Eyes Wide Open!

Rating: Null/10 (20 July 1999)

Eyes Wide Shut is an excellent example of complex, multi-layered film making at its best. It is a tragedy for his voice to be silenced with so much left to be said. Not a "chick-flick" a "date-flick" or for that matter a "guy-flick", the subject matter is deadly earnest and stirs very primal emotions. Starting with a simple confession of a fantasy unfullfilled, Tom Cruise's characters takes a head first spin into a wonderland gone awry (a coincidence that his wife's name is Alice?) and runs, rather than walks to the abyss only to return closer and closer until his own fantasies, mixed with the bizarre surroundings nearly consume him. It is extraordinary the way that Kubrick was able to spin this story into one of great suspense. Although reminiscent of Scorsese's "After Hours", the film seeps into a genre all its own. Since it appears to be an essential part of seeing a Kubrick film, after film discussions could easily dredge up similar consequences as happens in the film. The meticulous attention to detail that hallmarks every Kubrick film is here...and then some with the best set decorations that I've seen in years. Acting is top notch especially Nicole Kidman and Sidney Pollack. Due to Tom Cruise's type casting as a cocky-hip urbanite, it's difficult to see past this. Although awards for this film will be scance due to its subject matter (as with Boogie Nights) this is a must-see film by anyone who adores rich full cinema.