, Kidman. Sex, extra marital sex, group sex. Kidman is naked a minute into the film! Reminded me of the same anorak-pervs who flocked to 'Sex, lies and videotape' only to discover...

Rather EWS is beautiful, dangerous, funny... I could fill a forest in Peru and still run out of space for superlatives.

Pick a theme - fidelity. There's the password, but notice that in most scenes there's a gold band. From Cruise's wedding ring to gold bands around lamp shades, vases and circular gold picture frames.

And the orgy, allusions to secret societies and Satanic ritual. At Ziegler's party Alice dances with Sandor Szavost. (The founder of the Satanic church was Szandor.) Was Szavost at the orgy? And Alice as well? Is that how Bill's mask appears? And what symbolism in the colour red? And why Shostakovich?

These questions will never be properly answered, as we'll never know what made that woman grin when Da Vinci painted her.

The comparison isn't spurious. There are those who see the painting in the Louvre and wonder "that's the fuss about the painting that's so small anyway".

Much the same as "what's the fuss of some film that's too long, not even sexy".

Weird

Oh what to say, I am still somewhat dazed by it all. A very strange film that I can imagine will not be everyone’s cup of tea.

For the first 80 minutes it is quite slow and my opinion was that the film was purely done to show naked women, very pleasant women, but all a bit pointless. The film at this point made me sit up and concentrate. I suddenly felt I was watching a totally different film full of intrigue. It is definitely a thriller in it category, but not your standard type. Not much can be said about the plot without destroying the mystery of the film so I won't try.

One to recommend? Not sure, it depends on your taste, a lot on naked women, suggestive sexual action that is almost pornographic. To sum up, if you can handle, or the nudity doesn't bother you, or even if that is what you are looking for, then you will probably enjoy this weird film. Good acting on the whole, and a plot that never really explains itself fully, leaving you wondering just what it was all about.

difficult to slot

it was difficult to pause or stop the movie inspite of the slow pace. speilberg was right in the special features interview when he said stanley kubricks movies are difficult to pause or stop. the film has many layers to it and one can come up with lots of questions after the end.

the work by the director is effortlessly top class.

Tom Cruise struggles to put in the correct expressions.

Nicole is relatively better.

The visuals are stunning.

Its difficult to slot this film - erotica, psychological thriller.

It incites to look out for the directors other works.

Film is essentially a directors medium and this film reinforces that. The super stars pale in comparison with him.

A killer thriller!

I was surprised to see the negative reviews above for this film, because for me it was superb.I think Kubrick died during the making...which may explain the ending.

Very clever the way the plot builds throughout and develops into a very scary,tense piece of moviemaking.If you just want the same-old you probably wont enjoy, but if you like original,atmospheric,thought provoking stuff..this ones for you.Oh yes..no soundtrack has been this scary since 'Halloween'...

A great cure for insomnia

This is a film which promises much but delivers little. You want nudity - you've got it, but shown in a way which makes Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs look erotic by comparison. You want the style for which Kubrick was (rightly) so famous - you get only glimpses of it, and those thanks largely to the (as usual, marvelous) acting of Nicole Kidman.

What you get instead is a tedious, angst riddles day and night in the life of Tom Cruise's character as he tries to come to terms with his jealousy over his wife's - dope induced - sexual fantasy. Why he gets so jealous is beyond me, and why he chooses to investigate the sex-meat trade areas of New York in order to come to terms with is never made entirely clear.

But for the acting of Nicole Kidman I would have given this a 1. As it is, I felt this was a disappointing finale to the great Kubrick's career.

A Kubrick fan friend of mine told me not to hold my breath with Eyes Wide Shut. He said that although it's good, it's very wierd and I probably wouldn't particularly enjoy it. So, bearing that in mind, I wasn't prepared for a fantastic film. It is very slow, and, in fact, very little thrilling happens, as the plot spans only a few days. But as a character study, and a look at sexual desire and behaviour (visited before by Kubrick in Lolita and also in Clockwork Orange) without any of the main characters actually having sex. The intimacy and arousal of every charcter - without actually exploring it - is what makes Eyes Wide Shut what it is. Brilliant.

Art Not Hollywood

Thhis is a real, hard look at the sexual issues that face relationships. In typical Kubrick style the plot is delivered subtly and slowly with a good helping of realism. You've got to keep your eyes wide open to appreciate this one. There are clues everywhere.

If you are watching this for blatent naked scenes or any of the other hype - you will be missing the point. Brilliant performances from Nicole and Tom.

In too deep...

An intiguing insight into the paranoid feelings of a happily married couple and the events they cause. Not for action freaks but one for human interest and thiller lovers. Rent it!!

not one of Stanley's best

At nearly 3 hours long to tell a tale which should have taken 90 minutes this is way too slow - however given that it's a Kubrick film you can forgive him a little over-indulgence.

What really spoilt the film for me was Tom Cruise who is out of his depth here. His acting ability isn't up to the job - he looks awkward and many of his scenes just don't work properly as a result. He's just not believable.

Nicole Kidman is very good, but it's not one of her best performances because Kubrick just draws out the scenes well beyond what's needed.

As usual the filming of interior scenes is done wonderfully, with stunning lighting - watch out for a Christmas tree in many scenes which sheds a beautiful light.

There is some adult content which could offend some - but it's filmed in a detached way so it's largely artistic rather than erotic.

A superb film : unfairly underrated by too many

A calm start swiftly develops into a menacing theme. Kidman is superb, particularly in the couple of lengthy solo pieces. Kubrick spent a couple of years filming this and the perfection shows through.

This is art in the true fashion and it's a mistake to think, as many have, that a sex film is on offer.