WOW

Rating: 10/10 (26 April 2000)

I have seen most of Stanley Kubrick's films and consider him to be, at the very least, one of the greatest directors who ever lived. Throughout his career he never ceased to challenge his audience with movies like the deathly quiet 2001, the disturbing A Clockwork Orange and the horrifying The Shining. None of his films had as much impact on me as did Eyes Wide Shut, which, after multiple viewings, has become my favourite film of all time. For the life of me I can not understand how people can emerge from this film saying, "I hate it." People have complained that the sets feel unrealistic, that you would never find an orgy like that in the real world. If you wanted the real world, why did you watch a movie? I love the surreal and dreamlike state of this movie? I love how most of the conflict is internal and I appreciate the turmoil Dr. Harford has been thrown in when his wife admits to nearly throwing away the marriage for one night of passion with a stranger. With that confession, she admits that she is not as committed to the marriage as he is, which throws into question the entire authenticity of the union. When the doctor goes out into the night he finds himself on the receiving end of advances from various women. If he resists temptation, to what exactly would he be staying faithful? As much as I love this film, I refuse to buy it until Warner releases the unedited version in North America. The film is definitely worth seeing in any version, but I love it so much anything less than Kubrick's unmasked version will not do for me.