Kubrick's legend

Rating: 9/10 (3 June 2012)

Well, this is it. After two months I've seen every Kubrick film in order, from Fear and Desire to Eyes Wide Shut. And while I was a bit nervous about how then- 70 year old Kubrick would handle the topic of sex with Hollywood stars after a decade off from directing, I have to applaud this absolutely wonderful surprise of film, horribly underrated on this site, the IMDb.
Eyes Wide Shut channels much of Kubrick's previous work, such as A Clockwork Orange and 2001 while crafting its own unique identity. If you've ever wondered how directors from previous eras would fair in this generation, look no further: this film shows evolution. It's impossible to believe that this was made by the same man who made The Killing. But don't believe that this film is great because of its director or his past work: the score reflects my opinion of the film on its own.
Summarizing Eyes Wide Shut is difficult: the plot consists of a couple fighting and he walks into a series of events causing an awakening. Is it romantic? Nope. Thriller, or a mystery? Yep, and a bit scary in places too. But for the the entire 2.5+ hour runtime its engaging, and constantly interesting. You'll wonder what happens next and how it all plays out, and there's a sense of wonder throughout: movie magic.
I wonder if Kubrick knew this was going to be his last film, because he references so much of his previous work, something I haven't noticed him to do much. Notably from Clockwork and Lolita is the content. From 2001 there is a sense of realization. Such as learning about the moment we evolved into what we are today, Eyes Wide Shut ironically opens our eyes to aspects of life we tend to pass over. A revolution.
And from Barry Lyndon and Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut draws beauty. This film is beautiful to see, with extravagant upper class parties and a living city. I was shocked to learn this was all filmed in England.
From this film I appreciate Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman more as actors. Working with Kubrick was never easy, especially on this film's long shoot. Both leads perform excellently, and are perfect for the characters. They were up to the challenges and demands of the film, and the offscreen parallels don't hurt either.
I can't believe this is a 7.2. Maybe it's the hype, or maybe some just didn't like the length. But everything serves its purpose in Eyes Wide Shut, like the greatest films. Eyes Wide Shut is an excellent film, a great swan song from the greatest director of all time who left my eyes wide open. 8.7/10