Sorry, I Just Don't Get It

Rating: 6/10 (14 February 2011)

I'm a major fan of Stanley Kubrick's films, though I'm not always the greatest at dissecting them for the deepest content. Still, I can usually walk away with a good understanding of what Kubrick was trying to convey, but not here. For whatever reason, I couldn't see anything but the surface value of Kubrick's EYES WIDE SHUT. The film is about Dr. Bill Harford (Tom Cruise) and his wife Alice (Nicole Kidman). Alice reveals to Bill that she once thought of having an affair and how she would've given up her entire life, her husband, her daughter, etc. for even one night with a passing Naval officer she'd seen. This news completely destroys Bill and he sets out into the streets of New York with visions of his wife in the arms of another man haunting his mind. Over the course of the night, he stumbles into a mysterious gathering in a secluded home where the halls are filled with people engaged in a ritualistic orgy. When Bill is discovered as an intruder and he believes a woman has been killed in order to protect him, he begins an his own investigation into what happened that night.
Kubrick always seemed to have a much deeper meaning behind the surface story and I'm sure this film is no different. Many critics and fans have praised this film endlessly, so I'm sure there is more to it than meets the eye. I'm sorry to say I just don't get it. It seems to hint at a glimpse into jealousy and the power of sex (or lack thereof) in relationships. For me, all of this potential subtext is lost when I'm drawn into the mystery behind the strange cult/society Bill wanders into. For the remainder of the movie, I just wanted to see this plot-line pan out and fill in the answers and any subtext was overlooked. If you're a true Kubrick fan and haven't watched this film yet, I hope you won't let my own inability to understand it influence your decision in any way. This film has been hailed by some as a masterpiece and is still an intriguing, suspenseful drama.
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman do a fantastic job here, especially Kidman who's every line seems to drip with venom following their initial stoned confrontation over her once-desired infidelity. At the time of the film, the two were still married and I'm sure it contributed to their chemistry on-screen (well, maybe the awkwardness between the two sexually in the beginning or the animosity to come later). Again, Kubrick utilizes his masterful skills at creating atmosphere with his grainy footage, minimalist piano score, and colorful lighting. Despite the slow crawling pace of the film, it manages to remain engaging despite it's nearly three hour runtime. The ending was less than stellar and I felt it left a lot of loose ends, but again that's because my focus was on the mystery as opposed to the Harford's relationship. When the movie was over, it left me wanting answers but I still had the usual unease that seems to follow all of Kubrick's films. This film is probably best for true Kubrick fans and will leave the more casual fans a little underwhelmed.